Identifying stored security vulnerabilities in computer software applications
View Patent ↗Identifying stored security vulnerabilities in computer software applications by providing via a first interface of a computer software application during execution of the computer software application, test data having a characteristic of a malicious payload, where an interaction performed with the first interface resulted in data being written to a location within a persistent data store, and where an interaction performed with a second interface of the computer software application resulted in data being read from the location within the persistent data store, and identifying a stored security vulnerability associated with the computer software application if the test data are written to the persistent data store at the location.
1. A computer hardware system including, comprising:
a black-box tester for identifying stored security vulnerabilities in a computer software application having first and second interfaces, and
a hardware processor configured to initiate the following executable operations:
detecting, responsive to a first interaction between the tester and the first interface during execution of the computer software application, a first interaction at a location within a persistent data store in which first data is written to the location;
detecting, responsive to a second interaction between the tester and the first interface during execution of the computer software application, a second interaction at the location within the persistent data store in which second data is read from the location;
recording an association between the first interface and the second interface;
providing, to the computer software application and via any interface indicated by the association, test data having a characteristic of a malicious payload; and
identifying, based upon the test data being written to the persistent data store at the location, a stored security vulnerability associated with the computer software application, wherein the recorded association includes an identity of the first and second interfaces and the location, and
a plurality of interfaces within the computer software application are tested to identify a plurality of associations.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the black-box tester includes an interface tester configured to interact with the interfaces exposed by the computer software application.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the computer software application is configured to detect the first and second interactions with the persistent data store.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the malicious payload is a script code configured to be implemented by the computer software application.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein
every interface associated with the plurality of associations is provided with the malicious payload.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the identified stored security vulnerability is reported.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the computer software application is a web application.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the first interface is configured to receive data into the computer software application, and
the second interface is configured to output data from the computer software application.
9. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer-readable hardware storage device having stored therein computer-readable program code,
the computer readable program code, which when executed on a computer hardware system including a black-box tester for identifying stored security vulnerabilities in a computer software application having first and second interfaces therein, causes the computer hardware system to perform:
detecting, responsive to a first interaction between the tester and the first interface
during execution of the computer software application, a first interaction at a location within a persistent data store in which first data is written to the location;
detecting, responsive to a second interaction between the tester and the first
interface during execution of the computer software application, a second interaction at the location within the persistent data store in which second data is read from the location;
recording an association between the first interface and the second interface; providing, to the computer software application and via any interface indicated by the association, test data having a characteristic of a malicious payload; and
identifying, based upon the test data being written to the persistent data store at the location, a stored security vulnerability associated with the computer software application, wherein the recorded association includes an identity of the first and second interfaces and the location, and
a plurality of interfaces within the computer software application are tested to identify a plurality of associations.
10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein
the black-box tester includes an interface tester configured to interact with the interfaces exposed by the computer software application.
11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein
the computer software application is configured to detect the first and second interactions with the persistent data store.
12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein
the malicious payload is a script code configured to be implemented by the computer software application.
13. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein
every interface associated with the plurality of associations is provided with the malicious payload.
14. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein
the identified stored security vulnerability is reported.
15. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein
the computer software application is a web application.
16. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein
the first interface is configured to receive data into the computer software application, and
the second interface is configured to output data from the computer software application.