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Difference between revisions of "Testing for Vulnerable Remember Password (OTG-AUTHN-005)"

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== Summary ==
 
== Summary ==
  
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Browsers will sometimes ask a user if they wish to remember the password that they just entered. The browser will then store the password, and automatically enter it whenever the same authentication portal is visited. This is a convenience for the user.
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Browsers will sometimes ask a user if they wish to remember the password that they just entered. The browser will then store the password, and automatically enter it whenever the same authentication form is visited. This is a convenience for the user.
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<br>
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Additionally some websites will offer custom "remember me" functionality to allow users to persist log ins on a specific client system.
  
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== Description of the Issue ==
 
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Whilst a convenience for the user, having the browser storing passwords is also a convenience for an attacker.<br>
 
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If an attacker can gain access to the victim's browser (e.g. through a Cross Site Scripting attack, or through a shared computer), then they can retrieve the stored passwords. It is not uncommon for browsers to store these passwords in a fully retrievable manner, but even if the browser were to store the passwords encrypted and only retrievable through the use of a master password, an attacker could retrieve the password by visiting the target authentication portal web site, entering the victim's username, and letting the browser to enter the password.<br>
 
  
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== How to test ==
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Having the browser store passwords is not only a convenience for end-users, but also for an attacker. If an attacker can gain access to the victim's browser (e.g. through a Cross Site Scripting attack, or through a shared computer), then they can retrieve the stored passwords. It is not uncommon for browsers to store these passwords in an easily retrievable manner, but even if the browser were to store the passwords encrypted and only retrievable through the use of a master password, an attacker could retrieve the password by visiting the target web application's authentication form, entering the victim's username, and letting the browser to enter the password.
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Additionally where custom "remember me" functions are put in place weaknesses in how the token is stored on the client PC (for example using base64 encoded credentials as the token) could expose the users passwords. Since early 2014 most major browsers will override any use of autocomplete="off" with regards to password forms and as a result previous checks for this are not required and recommendations should not commonly be given for disabling this feature. However this can still apply to things like secondary secrets which may be stored in the browser inadvertently.
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==How to Test ==
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* Look for passwords being stored in a cookie. Examine the cookies stored by the application. Verify that the credentials are not stored in clear text, but are hashed.
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* Examine the hashing mechanism: if it is a common, well-known algorithm, check for its strength; in homegrown hash functions, attempt several usernames to check whether the hash function is easily guessable.
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* Verify that the credentials are only sent during the log in phase, and not sent together with every request to the application. 
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* Consider other sensitive form fields (e.g. an answer to a secret question that must be entered in a password recovery or account unlock form).
  
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* Enter a username and password in the target authentication portal and determine whether the browser asks the user whether they want the password remembered.
 
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* View the authentication portal's HTML source code and look for the autocomplete="off" attribute in the password form field. The code for this will usually be along the following lines:
 
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<pre>
 
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<INPUT TYPE="password" AUTOCOMPLETE="off">
 
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</pre>
 
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* Also look for passwords being stored in a cookie. Examine the cookies stored by the application. Verify that the credentials are not stored in cleartext, but are hashed. Examine the hashing mechanism: if it is a common, well-known algorithm, check for its strength; in homegrown hash functions, attempt several usernames to check whether the hash function is easily guessable. Additionally, verify that the credentials are only sent during the login phase, and not sent together with every request to the application. 
 
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* Also look for other areas where a password may be entered, e.g. a Change Password form.
 
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* Also consider other sensitive form fields (e.g. an answer to a secret question, used for Forgotten Password forms).
 
  
 
== Remediation ==
 
== Remediation ==
  
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Any fields that contain sensitive information and passwords should be flagged in the HTML with AUTOCOMPLETE=”off”.
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Ensure that no credentials are stored in clear text or are easily retrievable in encoded or encrypted forms in cookies.

Latest revision as of 13:26, 5 August 2014

This article is part of the new OWASP Testing Guide v4.

Back to the OWASP Testing Guide v4 ToC:
   https://www.owasp.org/index.php/OWASP_Testing_Guide_v4_Table_of_Contents
Back to the OWASP Testing Guide Project:
   https://www.owasp.org/index.php/OWASP_Testing_Project


Summary

Browsers will sometimes ask a user if they wish to remember the password that they just entered. The browser will then store the password, and automatically enter it whenever the same authentication form is visited. This is a convenience for the user. Additionally some websites will offer custom "remember me" functionality to allow users to persist log ins on a specific client system.


Having the browser store passwords is not only a convenience for end-users, but also for an attacker. If an attacker can gain access to the victim's browser (e.g. through a Cross Site Scripting attack, or through a shared computer), then they can retrieve the stored passwords. It is not uncommon for browsers to store these passwords in an easily retrievable manner, but even if the browser were to store the passwords encrypted and only retrievable through the use of a master password, an attacker could retrieve the password by visiting the target web application's authentication form, entering the victim's username, and letting the browser to enter the password.


Additionally where custom "remember me" functions are put in place weaknesses in how the token is stored on the client PC (for example using base64 encoded credentials as the token) could expose the users passwords. Since early 2014 most major browsers will override any use of autocomplete="off" with regards to password forms and as a result previous checks for this are not required and recommendations should not commonly be given for disabling this feature. However this can still apply to things like secondary secrets which may be stored in the browser inadvertently.


How to Test

  • Look for passwords being stored in a cookie. Examine the cookies stored by the application. Verify that the credentials are not stored in clear text, but are hashed.
  • Examine the hashing mechanism: if it is a common, well-known algorithm, check for its strength; in homegrown hash functions, attempt several usernames to check whether the hash function is easily guessable.
  • Verify that the credentials are only sent during the log in phase, and not sent together with every request to the application.
  • Consider other sensitive form fields (e.g. an answer to a secret question that must be entered in a password recovery or account unlock form).


Remediation

Ensure that no credentials are stored in clear text or are easily retrievable in encoded or encrypted forms in cookies.

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