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Java server (J2EE) code review
Introduction
Java EE Authentication Technologies
The Java EE framework contains a number of options from an authentication standpoint, such as,
- Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS)
- Java Secure Socket Extensions (JSSE.)
- Authentication and key exchange (RSA & DSA), SSL Authentication
- Java 2 Security Model
Servlet Authentication
The Java API javax.servlet.HttpServlet contains a number of methods to receive HTTP requests. One fundimental practice in application security is not to hue HTTP GET during the authentication sequence (This is because sensitive credentials may be logged inadvertantly on the web server). HttpServlet harbours methods such as doPost(), doPut(), doDelete(), doGet() to name a few. These methods can be used to process incomming HTTP requests.
During the course of Servlet processing, the HttpServlet.service() method is called before the "do" methods (doGet(), doPost(), etc.) therefore no significant processing should be placed in HttpServlet.service() prior to validating that the correct HTTP method was used to submit the transaction. Therefored is prudent to examine that the correct http method (doPost(), doGet() has been over-ridden as opposed to service() method.
