Information Leakage / Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor

Description

Exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor is a type of Information Leakage vulnerability that occurs in Web and API applications. It is described in the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) directory as CWE-200. According to the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Testing Guide, this vulnerability is caused when an application fails to protect confidential information from unauthorized disclosure. Such information can include private customer data, passwords, or other sensitive information.

Risk

Exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor can have significant implications for organizations. Such vulnerabilities can lead to data breaches, unauthorized access to confidential information, or even identity theft. As such, organizations must take steps to ensure that their applications are secure and adequately protect confidential information from unauthorized access.

Solution

Organizations can use various methods to mitigate the risk of exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. These include using encryption and authentication methods to protect confidential information, using access control mechanisms to restrict access to sensitive data, and using logging and auditing measures to track user activities. Additionally, organizations should ensure that their applications are regularly tested for vulnerabilities and that all identified vulnerabilities are addressed.

Example

For example, CVE-2020-15305 is an information leakage vulnerability in the WordPress plugin WP-Property that can allow an attacker to gain access to sensitive information. The vulnerability exists due to the improper validation of user-supplied input. This allows an attacker to send a specially crafted HTTP request to the plugin and gain access to sensitive information such as property values, titles, and descriptions.