Input Validation / Web Cache Poisoning

Description

Web Cache Poisoning (CWE-444) is a type of attack where malicious data is injected into a web server's cache, resulting in a compromised response being returned to the user. This type of attack is often used to gain access to sensitive information or to inject malicious code into a web page. According to the OWASP Testing Guide, this type of attack is most commonly used to bypass input validation and authentication systems.

Risk

Web Cache Poisoning can have severe consequences, as it can allow an attacker to gain access to sensitive information and execute malicious code. This type of attack can be difficult to detect and can have a high impact on organizations and users.

Solution

The best solution to prevent Web Cache Poisoning is to ensure that all input is validated and sanitized before being sent to the web server. This can be done by using a whitelist approach to input validation, as well as by filtering out any malicious code before sending it to the server. Additionally, any caching mechanisms should be disabled or restricted to only trusted sources.