Broken Authentication
What is Broken Authentication
Authentication is the process of verifying that an individual, entity or website is whom it claims to be. Authentication in the context of web applications is commonly performed by submitting a username or ID and one or more items of private information that only a given user should know. Broken Authentication occurs when applications incorrectly implement authentication and session management functions, allowing attackers to compromise passwords, keys, or session tokens, or exploit other implementation flaws to assume other users' identities temporarily or permanently.
This lab demonstrates common authentication vulnerabilities. Your goal is to bypass the authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
The application has several vulnerabilities:
- Weak password requirements
- No brute force protection
- Insecure "Remember Me" functionality
- Vulnerable password reset mechanism
Hint: Start by examining the password reset functionality. Look for ways to manipulate the reset token or intercept the reset process.
How to Prevent
To prevent broken authentication vulnerabilities:
- Implement strong password policies
- Use multi-factor authentication where possible
- Implement proper session management
- Use secure session storage
- Implement account lockout after failed attempts
- Use secure password recovery mechanisms
- Ensure password hashing using strong algorithms (e.g., bcrypt)
- Implement proper SSL/TLS configuration