Skip to main content

Weak software design - Restrict user access in the web applications

By
Today I want to talk about a smell that I way sometimes on web application. We will start with a short story to create a context for our smell.
One day a request comes to the developer that he needs to create a page where the user can view a list of items. For each item the user can view details, edit an item and delete it. After a while the manager changes the request: “Only specific users can edit or delete items from the list”. Our developer based on the role of a user identifies what user can edit or delete items and for the rest of the user he decides to hide the two buttons.
When we look over the code something is wrong. If the user knows the URL for the edit page of an item or for deletion, he can edit and delete any items even if is not an admin.
We should never trust inputs that come from users. Every time we should validate on the server side the data from the user and also if he has rights to do execute a command or view a specific page.
In MVC application is very simple to do this. We only need to add an attribute to specific actions that we want to be access based on the user role. Another simple solution is to check if the user is part of a given role using the following method “Page.User.IsInRole(“RoleName”)”.
Be aware when you limit access of a user. For each access to a restricted area you should check the user rights. Don’t trust anything that the user sends to you.
Labels:

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 11, 2012 at 6:21 PM

    This is not a code smell, it's just plain weak software design.. :)
    Authorization for any real-world application should be designed upfront, not as an after-though, event if it's hard to get right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Radu VunvuleaJuly 11, 2012 at 7:35 PM

      This was not the first time when i saw this problem.
      I look over the internet and in some places is marked as code smell. I will update the title, thank you.

      Delete
    2. Andrei IgnatJuly 12, 2012 at 10:09 AM

      +1

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Database Modernization Matters for AI

By
  When companies transition to the cloud, they typically begin with applications and virtual machines, which is often the easier part of the process. The actual complexity arises later when databases are moved. To save time and effort, cloud adoption is more of a cloud migration in an IaaS manner, fulfilling current, but not future needs. Even organisations that are already in the cloud find that their databases, although “migrated,” are not genuinely modernised. This disparity becomes particularly evident when they begin to explore AI technologies. Understanding Modernisation Beyond Migration Database modernisation is distinct from merely relocating an outdated database to Azure. It's about making your data layer ready for future needs, like automation, real-time analytics, and AI capabilities. AI needs high throughput, which can be achieved using native DB cloud capabilities. When your database runs in a traditional setup (even hosted in the cloud), in that case, you will enc...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cloud Myths: Migrating to the cloud is quick and easy (Pill 2 of 5 / Cloud Pills)

By
The idea that migration to the cloud is simple, straightforward and rapid is a wrong assumption. It’s a common misconception of business stakeholders that generates delays, budget overruns and technical dept. A migration requires laborious planning, technical expertise and a rigorous process.  Migrations, especially cloud migrations, are not one-size-fits-all journeys. One of the most critical steps is under evaluation, under budget and under consideration. The evaluation phase, where existing infrastructure, applications, database, network and the end-to-end estate are evaluated and mapped to a cloud strategy, is crucial to ensure the success of cloud migration. Additional factors such as security, compliance, and system dependencies increase the complexity of cloud migration.  A misconception regarding lift-and-shits is that they are fast and cheap. Moving applications to the cloud without changes does not provide the capability to optimise costs and performance, leading to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cloud Myths: Cloud is Cheaper (Pill 1 of 5 / Cloud Pills)

By
Cloud Myths: Cloud is Cheaper (Pill 1 of 5 / Cloud Pills) The idea that moving to the cloud reduces the costs is a common misconception. The cloud infrastructure provides flexibility, scalability, and better CAPEX, but it does not guarantee lower costs without proper optimisation and management of the cloud services and infrastructure. Idle and unused resources, overprovisioning, oversize databases, and unnecessary data transfer can increase running costs. The regional pricing mode, multi-cloud complexity, and cost variety add extra complexity to the cost function. Cloud adoption without a cost governance strategy can result in unexpected expenses. Improper usage, combined with a pay-as-you-go model, can result in a nightmare for business stakeholders who cannot track and manage the monthly costs. Cloud-native services such as AI services, managed databases, and analytics platforms are powerful, provide out-of-the-shelve capabilities, and increase business agility and innovation. H...
Post a Comment
Read more