Prevent SQL Injection In DB Migrations: A Security Fix

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Prevent SQL Injection in DB Migrations: A Security Fix

Hey guys! Today, we're diving into a critical security fix related to database migrations, specifically concerning SQL injection vulnerabilities during the dbEncrypt process. This is a deep dive, so buckle up!

Background

During the dbEncrypt migration, we're essentially moving data from an unencrypted database to a freshly created, encrypted one. The old method interpolated table and column names directly into SQL strings. While the names come from the database schema, it opens a door for SQL injection if the original database has been compromised or is corrupted. Think of it like this: if someone messes with the source database, they could potentially inject malicious SQL code into our migration process. This article highlights the importance of validating and securing column names during database migrations to prevent SQL injection attacks.

Location

You can find the vulnerable code in src/shared/cli/db.ts, specifically within the dbEncrypt function. It’s like the heart of the migration process, so any issue here can have serious consequences. Ensuring robust security measures in this location is paramount for maintaining data integrity and preventing potential breaches. Let's work together to keep our databases safe and sound!

Define (Problem)

Risk

The primary risk is SQL injection or a malformed identifier causing data corruption while we're migrating the data. Imagine a scenario where a sneaky attacker injects malicious SQL commands. Not good, right?

Impact

The impact could be devastating, leading to compromised data integrity or even arbitrary SQL execution during the migration. This means sensitive data could be exposed, altered, or even deleted. This situation can be avoided by validating and securing column names during database migrations.

Measure

This vulnerability is reproducible if you craft a database schema with malicious table or column identifiers. Currently, we validate table names against the pattern /^[a-zA-Z0-9_]+$/, which is good, but we don't validate column names. This is where the problem lies. Ensuring that both table and column names are validated using a secure pattern can significantly reduce the risk of SQL injection attacks and maintain the integrity of the data during the migration process.

Analyze

The root cause is that column names are taken directly from Object.keys(rows[0]) and then interpolated into SQL queries without proper validation. This direct interpolation creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious code through crafted column names. To mitigate this risk, it’s essential to implement a validation process that checks and sanitizes column names before they are used in SQL queries, thereby preventing potential SQL injection vulnerabilities and ensuring the security and integrity of the database migration process.

Improve (Proposed Fix)

Alright, let's talk solutions. Here's how we can fix this:

  1. Validate Column Names: Use the same safe pattern we use for table names (/^[a-zA-Z0-9_]+$/) to validate column names. This will ensure that only valid characters are allowed in column names, preventing potential injection attacks.
  2. Quote Identifiers: Where possible, quote identifiers (e.g., "${column}") and validate characters. This will help prevent SQL injection by treating the column names as literal values rather than executable code.
  3. Add Unit Tests: Create unit tests that construct a malformed schema and verify that the migration rejects it. These tests should specifically target invalid column names to ensure that the validation mechanism is working correctly and that the migration process is robust against malicious input.

By implementing these measures, we can significantly enhance the security of our database migrations and prevent potential SQL injection vulnerabilities. These security measures are a step to ensure the database is secured.

Control (Acceptance Criteria)

Validation

All column names are validated before being interpolated into SQL queries. This ensures that only safe and expected column names are used, preventing potential SQL injection vulnerabilities. The validation process should include checks against a predefined pattern or whitelist of allowed characters.

Testing

There exists a test that constructs a table with an invalid column name and confirms that the migration fails with an explicit error. This test serves as a crucial safeguard, ensuring that the validation mechanism is effective in detecting and preventing malicious column names from being used during the migration process. Additionally, the test should provide clear and informative error messages to aid in debugging and troubleshooting.

Review and CI

Code review sign-off and CI green for added tests are required. This ensures that the implemented validation and testing measures meet the necessary standards and are properly integrated into the codebase. Code review provides an opportunity for multiple engineers to examine the code, identify potential issues, and ensure that best practices are followed. CI (Continuous Integration) ensures that the tests pass automatically whenever changes are made to the codebase, providing ongoing assurance of the security and reliability of the migration process.

Acceptance Criteria / Definition of Done

  1. Patch Added: A patch must be added in src/shared/cli/db.ts validating column names. This patch should implement the proposed fix by using the same safe pattern used for table names to validate column names before they are used in SQL queries.
  2. Unit Tests: Unit tests must be added under test/memory/store/ covering invalid column names. These tests should include cases where column names contain special characters or malicious code that could potentially lead to SQL injection.
  3. Release Note: A release note entry explaining the hardening should be included in the release notes. This entry should describe the vulnerability that was addressed, the steps taken to mitigate it, and any potential impact on users.

Priority

P1 (security hardening). This is a top priority. We need to address this ASAP to protect our data and systems. Addressing this potential SQL injection vulnerability with utmost urgency is crucial for safeguarding our data and maintaining the overall security posture of our systems.

Estimate

1–2 days. This should be a relatively quick fix.

Suggested Assignee

@Guffawaffle (or a backend engineer familiar with sqlite migrations). Guffawaffle, your expertise in database migrations and familiarity with sqlite makes you the perfect candidate to tackle this important security enhancement. Your skills and experience will be invaluable in ensuring that the proposed fix is implemented effectively and that our database migrations are secure and robust.