The only way to stop a hacker is to think like one!
ColdFusion is a Web application development tool that allows programmers to quickly build robust applications using server-side markup language. It is incredibly popular and has both an established user base and a quickly growing number of new adoptions. It has become the development environment of choice for e-commerce sites and content sites where databases and transactions are the most vulnerable and where security is of the utmost importance.
Several security concerns exist for ColdFusion due to its unique approach of designing pages using dynamic-page templates rather than static HTML documents. Because ColdFusion does not require that developers have expertise in Visual Basic, Java and C++; Web applications created using ColdFusion Markup language are vulnerable to a variety of security breaches.
Hack Proofing ColdFusion 5.0 is the seventh edition in the popular Hack Proofing series and provides developers with step-by-step instructions for developing secure web applications.
· Teaches strategy and techniques: Using forensics-based analysis this book gives the reader insight to the mind of a hacker
· Interest in topic continues to grow: Network architects, engineers and administrators are scrambling for security books to help them protect their new networks and applications powered by ColdFusion
· Unrivalled Web-based support: Up-to-the minute links, white papers and analysis for two years at solutions@syngress.com
"Hack Proofing ColdFusion 5.0" is the seventh volume in the popular Hack Proofing series and is the only book specifically written for developers devoted to protecting their ColdFusion Web applications. It provides developers with step-by-step instructions for developing secure Web applications and gives the reader crucial understanding and insight into the mind of a hacker.
GetProfileString(), ReadProfileString()
GetProfileString() and ReadProfileString() are documented functions for reading and writing to *.ini files. These functions are great for creating and utilizing small, file-based persistent storage mechanisms, especially when storing such information in a database is impossible or not desired. You may also want to look at these functions if your ColdFusion application is tightly integrated with another application; the two apps may be able to share an .ini file containing common configuration information.
These functions are dangerous because they can read and write to sensitive system files. A hacker could use these functions to alter Windows files, or .ini files belonging to unrelated applications. This access could expose sensitive information to the hacker, or alter your system such that it will not boot!
GetTempDirectory()
GetTempDirectory() is a documented function; it returns the operating system ’s directory for storing temp files. A minor security threat, this function can expose to information about your system’sconfiguration to a hacker. The less a hacker knows, the better off you are.
GetTempFile()
GetTempFile() is a documented function. Unlike GetTempDirectory(), which simply returns information, GetTempFile() will actually create an empty, 0-byte file within the directory you specify. Even though each temp file is empty, it still takes up some room on disk for its listing in the directory. A hacker could use this function within a loop to create enormous amounts of these temp files, which has a remote possibility of consuming your disk space. The larger threat is to performance and stability, since any directory with huge amounts of files causes the operating system to crawl.
CF_SetDataSourceUsername(), CF_GetDataSourceUsername(), CF_SetDataSourcePassword(), CF_SetODBCINI(),CF_GetODBCINI() CF_SetDataSourceUsername(), CF_GetDataSourceUsername(), CF_SetDataSourcePassword(), CF_SetODBCINI(), and CF_GetODBCINI() are undocumented functions. These functions read and write the properties of a datasource, including the ability to change username and password. They are useful in specific situations, but mostly create a security hole. If a hacker can start changing login credentials for your database, your whole application may crash. A hacker could also use these tags to glean information about valid database logins, and use that information to hack your database. CF_GetODBCDSN() CF_GetODBCDSN() is an undocumented tag. It lists all the ODBC datasources on the system, and is very, very useful to hackers who would like to break into your datasources. CFusion_Encrypt(), CFusion_Decrypt() CFusion_Encrypt() and CFusion_Decrypt() are undocumented functions. They perform the same function as the documented Encrypt() and Decrypt() functions, but use a different algorithm and produces different results. The result of CFusion_Encrypt() will only contain the numbers 0-9 and the letters A-F, but the result of Encrypt() can contain special characters. This is very useful for a hacker to attempt to unencrypt sensitive, encrypted data.
Overview
The only way to stop a hacker is to think like one!
ColdFusion is a Web application development tool that allows programmers to quickly build robust applications using server-side markup language. It is incredibly popular and has both an established user base and a quickly growing number of new adoptions. It has become the development environment of choice for e-commerce sites and content sites where databases and transactions are the most ...