Use of Hibernate with HQL/SQL Query String Containing External Input

The product uses Hibernate to execute a dynamic HQL or SQL statement, but the statement is built with user-controlled input.

We track 5 vulnerabilities of this type. 100% are rated high or critical, and the average CVSS score is 7.7.

How this weakness is prevented

• Requirements: A non-SQL style database that is not subject to this flaw may be chosen.
• Architecture and Design: Follow the principle of least privilege when creating user accounts to a SQL database. Users should only have the minimum privileges necessary to use their account. If the requirements of the system indicate that a user can read and modify their own data, then limit their privileges so they cannot read/write others' data.
• Architecture and Design: For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
• Implementation: Implement SQL strings using prepared statements that bind variables. Prepared statements that do not bind variables can be vulnerable to attack.
• Implementation: Use vigorous allowlist style checking on any user input that may be used in a SQL command. Rather than escape meta-characters, it is safest to disallow them entirely. Reason: Later use of data that have been entered in the database may neglect to escape meta-characters before use. Narrowly define the set of safe characters based on the expected value of the parameter in the request.