What Is An Improper Input Validation Error?

Mayhem Team
June 1, 2022
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CWE-20 Improper Input Validation in a web application can allow an attacker to supply malicious user input that is then executed by the vulnerable web application. Improper input validation can be used to bypass security mechanisms, such as authentication and authorization controls. It can also be used to inject malicious code into the web application, which can be executed by the server or client.

Improper input validation can also lead to denial of service attacks.

Input validation should be used to ensure that all user input is valid and conforms to the expectations of the application. Invalid input should be rejected, and sanitized input should be filtered before being processed by the application. All user input should be thoroughly vetted before being used in any way by the application.

If you are building a web application, input validation is an essential part of securing your application. By properly validating user input, you can ensure that your application is not susceptible to attack.

There are many different ways to validate user input, and the best approach will vary depending on the type of data being inputted and the purpose of the data. It is important to consider all potential input sources when designing your input validation strategy.

User input comes from a variety of sources, including form data, cookies, query strings, and headers. All of these sources should be considered when designing your input validation strategy.

Form data is perhaps the most common source of user input, and it is also the most likely to be malicious. Forms allow users to input data into your application, and if that data is not properly validated, it can be used to attack your application.

Cookies are another common source of user input. Like form data, cookies can be used to input data into your application. However, cookies are often used to store session information, and if they are not properly validated, they can be used to hijack user sessions.

Query strings are often used to pass data into web applications. Query strings are typically used in GET requests, but they can also be used in POST requests. If query strings are not properly validated, they can be used to inject malicious code into your application.

Headers are used to pass information about the requestor and the request into your application. Headers can be used to spoof the identity of the requestor, and if they are not properly validated, they can be used to attack your application.

Input validation is a critical part of securing a web application. By properly validating user input, you can ensure that your application is not susceptible to attack.

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