Insecure Deserialization Remote Code Execution

Description

Insecure deserialization remote code execution is a critical security vulnerability that occurs when an application deserializes a user-supplied object string without properly verifying its integrity. This vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the system state and execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially leading to serious security breaches and compromise of the entire system.

Recommendation

To prevent insecure deserialization remote code execution:

• Minimize the reliance on deserialization of objects from untrusted sources in the application architecture.
• If deserialization from untrusted sources is necessary, ensure that only primitive data types are accepted, and implement strict integrity checks such as digital signatures on serialized objects to prevent data tampering.
• Log all deserialization errors and actively monitor them for any suspicious activities or attempts at exploitation.

References

• CWE-502
• OWASP 2021-A8
• OWASP: Deserialization Cheat Sheet