Spring Broken Authentication Guide: Examples and Prevention

Broken authentication vulnerability, identified as one of OWASP's top 10 vulnerabilities, occurs when attackers gain unauthorized access to restricted data by pretending to be other users, potentially leading to identity theft, data leakage, and system control. This vulnerability can arise from using weak passwords, allowing brute force attacks, sending credentials insecurely, improper session handling, and unsecured API routes. Mitigation strategies include using strong, non-default passwords, limiting failed login attempts, encrypting data, and securing session management. In the context of Java Spring Boot, securing routes is crucial, and developers should ensure that all routes, except public ones, require authentication. These preventive measures, although generally applicable across frameworks, have specific implementations in Spring Boot, reducing the risk of system compromise. The post, authored by Alexander Fridman, highlights best practices in managing these vulnerabilities, drawing from his extensive experience in software development.