Source URL: https://appomni.com/ao-labs/microsoft-power-pages-data-exposure-reviewed/
Source: CSA
Title: Misconfigured Access in Power Pages Exposes Data
Feedly Summary:
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The blog post by Aaron Costello discusses critical data exposure risks in Microsoft Power Pages due to misconfigured access controls. It emphasizes the significant consequences of granting excessive permissions, particularly to anonymous users, which can lead to the exposure of sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII). The post serves as a crucial warning to organizations using low-code SaaS platforms, highlighting the need for vigilant access management and continuous monitoring to mitigate such risks effectively.
Detailed Description:
The text details several significant aspects of the security issues arising from Microsoft Power Pages, particularly surrounding its Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and the permissions granted to users. Key insights and practical implications for security professionals include:
– **Data Exposure through Misconfiguration**:
– Millions of sensitive records were found exposed due to improper settings in Power Pages.
– Specific risks include the exposure of full names, email addresses, phone numbers, and home addresses of users.
– **Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)**:
– Power Pages has an out-of-the-box (OOB) role structure that categorizes users as ‘Anonymous’ or ‘Authenticated’.
– Allowing public registration can unintentionally grant excessive permissions to external users, treating them as internal (Authenticated) roles.
– **Access Levels and Controls**:
– Misassigned permissions can lead to global access for the ‘Anonymous Users’ role, enabling public access to all database rows.
– Organizations often expose sensitive data by failing to set proper table and column-level security.
– **Continuous Monitoring Importance**:
– Organizations must implement ongoing monitoring to detect and remediate access control misconfigurations.
– Utilizing automated tools can help identify sensitive data exposure and potential vulnerabilities proactively.
– **Technical Insights**:
– The article provides a technical proof of concept showcasing how misconfigurations can be exploited.
– It illustrates relevant HTTP responses and actions for extracting data when misconfigurations are present.
– **Mitigation Techniques**:
– The author suggests reviewing site settings, table/record permissions, and ensuring column security is in place.
– Organizations should conduct regular access control audits and employ security scanners to proactively identify risks.
In conclusion, the post underscores that while Microsoft Power Pages enables rapid application development, it also poses security risks if organizations do not manage permissions adequately. Security professionals must be vigilant to avoid exposing sensitive data and ensure compliance with internal and external regulations.