Webpage Access Control via URL List Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current web vulnerability scan applications lack a mechanism to detect unauthorized access to webpages via URL guessing or network sniffing, which can lead to data privacy violations and unfair advantages, especially in sensitive sites like banking, e-commerce, and health services.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that generates lists of URLs accessible with privileged and non-privileged credentials, compares these lists to identify URLs accessible by unauthorized users, and outputs alerts to site operators, enabling them to implement security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If webpages are made accessible with simple URL structures, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened allowing unauthorized access via URL guessing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating lists of URLs accessible with privileged credentials before comparing them with URLs accessible by non-privileged credentials. This advance preparation enables the detection of potential security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by unauthorized users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by comparing the two URL lists and generating alerts when discrepancies are found. This feedback mechanism informs website operators about potential security issues, allowing them to take corrective actions to prevent unauthorized access while maintaining ease of operation for legitimate users.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If comprehensive URL listing is performed to ensure security, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the security checking process into segments: first generating URLs accessible by privileged credentials, then generating URLs accessible by non-privileged credentials, and finally comparing these separate lists. This segmentation makes the complex security verification process more manageable and systematic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary approach by introducing a comparison mechanism between two URL lists. Rather than directly analyzing complex access patterns, the system uses the intermediate step of list comparison to identify security vulnerabilities, simplifying the overall analysis process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If URL parameters are made easily modifiable, then adaptability is improved, but security is worsened enabling easy unauthorized access to multiple pages
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies a universal approach by using the same credential-based URL generation and comparison methodology across different websites and applications. This multi-functional security scanning mechanism can detect unauthorized access vulnerabilities regardless of the specific URL structure or parameter modifications, protecting data privacy while maintaining URL flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes: generating a first list of uniform resource locators (URLs) available on a page when accessed using privileged credentials; storing one or more first URL outputs associated with the first list of URLs including the content of webpages accessed using the privileged credentials; generating a second list of URLs when accessed using non-privileged credentials; generating a third list of URLs, wherein the third list of URLs includes URLs included in the first list of URLs and not included in the second list of URLs; storing a second URL output including content of a webpage mapped to a particular URL in the third list of URLs when the particular URL is accessed using the non-privileged credentials; determining that the second URL output matches a particular first URL output associated with the particular URL; and outputting an alert identifying that the webpage is accessible by an unauthorized user.