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A cookie is typically a short string. If it contains sensitive information, that information should be encrypted. Sensitive information includes user names, passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers, and any other personally identifiable information about the user. For more details about managing passwords, see MSC62-J. Store passwords using a hash function. For more information about securing the memory that holds sensitive information, see MSC59-J. Limit the lifetime of sensitive data.

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However, the attempt to implement the remember-me functionality is insecure because an attacker with access to the client machine can obtain this information directly on the client. This code also violates MSC62-J. Store passwords using a hash function. The client may also have transmitted the password in clear unless it encrypted the password or uses HTTPS.

Compliant Solution (Session)

This compliant solution implements the remember-me functionality by storing the user name and a secure random string in the cookie. It also maintains state in the session using HttpSession:.

Code Block
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protected void doPost(HttpServletRequest request,
    HttpServletResponse response) {
  
  // Validate input (omitted)

  String username = request.getParameter("username");
  char[] password = request.getParameter("password").toCharArray();
  boolean rememberMe = Boolean.valueOf(request.getParameter("rememberme"));
  LoginService loginService = new LoginServiceImpl();
  boolean validated = false;
  if (rememberMe) {
    if (request.getCookies()[0] != null &&
        request.getCookies()[0].getValue() != null) {
                             
      String[] value = request.getCookies()[0].getValue().split(";");
             
      if (value.length != 2) {
        // Set error and return
      }
             
      if (!loginService.mappingExists(value[0], value[1])) { 
        // (username, random) pair is checked
        // Set error and return
      }
    } else {
      validated = loginService.isUserValid(username, password);

      if (!validated) {
        // Set error and return
      }
    }
        
    String newRandom = loginService.getRandomString();
    // Reset the random every time
    loginService.mapUserForRememberMe(username, newRandom);
    HttpSession session = request.getSession();
    session.invalidate();
    session = request.getSession(true);
    // Set session timeout to 15 minutes
    session.setMaxInactiveInterval(60 * 15);
    // Store user attribute and a random attribute in session scope
    session.setAttribute("user", loginService.getUsername());
    Cookie loginCookie = 
      new Cookie("rememberme", username + ";" + newRandom);
    loginCookie.setHttpOnly(true);
    loginCookie.setSecure(true);
    response.addCookie(loginCookie);
    // ... Forward to welcome page
  } else {
    // No remember-me functionality selected
    // ... Authenticate using isUserValid() and if failed, set error
  }
  Arrays.fill(password, ' ');
}

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