Hi, I'd say it's easier to expose security flaws with CGI scripts than it is with Servlets, and vice versa it's easier to configure a secure environment for Servlets than it is for CGI scripts.
That's not the same as saying "Servlets are more secure than CGI." I don't think such a categorical statement would be valid for this case, and it's a waste of time looking for such a statement. Both technologies require the system designer, deployer, and administrator to be conscious of security issues and address them proactively. That said, I'd support the statement in the first paragraph on two grounds. One is a simple historical comparison: use any search you like (plain Google, or forums like Bugtraq and CERT) and you'll see many more CGI-based attacked and vulnerabilities than Servlet-based ones. Of course some of that is because CGI is an older and was more widely used for a long time, but those facts are irrelevant for the point of this discussion. The second ground is the existence of finer grained control over Java code. To secure a CGI script, you'd have to peer-review its code, make sure the user running it has only the required privileges, etc. With Servlets, you can apply extremely fine-grained security using a variety of approaches like PrivilegedActions, SecurityManager (these two are inside the JVM and portable), the security-constraint elements in web.xml (which can also be done for CGI in most servers, like httpd), and Java's built-in controls over memory allocation and such low-level matters. So both technologies can be made secure, but it's easier to assure a given Servlet is secure than a given CGI script, IMHO. If someone has tons of experience in CGI security assessments and little in Java, they might say the opposite ;) As far as wiki implementations, let's see. Of the top of my head, Friki is Java and open source (SourceForge). MoinMoin is Python. Litux is in the middle: Jython ;) Yoav Shapira Millennium Research Informatics -----Original Message----- From: Rhino [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 2:56 PM To: tomcat-user Subject: Security of Servlets We are giving some thought to putting a CGI-based Wiki, specifically OddMuse, on a website that runs on a Linux server. In 'Using Linux (Fourth Edition)', the authors warn that "The biggest cause for concern about protecting your site from external threats is CGI scripts." They go on to suggest various precautions that will reduce the risk. This has me wondering if servlets are equally insecure or have a much stronger security model. I also have Jason Hunter's 'Java Servlet Programming (Second Edition)' which has a 30 page chapter on Security that details how various forms of authentication take place in servlets. However, I can't find any categorical statement that says servlets are actually any more secure than CGI. I was wondering if someone with extensive experience with the security aspects of both servlets and CGI can give me any sense of which is more secure and why? I need this information so that we can choose the right approach for our wiki. Also, if servlets are more secure than CGI, is anyone aware of a wiki that runs as a servlet, preferably open source? Rhino --- rhino1 AT sympatico DOT ca "There are two ways of constructing a software design. One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies. And the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies." - C.A.R. Hoare This e-mail, including any attachments, is a confidential business communication, and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary and/or privileged. This e-mail is intended only for the individual(s) to whom it is addressed, and may not be saved, copied, printed, disclosed or used by anyone else. If you are not the(an) intended recipient, please immediately delete this e-mail from your computer system and notify the sender. Thank you. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
