First Flight #5: Santa's List

Summary

The SantasList::checkList() function is utilized by Santa to conduct a first pass on individuals, determining whether they fall under the "naughty" or "nice" category. Consequently, it is imperative that only Santa has the authority to invoke this function, and access should be restricted from everyone else.

Vulnerability Details

The absence of the onlySanta modifier in the SantasList::checkList() function allows anyone to call the function without restriction. To rectify this vulnerability, the SantasList::onlySanta modifier should be incorporated into the SantasList::checkList() function, ensuring that only Santa can perform this crucial action.

Impact

The current state of the SantasList::checkList() function permits unrestricted access, enabling anyone to invoke the external function and modify the status of themselves or others. This poses a significant security risk as it compromises the integrity of the list, allowing unauthorized individuals to influence the evaluation of naughty or nice status.

Tools Used

Manual review.

Recommendations

It is recommended to implement the following changes in the `SantasList::checkList() function signature:

By incorporating the onlySanta modifier, access to the SantasList::checkList() function will be restricted to Santa alone, mitigating the potential risks associated with unauthorized modifications to the list.