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Fix Broken User Authentication in Camping

Camping is a micro-framework where minimalism often leads to catastrophic security oversights. Broken authentication in Camping apps typically manifests as plaintext password storage, session fixation, or lack of secure cookie attributes. As an AppSec researcher, your goal is to transition from 'toy' authentication to a production-hardened implementation that resists credential stuffing and session hijacking.

The Vulnerable Pattern

module App::Controllers
  class Login < R '/login'
    def post
      user = User.find_by_username(input.username)
      # VULNERABILITY: Plaintext password comparison and insecure session state
      if user && user.password == input.password
        @state.user_id = user.id
        redirect Index
      else
        @error = 'Invalid login'
        render :login
      end
    end
  end
end

The Secure Implementation

The vulnerable code fails on three fronts: 1. Plaintext storage: If the DB is leaked, every user is compromised. 2. Timing attacks: Standard string comparison (==) is vulnerable to side-channel analysis. 3. Insecure Sessions: Camping's default @state uses cookies that, if not configured via Rack middleware with 'httponly' and 'secure' flags, are easily stolen via XSS or MITM. The secure version implements BCrypt for slow, salted hashing and assumes the underlying Rack layer is hardened with a cryptographically strong secret and secure cookie attributes.

require 'bcrypt'

module App


Secure session configuration (usually in the Rack middleware stack)


use Rack::Session::Cookie, :key => ‘app.session’, :secret => ENV[‘SESSION_SECRET’], :httponly => true, :secure => true


module Controllers
class Login < R ‘/login’
def post
user = User.find_by_username(input.username)


    # SECURE: BCrypt for constant-time, salted hash comparison
    if user && BCrypt::Password.new(user.password_hash) == input.password
      # Prevent session fixation by regenerating the session identifier if possible
      @state.user_id = user.id
      redirect Index
    else
      # Generic error to prevent username enumeration
      @error = 'Authentication failed'
      render :login
    end
  end
end


end
end

System Alert • ID: 2685
Target: Camping API
Potential Vulnerability

Your Camping API might be exposed to Broken User Authentication

74% of Camping apps fail this check. Hackers use automated scanners to find this specific flaw. Check your codebase before they do.

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