Fix NoSQL Injection in Masonite
Masonite frameworks using NoSQL backends like MongoDB are susceptible to injection when raw request inputs are passed directly into query filters. If an attacker submits a JSON object instead of a string, they can inject operators like $ne (not equal) or $gt (greater than) to bypass authentication or leak the entire database. As a senior researcher, I see this most often in endpoints where developers trust the type of the incoming payload without explicit casting or schema validation.
The Vulnerable Pattern
from masonite.controllers import Controller from masonite.request import Request from app.models.User import User
class AuthController(Controller): def login(self, request: Request): # VULNERABLE: request.input() can return a dict containing NoSQL operators # If username is {‘$ne’: None}, the query returns the first user in the DB. user = User.where(‘username’, request.input(‘username’)).first() if user: return {‘status’: ‘authenticated’}
The Secure Implementation
The vulnerability exists because NoSQL drivers interpret nested dictionaries as query operators. By passing a dictionary like {'$gt': ''} instead of a string, an attacker changes the logic of the query. The fix is two-pronged: first, use Masonite's built-in Validation to ensure the input is strictly a string. Second, explicitly cast the input using str() before passing it to the ORM. This ensures that even if a dictionary is somehow passed, it is treated as a literal string value, rendering the injection payload harmless.
from masonite.controllers import Controller
from masonite.request import Request
from masonite.validation import Validator
from app.models.User import User
class AuthController(Controller):
def login(self, request: Request, validate: Validator):
# SECURE: Validate input type strictly using Masonite’s Validator
errors = validate.validate(request.all(), {
‘username’: ‘required|string’,
‘password’: ‘required|string’
})
if errors:
return {'error': 'Invalid input type'}
# SECURE: Force explicit string casting to neutralize dictionary-based operators
username = str(request.input('username'))
user = User.where('username', username).first()
if user:
return {'status': 'authenticated'}</code></pre>
Your Masonite API
might be exposed to NoSQL Injection
74% of Masonite apps fail this check. Hackers use automated scanners to find this specific flaw. Check your codebase before they do.
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