org.broadleafcommerce.common.security.service

Interface StaleStateProtectionService

All Known Implementing Classes:

StaleStateProtectionServiceImpl

public interface StaleStateProtectionService

This service is responsible for monitoring key changes in state for a given session. If it is detected that a key state change has taken place after the current page was rendered, but before the form on the page is submitted, the service will throw a StaleStateServiceException, which will result in a Http Status code 409 error response.

Examples of key state changes in the admin include:

• Site switching
• Sandbox switching
• Catalog switching
• profile switching

It is important to detect these state changes and prevent stale data submissions in order to prevent data corruption. Such corruption can include entities being associated with incorrect or unintended sites, sandboxes, catalogs and profiles.

The classic use case that can expose the problem is to use multiple browser tabs for the admin - all using the same session. Such a configuration can allow a user to expose a product detail form (for example) in one browser tab. Then in a separate browser tab, the user can perform a state switch. Upon returning to the original tab and submitting the form, the data can be persisted in unanticipated ways as it relates to site, sandbox, catalog or profile.

This service is disabled by default to guarantee backwards compatibility. However, enabling the service for any installation is relatively easy. First, a property must be seet in the application's property files:

stale.state.protection.enabled = true

Second, the applicationContext-admin-security.xml file should be checked for the appropriate filter configuration:

... <sec:custom-filter ref="blPreSecurityFilterChain" before="CHANNEL_FILTER"/> <sec:custom-filter ref="blSecurityFilter" before="FORM_LOGIN_FILTER"/> <sec:custom-filter ref="blAdminFilterSecurityInterceptor" after="EXCEPTION_TRANSLATION_FILTER"/> <sec:custom-filter ref="blPostSecurityFilterChain" after="SWITCH_USER_FILTER"/> </sec:http> <bean id="blSecurityFilter" class="org.broadleafcommerce.openadmin.web.filter.AdminSecurityFilter" /> ...

Specifically, the "blSecurityFilter" bean and its custom-filter reference config are key here. Note, if present, the "blCsrfFilter" should be replaced with this config, as "blSecurityFilter" encompasses both CSRF protection, as well as the stale state protection described here.

Finally, the mechanism of protection is provided by utilizing a state version token. The token is included in the body of each page and represents the current session state for the user. When a key state change event takes place, the state version token is updated in the user session on the server. When the system detects a mismatch between the token provided by a request and the token that exists in the session, the system will emit a StaleStateServiceException.

Author:

Jeff Fischer

Method Summary

Modifier and Type	Method and Description
void	compareToken(String passedToken) Compare the state version token provided by the request to what is resident in the user session.
String	getStateVersionToken() Retrieve the state version token resident in the user's session, or create one if it doesn't exist.
String	getStateVersionTokenParameter() Retrieve the parameter key used to harvest the state version token value from the request
void	invalidateState() Remove the current state version token in the user's session, if exists.
boolean	isEnabled() Whether or not the protection provided by this service is active.

Method Detail

compareToken

void compareToken(String passedToken)

Compare the state version token provided by the request to what is resident in the user session. If the tokens are not equal, the determination is made that the request is coming from a stale page and a StaleStateServiceException is emitted.

Parameters:

passedToken - the state version token from the request

getStateVersionToken

String getStateVersionToken()

Retrieve the state version token resident in the user's session, or create one if it doesn't exist.

Returns:

invalidateState

void invalidateState()

Remove the current state version token in the user's session, if exists. This usually occurs in response to a key state change.

isEnabled

boolean isEnabled()

Whether or not the protection provided by this service is active.

Returns:

getStateVersionTokenParameter

String getStateVersionTokenParameter()

Retrieve the parameter key used to harvest the state version token value from the request

Returns: