E$-$Commerce Platform

You are a cybersecurity analyst tasked with conducting a code review for an authentication and access control system implemented in Python, Bash, and JavaScript. The system is responsible for verifying user identities and enforcing access permissions to sensitive resources. Your objective is to identify security vulnerabilities in the code and develop comprehensive mitigation strategies to enhance the system's security posture.

Conduct a detailed code review of one of the implementations $($Python$,$ Bash, or JavaScript$)($Choose any language of your choice as they are identical but different syntax$)$ to identify potential vulnerabilities.

Evaluate the severity and potential impact of the identified vulnerabilities, considering factors such as the likelihood of exploitation and the impact on the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system.

Finally, develop comprehensive mitigation strategies to address the identified vulnerabilities, incorporating both technical measures $($e$.$g$.,$ code fixes, security controls$)$ and non$-$technical measures $($e$.$g$.,$ user training, security policies$).$

Evaluate the code of your choice and discuss based on the below Criteria:

Part A: Code Review for Vulnerabilities

Part B: Severity and Impact Evaluation

Part C: Mitigation Strategies and Recommendation

Use the below Topic for your Answer Demonstration:

Code $1$ # Authentication and Access Control System $-$ Python Implementation

import hashlib

def authenticate$($username$,$ password$)$:

# Simulated user database with hashed passwords

user$\_$database $=\{$

'alice': $\text{'}5$f$4$dcc$3$b$5$aa$765$d$61$d$8327$deb$882$cf$99\text{'},$ # Password: password

'bob': $\text{'}5$f$4$dcc$3$b$5$aa$765$d$61$d$8327$deb$882$cf$99\text{'}$ # Password: password

$\}$

if username in user$\_$database:

# Hash the provided password

hashed$\_$password $=$ hashlib.md$5($password$.$encode$()).$hexdigest$()$

# Compare the hashed password with the stored hash

if hashed$\_$password $==$ user$\_$database$[$username$]$:

print$("$Authentication successful. Welcome, $\{\}!".$format$($username$))$

return True

else:

print$("$Authentication failed. Invalid password."$)$

return False

else:

print$("$Authentication failed. User not found."$)$

return False

def access$\_$control$($user$\_$role, resource$)$:

# Define access control rules based on user roles

access$\_$control$\_$rules $=\{$

'admin': $[\text{'}$read$\text{'},$ 'write', 'delete'$],$

'user': $[\text{'}$read$\text{'}]$

$\}$

if user$\_$role in access$\_$control$\_$rules:

if resource in access$\_$control$\_$rules$[$user$\_$role$]$:

print$("$Access granted. You have $\{\}$ access to $\{\}.".$format$($resource$,$ user$\_$role$))$

return True

else:

print$("$Access denied. You do not have $\{\}$ access to $\{\}.".$format$($resource$,$ user$\_$role$))$

return False

else:

print$("$Access denied. Invalid user role."$)$

return False

# Example usage:

authenticated $=$ authenticate$(\text{'}$alice$\text{'},$ 'password'$)$

if authenticated:

access$\_$control$(\text{'}$admin$\text{'},$ 'write'$)$