drupal-authentication-failures.mdc

---
description: Detect and prevent identification and authentication failures in Drupal as defined in OWASP Top 10:2021-A07
globs: *.php, *.inc, *.module, *.install, *.info.yml, *.theme
alwaysApply: false
---
# Drupal Identification and Authentication Failures Standards (OWASP A07:2021)

This rule enforces security best practices to prevent identification and authentication failures in Drupal applications, as defined in OWASP Top 10:2021-A07.

## Rule Details

- **Name:** drupal_authentication_failures

- **Description:** Detect and prevent identification and authentication failures in Drupal as defined in OWASP Top 10:2021-A07

## Filters
- file extension pattern: `\\.(php|inc|module|install|theme|yml)$`
- file path pattern: `.*`

## Enforcement Checks
- Conditions:
  - pattern `UserPasswordConstraint|PasswordPolicy|user\\.settings\\.yml` – Ensure strong password policies are configured to require complexity, length, and prevent common passwords.
    - Pattern 1: Weak or missing password policies
  - pattern `(authenticate|login|auth).*function[^}]*return\\s+(TRUE|true|1)\\s*;` – Custom authentication functions should implement proper validation and not return TRUE without checks.
    - Pattern 2: Custom authentication without proper validation
  - pattern `==\\s*\\$password|===\\s*\\$password|strcmp\\(|password_verify\\([^,]+,[^,]+\\$plainTextPassword` – Avoid direct password comparison. Use Drupal's built-in password verification services.
    - Pattern 3: Improper password comparison
  - pattern `(username|user|pass|password|pwd)\\s*=\\s*['\"][^'\"]+['\"]` – Hardcoded credentials detected. Store credentials securely outside of code.
    - Pattern 4: Credentials in code
  - pattern `drupal_get_token\\(|form_token|\\$form\\[['\"]#token['\"]\\]\\s*=|drupal_valid_token\\(` – Ensure proper CSRF protection is implemented for all authenticated actions.
    - Pattern 5: Missing or weak CSRF protection
  - pattern `setcookie\\(|session_regenerate_id\\(false\\)|session_regenerate_id\\([^\\)]*` – Use Drupal's session management. If custom code is required, ensure secure session handling practices.
    - Pattern 6: Insecure session management
  - pattern `user\\.flood\\.yml|flood_control|UserFloodControl|user_failed_login_` – Ensure proper account lockout and flood control mechanisms are configured to prevent brute force attacks.
    - Pattern 7: Missing account lockout protection
  - pattern `user_pass_reset|password_reset|reset.*token` – Verify password reset functionality uses secure tokens with proper expiration and validation.
    - Pattern 8: Insecure password reset implementation
  - pattern `tfa|two_factor|multi_factor|2fa` – Consider implementing multi-factor authentication for sensitive operations or user roles.
    - Pattern 9: Lack of multi-factor authentication
  - pattern `\\$user->name\\s*=\\s*['\"]admin['\"]|\\$name\\s*=\\s*['\"]admin['\"]|->values\\(['\"](mdc:name|mail)['\"]\\)\\s*->\\s*set\\(['\"][^\\'\"]+['\"]\\)` – Avoid creating default administrator accounts or test users in production code.
    - Pattern 10: Default or test accounts

## Suggestions
- Guidance:
**Drupal Authentication Security Best Practices:**

1. **Password Policies:**
   - Use Drupal's Password Policy module for enforcing strong passwords
   - Configure minimum password length (12+ characters recommended)
   - Require complexity (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, special characters)
   - Implement password rotation for sensitive roles
   - Check passwords against known breached password databases

2. **Authentication Infrastructure:**
   - Use Drupal's core authentication mechanisms rather than custom solutions
   - Implement proper account lockout after failed login attempts
   - Consider multi-factor authentication (TFA module) for privileged accounts
   - Implement session timeout for inactivity
   - Use HTTPS for all authentication traffic

3. **Session Management:**
   - Use Drupal's session management system rather than PHP's session functions
   - Configure secure session cookie settings in settings.php
   - Implement proper session regeneration on privilege changes
   - Consider using the Session Limit module to restrict concurrent sessions
   - Properly destroy sessions on logout

4. **Account Management:**
   - Implement proper account provisioning and deprovisioning processes
   - Use email verification for new account registration
   - Implement secure password reset mechanisms with limited-time tokens
   - Apply the principle of least privilege for user roles
   - Regularly audit user accounts and permissions

5. **Authentication Hardening:**
   - Monitor for authentication failures and suspicious patterns
   - Implement IP-based and username-based flood control
   - Log authentication events for security monitoring
   - Consider CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA for login forms
   - Use OAuth or SAML for single sign-on where appropriate

## Validation Checks
- Conditions:
  - pattern `password_verify\\(|UserPassword|\\\\Drupal::service\\(['\"]password['\"]\\)` – Using Drupal's password services correctly.
    - Check 1: Proper password handling
  - pattern `\\$form\\[['\"]#token['\"]\\]\\s*=\\s*['\"][^'\"]+['\"]` – Form includes CSRF protection token.
    - Check 2: CSRF token implementation
  - pattern `\\$request->getSession\\(\\)|\\\\Drupal::service\\(['\"]session['\"]\\)` – Using Drupal's session management services.
    - Check 3: Proper session management
  - pattern `user\\.flood\\.yml|flood|user_login_final_validate` – Implementing user flood protection.
    - Check 4: User flood control

## Metadata
- Priority: high
- Version: 1.1
- Tags: security, drupal, authentication, identification, owasp, language:php, framework:drupal, category:security, subcategory:authentication, standard:owasp-top10, risk:a07-authentication-failures
## References
- https://owasp.org/Top10/A07_2021-Identification_and_Authentication_Failures/
- https://www.drupal.org/docs/security-in-drupal/drupal-security-best-practices
- https://www.drupal.org/project/tfa
- https://www.drupal.org/project/password_policy