User Enumeration

Description

User Enumeration occurs when web applications inadvertently reveal whether a username exists on the system, either due to misconfiguration or design decisions. Attackers exploit this by gathering a list of valid usernames to launch targeted attacks, such as brute force or default username and password attacks.

Recommendation

To prevent User Enumeration, ensure the application consistently returns generic error messages for invalid account names, passwords, or other user credentials during the login process. Additionally, delete default system accounts and test accounts before deploying the system into production or exposing it to untrusted networks.

References

• OWASP: Testing for Account Enumeration and Guessable User Account
• OWASP: Account Enumeration
• CWE-200
• CWE-209
• CAPEC-118
• CAPEC-49
• OWASP 2021-A1
• OWASP 2021-A4
• OWASP 2021-A5