How can you prevent sensitive information from being revealed in error messages?

In my experience, using Generic messages is a good way, I would suggest using in-house developed encrypted error message codes to display in some place of a web application. So that it would be easy to debug for the owner/tier-1 support team without going through the actual logs.

From my experience, the best defense is to "Not log sensitive information in the first place". To prevent sensitive information from being revealed in error messages you could do the following 1. Do not log sensitive information in the first place 2. Use custom error codes in addition to status codes so as not to reveal the information from the error. Attackers use it to run infer information using interpolation attacks 3. Sanitize logs and any output messages to check for sensitive information before displaying. 4. Regular audit of the codebase Overall, if developers always ask themselves "how can this code I wrote be exploited", we can improve the issues mentioned above.

Generic error messages are a valuable tool for enhancing cybersecurity. By avoiding specific details, these messages can prevent attackers from gaining valuable information that could be used to exploit vulnerabilities. This could applies to: * logins * form validation * payment processing * API requests By implementing generic error messages, we can make our applications more resilient to threats and protect our users' data.

Logging errors internally is a critical security measure, ensuring sensitive information remains confidential by storing error details in a secure environment accessible only to authorized personnel. Generic error messages are presented externally, shielding the system from potential vulnerabilities. This practice enhances both security and user experience in web applications.

By far using custom error pages is the best way not only for security aspects but also to enhance the user experience better.

Utilizing SSL certificates establishes trust with users by verifying the authenticity of the web server. This trust is crucial for financial institutions, as customers need assurance that their sensitive data is handled securely. Also, it's crucial to regularly update SSL certificates and encryption libraries to stay resilient against evolving security threats. Continuous monitoring and prompt response to security patches contribute to a robust security posture.

Ensuring that error messages only contain minimal details that are useful to the intended audience and no one else. The messages should not reveal the methods that were used to determine the error i.e., stack trace. Attackers can use detailed information to refine or optimize their original attack, thereby increasing their chances of success. If errors must be captured in some detail, record them in log messages, but consider what could occur if the log messages can be viewed by attackers. Highly sensitive information such as Passwords and Sensitive Personal Information (SPI) data should never be saved to log files, if required encrypt them before saving to the log file.