Course

In the Code Review Patch challenges, you are provided with both the vulnerable code and the patch that addresses the vulnerability. Your first task is to examine the code and try to identify the flaw without looking at the patch. This approach helps you develop a critical eye and improve your code review skills. After making your attempt, you can then compare your findings with the patch to see if you identified the correct issue or if there were additional concerns you missed.

One of the challenges involves a piece of Java code from the Shibboleth Identity Provider project. The code has a flaw related to the handling of OpenID Connect (OIDC) request objects. Specifically, the vulnerable code does not properly verify if the request URI is authorized, which could lead to unauthorized access. The provided patch adds necessary checks to ensure that the request URI is found in the metadata, thereby blocking unregistered request URIs and enhancing security.

Through these exercises, you will enhance your ability to spot security flaws and understand how patches mitigate these vulnerabilities. This practical experience is crucial for anyone looking to improve their skills in secure coding and code review.