# Improper Input Validation (CWE-20)

The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.

**Stack:** Go

- Prevalence: High Frequently exploited
- Impact: High 6 high-severity rules
- Prevention: Documented 13 fix examples

**OWASP:** Broken Access Control (A01:2021-Broken Access Control) - #1

## Description

Input validation is a frequently-used technique for checking potentially dangerous inputs in order to ensure that the inputs are safe for processing within the code, or when communicating with other components. When software does not validate input properly, an attacker is able to craft the input in a form that is not expected by the rest of the application.

## Prevention

Prevention strategies for Improper Input Validation based on 4 Shoulder detection rules.

### Go

Parse string inputs to typed values and validate against business rules before use

Use Echo struct binding with validation tags instead of untyped maps

Use Fiber BodyParser with typed structs and validation tags

## Warning Signs

- [MEDIUM] Business-critical value used without proper validation
- [MEDIUM] Gin application missing input validation middleware

## Consequences

- Execute Unauthorized Code
- Modify Application Data
- DoS
- Read Application Data

## Mitigations

- Assume all input is malicious. Use an accept known good input validation strategy
- When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties
- Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs

## Detection

- Total rules: 13
- Languages: python, go, javascript, typescript

## Rules by Language

### Go (4 rules)

- **Business Logic Input Validation** [MEDIUM]: Business-critical values (discount, quantity, refund) used without validation.
  - Remediation: Parse and validate business-critical values before use.

```go
discount, err := strconv.ParseFloat(r.FormValue("discount"), 64)
if err != nil || discount < 0 || discount > 100 {
    http.Error(w, "Invalid discount", 400)
    return
}
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/go/cwe-20/input-validation
- **Echo Missing Input Validation** [MEDIUM]: Echo endpoints accepting user input without struct validation.
  - Remediation: Use struct binding with validation tags.

```go
type Input struct {
    Name string `json:"name" validate:"required"`
}

func handler(c echo.Context) error {
    var input Input
    if err := c.Bind(&input); err != nil {
        return c.JSON(400, map[string]string{"error": err.Error()})
    }
    if err := c.Validate(&input); err != nil {
        return c.JSON(400, map[string]string{"error": err.Error()})
    }
    return nil
}
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/go/cwe-20/input-validation
- **Fiber Missing Input Validation** [MEDIUM]: Fiber endpoints accepting user input without struct validation.
  - Remediation: Use BodyParser with struct validation tags.

```go
type Input struct {
    Name string `json:"name" validate:"required"`
}

func handler(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
    var input Input
    if err := c.BodyParser(&input); err != nil {
        return c.Status(400).JSON(fiber.Map{"error": err.Error()})
    }
    if err := validate.Struct(&input); err != nil {
        return c.Status(400).JSON(fiber.Map{"error": err.Error()})
    }
    return nil
}
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/go/cwe-20/input-validation
- **Gin Missing Input Validation** [MEDIUM]: Gin endpoints accepting user input without struct binding validation.
  - Remediation: Use ShouldBindJSON with struct binding tags for validation.

```go
type Input struct {
    Name  string `json:"name" binding:"required,min=2"`
    Email string `json:"email" binding:"required,email"`
}

func handler(c *gin.Context) {
    var input Input
    if err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&input); err != nil {
        c.JSON(400, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
        return
    }
}
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/go/cwe-20/input-validation