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Why I Actively Discourage Online Tooling like jwt.io and Online JSON Validators

jvt.me

71–80 of 170 posts

Re: Why I Actively Discourage Online Tooling like jwt.io and Online JSON Validators

#71
I am now motivated to set up local tooling that is as easy to use as online tooling. I've been nervous at times about pasting data, and usually triple-check first, but that itself takes time, and one day I might be in such a hurry I don't take it.

Better to establish good habits now.

Re: Why I Actively Discourage Online Tooling like jwt.io and Online JSON Validators

#72
post #63

I don't agree. I think online tools are great for quick-and-easy testing, and doesn't require any privacy issues. Mostly the benefit is ergonomics: I don't need to set up a bunch of stuff to do the thing I want, someone has done it because they had the exact same need. The kind of thing I typically do with them: - Diff two files - Check brackets. JSON, jwt, that kind of thing - Run code snippets in a fiddle site - Re…

I was boggling at how this could be tolerably efficient for someone, but I think I see it. My development workflow is terminal-centric, so copying out of the terminal to paste into a browser is extremely painful, whereas running 'diff', 'json_verify', etc. on local files or typing snippets into python/node/etc. from the shell is almost free. I suppose though if I were spending my day in VS Code or any kind of GUI IDE…

Pretty much. I use a mix of terminal and VS Code for development. Quite often I either don't have tools like json_verify, a hex/rgb code converter, jwt pretty printer, etc installed; or I can't remember what/how they're called. At which point its usually easier to slap it in a web search.

Re: Why I Actively Discourage Online Tooling like jwt.io and Online JSON Validators

#73
More important than security issues, you are building a chain of dependencies that likely is undesirable. The service goes away, and you have to change your workflow -- less likely to happen with local software. Also less likely to happen with open source software than commercial software.

What if countries similarly tracked their dependencies on other countries and foreign companies, rather than just their budget? There are some trade-offs where you want to avoid dependency even if it is more costly. Recent scandals with constructs of selling water sources and public infrastructure to lease it back cheaper, comes to mind.

Re: Why I Actively Discourage Online Tooling like jwt.io and Online JSON Validators

#74
For me, it's more about workflow than anything. Its much faster to run some json through `jq` than it is to reach for my mouse, switch to my browser, open a tab and google for json validator, try to find a decent one, then try to copy and paste a huge file over.

If you spend all your time in the browser anyway, it might be different for you.

Re: Why I Actively Discourage Online Tooling like jwt.io and Online JSON Validators

#76
post #30
post #24

I think the author is over dramatic. Like when he says this: >I've been burned a number of times by folks putting a Non-Production JWT or an Open Banking Sandbox certificate into jwt.io. He hasn't been "burned" by that at all. No security breach occured because of that. He does have somewhat of a point, but he goes off into fantasy land trying to justify it.

> these are sensitive in of themselves, as they have implementation details for our services, and as mentioned, certain things could be used outside of Capital One. I imagine these JWTs will find their way into a frontend application in prod (because what else would they be for?), at which point any actual user of theirs could pull the token down and get access to these implementation details. The only thing sensitiv…

It is rather common practice to encrypt the JWT that is presented to the browser which uses it as an opaque value. Pasting a decrypted token on a public site is then definitely a form of information disclosure. Whether it is exploitable or not is a different question.

Re: Why I Actively Discourage Online Tooling like jwt.io and Online JSON Validators

#77
SMH The 'author' (who posts their real name and just gave attackers ideas for new user names) told who his client is, and because of the nature of the post, also some of the security technology and languages they use. I have a feeling this 'security' dev won't be on the project much longer.

Re: Why I Actively Discourage Online Tooling like jwt.io and Online JSON Validators

#78
post #70

Witnessing developers copy-paste code from their editor into textareas on webpages to do formatting/linting/etc induces the same kind of internal cringe-factor as when witnessing general computer users use the mouse for absolutely everything and knowing zero keyboard shortcuts. Or to put it in contemporary terms: Trigger Warning: Unoptimized Workflows

Cringe is one thing, but exposing data gets you walked out the front door. The two are worlds apart in terms of severity.

Re: Why I Actively Discourage Online Tooling like jwt.io and Online JSON Validators

#79
I think that for identical reasons, browser extensions should be severely restricted on dev machines to a whitelist. I think it’s crazy how so many developers install Chrome extensions managed by random anonymous people which often have broad permissions and which auto-update.

Re: Why I Actively Discourage Online Tooling like jwt.io and Online JSON Validators

#80
post #10

It sounded like the OP had some solid proof but eventually it boils down to "I'm suspicious". It's a valid opinion just not an objective one

If there was proof it would be a different thread, but "don't paste credentials into websites you don't control" seems like great advice for life.

And if the app really is completely local to your browser like it says then make a copy and run it locally or on an internal web server for your whole team. Boom. No more "malicious updates" problem.
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