Question

Encrypting URL information

Asked by: adumas

Is it possible to encrypt URL information between pages?

Here is the example that I am trying to get to work...


FormA.cfm
*************************************************

<cfset XString = "ASequenceNumber=#QueryA.ASequenceNumber#&BSequenceNumber=#QueryB.BSequenceNumber#&Qualifier=#Qualifier#">  

<cfset XString = encrypt("#Session.XString#","akey")>

<a href="../FormB.cfm?XString=#XString#">ClickMe</a>

FormB.cfm
*************************************************
<cfoutput>
value of XString                     = decrypt("#XString#","akey") <br>
</cfoutput>

 

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Asked On
2001-02-13 at 11:37:26ID20077276
Tags

url

,

encrypt

Topic

ColdFusion Application Server

Participating Experts
3
Points
50
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: KobiKPosted on 2001-02-13 at 11:49:04ID: 5839846

you can use the internal:
CFUSION_ENCRYPT and CFUSION_DECRYPT functions...

ie:
CFUSION_ENCRYPT(str, "mykey")

 

by: adumasPosted on 2001-02-13 at 12:14:37ID: 5839919

Isn't that the same functions I am using in the code above?

This still doesn't answer how I access the data between forms.

 

by: broughamPosted on 2001-02-13 at 13:25:35ID: 5840114

If you are going to be outputting the value on the next page anyway - then what difference does it make if it's encrypted in the url?

Like I said in the last post you posted on this topic - you shouldn't be passing personal information anywhere.  You should be using a key from the database that refers to that user's record.  Then all you need to do is select the columns you want where the key = url.variable - and you can do that from anywhere in the application on demand.  All you have to worry about is one variable - the primary key.  You don't have to worry about maintaining a list of values across the application for each user.

It will get very sloppy if you try to maintain the user's complete db record in any type of variable - url, session, cookie - whatever.  It's not going to be "elegant".

I hope that makes sense.

 

by: KobiKPosted on 2001-02-13 at 15:46:59ID: 5840434

NO, the functions are not the same at all...
encrypt is not sutable for returning ascii encryped charecters.

i now see your problem. you need to encrype each URL part like:
<cfoutput>
<a href="../FormB.cfm?ASequenceNumber=#cfusion_encrypt(QueryA.ASequenceNumber, 'key')#&BSequenceNumber=#cfusion_encrypt(QueryB.BSequenceNumber, 'key')#">ClickMe</a>
</cfoutput>
etc...

you dont want to "damadge" the "&" signs, or else the URL string wont be parsed correctly.
you can encrypt the whole URL string like:
<cfset XString = cfusion_encrypt("#QueryA.ASequenceNumber#&#QueryB.BSequenceNumber#&#Qualifier#")>
<a href="../FormB.cfm?XString=#URLEncodedFormat(XString)#">ClickMe</a>

but then you need to parse it manualy like (like a CF list with "&" as delimiter):
FormB.cfm
---------
<cfset XString = cfusion_decrypt(URL.XString, 'key')>
<cfoutput>
<p>ASequenceNumber = #ListGetAt(XString, 1, "&")#
<p>BSequenceNumber = #ListGetAt(XString, 2, "&")#
<p>Qualifier = #ListGetAt(XString, 3, "&")#
</cfoutput>

Hope you see my point.

 

by: broughamPosted on 2001-02-20 at 10:37:03ID: 5860783

adumas,

what method did you decide on using, I'm interested in how you are coming along.  Are you still trying to encrypt everything and store it in the url?

Adam.

 

by: jyokumPosted on 2003-07-07 at 21:56:21ID: 8874420

adumas,
No comment has been added lately (867 days), so it's time to clean up this TA.
I will leave a recommendation in the Cleanup topic area for this question:

RECOMMENDATION: Award points to KobiK http:#5840434

Please leave any comments here within 7 days.

-- Please DO NOT accept this comment as an answer ! --

Thanks,

jyokum
EE Cleanup Volunteer

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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