Exposure of sensitive information in logs

Unauthorized Data Disclosure: Log files are often accessible to developers, administrators, or potentially attackers. If sensitive data (like PII, financial details, or credentials) is logged, it creates an unauthorized access point.

Compliance Violations: Logging sensitive data without proper redaction violates various data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA) and internal security policies.

Increased Attack Surface: Log files can become a target for attackers seeking to exfiltrate sensitive data or gain insights into system vulnerabilities.

Reputational Damage: A data breach involving sensitive information exposed in logs can severely harm an organization's reputation and lead to a loss of customer trust.

Debugging Misconceptions: While logging all information may be helpful during development, it's important to make sure that any sensitive user data and system information are not accidentally exposed. Debug logs should not contain any sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, contact information, PII, etc..

Sensitive fields in SObjects (e.g., fields marked as IsEncrypted in Salesforce, or fields identified as PII/PHI in your organization's data dictionary).

Variables holding sensitive information (e.g., API keys, tokens, unencrypted passwords).

Full SObject records or collections that might contain sensitive fields.

Avoid Logging Sensitive Data: Never include sensitive user data or system information directly in System.debug() statements.

Redact or Mask Sensitive Information: If logging is necessary for debugging, implement logic to mask or redact sensitive data before it is written to the logs. For example, log only the last few characters of an ID or replace PII with placeholders.

Use Contextual Logging: Focus on logging contextual information that aids in debugging (e.g., flow of execution, method entry/exit, non-sensitive variable values) rather than raw data.

Implement Secure Logging Frameworks: For complex applications, consider using a custom Apex logging framework that automatically redacts or encrypts sensitive data before writing to logs, and manages log retention securely.

Automate Log Analysis: Regularly review debug logs using automated tools to detect and alert on any accidental exposure of sensitive information.

Developer Training: Educate your development team on secure logging practices and the importance of data privacy. Emphasize the risks associated with exposing sensitive information in logs and best practices for debugging without compromising security.

Cleanup Development Logs: Ensure that System.debug() statements used for temporary debugging are removed or disabled before deploying code to production or higher environments.