Introduction :
Web apps have become an essential part of our digital lives, offering ease and usefulness. They are nevertheless appealing targets for hackers. Understanding typical web application vulnerabilities is critical for both developers and security experts, as well as consumers. This blog attempts to shed light on the most common vulnerabilities and offer tips for risk mitigation.
Injection Attacks:
- SQL Injection (SQLi): Exploiting inadequate input validation, attackers can inject malicious SQL statements, potentially accessing, modifying, or extracting sensitive data from databases. Developers should employ prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent this vulnerability.
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): XSS occurs when untrusted user input is displayed on a web page, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts. Implementing output encoding, input validation, and content security policies helps mitigate XSS risks.
Authentication and Session Management:
- Brute-Force Attacks: Weak password policies, a lack of account lockouts, or insufficient login throttling mechanisms can lead to successful brute-force attacks. Implementing strong password requirements, multi-factor authentication, and account lockouts helps prevent unauthorised access.
- Session Hijacking and Fixation: Inadequate session management techniques can allow attackers to hijack or fixate user sessions. Implement secure session handling, such as using secure cookies, session timeouts, and random session identifiers.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) and Clickjacking:
- CSRF: This attack tricks authenticated users into performing unwanted actions without their consent by exploiting the trust between the user’s browser and the targeted website. Preventing CSRF requires implementing measures like CSRF tokens, referer header validation, and anti-CSRF frameworks.
- Clickjacking: Attackers deceive users into clicking on hidden or disguised elements, unknowingly performing unintended actions. Techniques like X-Frame-Options and Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help prevent clickjacking attacks.
Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR) and Security Misconfigurations
- Insecure Direct Object References: IDORs are caused when an application exposes internal implementation information, allowing attackers to access unauthorised resources. Developers should use predictable or sequential IDs and implement suitable access restrictions and authorization checks.
- Security Misconfigurations: Misconfigurations of web servers, databases, or application frameworks might expose sensitive information or give attackers simple access points. Update and patch software on a regular basis, stop superfluous services, and adhere to secure configuration recommendations.
File Upload and File Inclusion Vulnerabilities:
- File Upload Vulnerabilities: Insufficient validation of file uploads can lead to arbitrary code execution or unauthorised access to sensitive areas. Employ strict file type verification, limit file size, and store uploaded files outside the web root directory.
- Local File Inclusion (LFI) and Remote File Inclusion (RFI): LFI and RFI vulnerabilities allow attackers to include malicious files from external sources or local file systems, potentially executing arbitrary code or accessing sensitive data. Proper input validation and sanitization, along with secure coding practises, can mitigate these risks.
Conclusion:
Web application vulnerabilities continue to endanger organisations and people. Developers and security experts may improve the resilience of web applications by recognising the common vulnerabilities described in this article and adopting effective security solutions. To discover and resolve vulnerabilities, regular security assessments, code reviews, and penetration testing are required. Developer security knowledge, continued education, and adherence to best practises all contribute to a proactive security posture.
Reference:
10 Common Web Security Vulnerabilities | Toptal®
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