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What is web application security?
Web AppSec, also known as Web Application Security, is the concept of ensuring websites function normally even when they are attacked.
This concept is a set of security controls that are integrated into Web applications to protect them from malicious code. Like all software, Web applications will always have defects. These defects can lead to actual vulnerabilities, which could be exploited and pose risks for organizations.
These defects can be exploited, posing a risk to organizations. Web application security protects against them. This involves using secure development practices and implementing security precautions throughout the software development cycle (SDLC).
This ensures that both design-level flaws, as well as implementation-level bugs, can be addressed.
Why is web security testing so important?
Web security testing is designed to identify security flaws in web applications and their configuration. The application layer, i.e.
what runs on the HTTP protocol, is the primary target. Sometimes, testing the security of a Web app involves sending various inputs to cause errors and make it behave unexpectedly.
These "negative tests" are used to determine if the system is performing something it wasn't intended.
Web security testing does not just test the security features of an application (e.g. authorization and authentication).
It is also important to ensure that any other features (e.g. enterprise logic, input validation, and output encryption) are implemented securely. It is important to make sure that all functions in the Web application are secure.
Common web app security flaws
Web apps are vulnerable to attacks that range from targeted database manipulation to widespread network disruption.
Let's look at some common attacks or "vectors", which are commonly used.
Cross-site scripting (XSS) - An attacker can inject a piece of code called client-side scripts onto a webpage to gain access to important information, impersonate users, or trick them into divulging important information.
SQL injection (SQi) - An attacker can exploit vulnerabilities in the way that a database executes search queries.
SQi is used by attackers to access unauthorized information, modify, create or delete user permissions, and manipulate or destroy sensitive data.
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), and Denial-of-Service (DoS), are two types of attacks that attackers can use to overwhelm a target server or the infrastructure surrounding it with various types of attack traffic.
Servers that are unable to process incoming requests effectively will behave slowly and ultimately deny service to legitimate users.
Memory corruption - Unintentionally altering a memory location can cause unexpected behavior in software.
Bad actors will try to exploit memory corruption using exploits like code injections and buffer overflow attacks.
Buffer Overflow - A buffer overflow is a condition in which software writes data to a specified space of memory called a buffer.
Buffer overflow results in data being written to adjacent memory locations. This behavior could be used to inject malicious code into memory and potentially create a vulnerability on the target machine.
Cross-site request fraud (CSRF): Cross-site request falsification is a technique that tricks a victim into making requests that use their authorization or authentication.
An attacker can use the account privileges to send a request pretending to be the victim. An attacker can steal, destroy, or modify sensitive information if an account is compromised. Enterprise administrators and executives, who are highly privileged, are often targeted.
Data breach - This is different from specific attack vectors. A data breach refers to the general release of confidential or sensitive information.
It can happen through malicious actions, or by error. Data breaches can be categorized as anything from a handful of highly valuable records to millions of user accounts.
What are the various types of application security testing?
Dynamic Application Security Test (DAST).
This automated application security test works best for low-risk, internal applications that are subject to regulatory security assessments.
Combining DAST with manual web security testing to identify common vulnerabilities is the best option for medium-risk applications or critical applications that are undergoing minor changes.
Static Application Security Test (SAST).
This security approach to application security offers both automated and manual testing. This method is ideal for scanning bugs in applications that are not being executed in production environments.
It allows developers to scan source code and identify and fix software security flaws.
Penetration Test.
Penetration testing is a manual application security test that is recommended for critical applications and those under major change.
Application penetration testing includes adversary-based testing and business logic to identify advanced attack scenarios.
RASP (Runtime Application Self Protection).
This constantly evolving security strategy for application security includes a variety of technologies to insulate an application so attacks can be tracked as they occur and, ideally blocked in real-time.
How can application security testing help reduce the risk to your business?
There are many issues that can affect a Web application in today’s world. Your enterprise will be able to identify the possible attacks on an application and test them for vulnerabilities before they are too late.
To prevent problems, mitigation controls can be put in place during the initial stages of the SDLC by identifying the root cause.
These attacks can also be used to identify known points of interest in Web application security testing.
Recognizing the potential impact of an attack on your business is crucial for managing its risk. The effects of a successful attack can also be used to assess the severity of the vulnerability.
Your firm can prioritize remediation efforts if issues are found during a security audit. To minimize the risk for your enterprise, start with issues of critical importance and move on to issues that have a lower impact.
Before an issue is identified, it's important to evaluate the potential impact on each application in your company's application library.
This will allow you to prioritize application security testing. Web security testing can now be scheduled to target high-profile applications in your company's application library.
This will allow you to schedule targeted testing that lowers the risk to the business.
Common misconceptions about web application security:
#1 Misconception: Security is not a problem of Development
Reality: Application Security is an essential part of modern web development solutions.
Let's begin with the most common misconception about application security: security is someone else’s problem.
It's easy to forget security and just focus on building software, regardless of whether you trust tools, security systems, or security personnel. Web applications are so complex that they can be attacked in many different ways. It is not possible to secure them.
Security must be everyone's business, starting with development. Because web application vulnerabilities are eventually discovered, fix requests end up in development. This is essential to avoid bottlenecks and professional burnout.
#2 Misconception: Our web framework and components handles security risks
Reality: While a good framework can help prevent security problems, it is not enough to be able to do so on its own.
Web frameworks and libraries revolutionized development. They provide the infrastructure to create production sites and applications in a fraction of what it takes to develop them from scratch.
It is important to choose a framework that has a strong security record. This will help you avoid certain types of technical vulnerabilities, but only when the framework is being used as intended.
We have already mentioned that it is difficult to introduce a cross-site scripting vulnerability using React unless you intentionally ignore the built-in safeguards. Frameworks are not designed to prevent all vulnerabilities. They can be used in a limited number of cases and should only be used as a starting point for secure code.
#3 Misconception: We run security checks on the IDE so that we are already secure
Reality
Most custom web development solutions and tools include a code security checker.
Sometimes, it is even a free plugin. They have the advantage of providing security awareness right from the first line of code. However, they have some drawbacks.
They can only detect a small number of issues and can be susceptible to false alarms which confuse valid alerts with those that are not relevant. Although it's a good idea to have a security-oriented tool in your IDE, it's only one step on the path to secure applications.
Just as a build that has no syntax errors does not guarantee it will work correctly, passing all your static safety checks does not guarantee that an app is secure. There are so many things that could go wrong.
#4 Misconception: Browsers are protected against attacks by having built-in code security
Reality Browser Security is a complement to application security, but it was never meant to replace it.
Browser vendors tried to build XSS filters in browsers during the heyday of cross-site scripting (XSS), everywhere around a decade ago.
These safeguards were not fully effective, and have been removed by most modern browsers. However, it is still the responsibility of the browser to protect web applications from attacks. Browser security is an important and separate area of cybersecurity.
You should not rely on your browser to provide additional protection for your applications. Web developers should instead follow industry standards and specifications in order to maximize the likelihood that browsers will correctly process and render their applications securely.
#5 Misconception: All of our websites use HTTPS to ensure security
Reality: HTTPS protects you only from snooping or tampering, and not from malicious traffic.
The padlock icon and the "This website has been secured" message can give you a false sense that everything is secure.
If HTTPS is enabled everywhere and all traffic is encrypted, then it is safe. While enforcing HTTPS (by establishing HSTS headings), is a critical best practice to prevent man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks it does not provide protection against application-level threats where the threat actor already owns a valid connection.
An attacker may be able to access or create a user account in HTTPS-only vulnerable web applications and then use that account to execute SQL injection, privilege elevation, and other exploits. All this while maintaining a secure encrypted connection.
#6 Misconception: The app runs only on an internal network so security is not an issue
Reality. Advanced attackers have the ability to use compromised web-facing systems in order to attack vulnerable web applications within internal networks.
The myth that everything that is on an internal network and not accessible via the Internet is inherently secure from web-based attacks pushes the idea of "someone else's issue" further.
Advanced attackers can target internal systems through vulnerabilities like server-side request forgery if they are present in custom web applications. This is in addition to the fact that many organizations do not have an internal network that can be physically isolated, but only use a private cloud service.
This is a different security problem.
#7 Misconception: We allow VPN access so that our applications can be secured
Reality: While VPNs can be a powerful tool for Internet privacy, they are not an all-encompassing solution to protecting your web assets.
Virtual private networks (or VPNs) have become a standard part of enterprise IT. They are now used as a remote-working counterpart to the traditional office network.
While VPNs can provide more separation and access control than internal networks, they should not be considered a guarantee that your web applications are secure. Any vulnerable internal applications that are accessible via the VPN could be hacked by attackers using stolen credentials, compromised employee accounts, or a little social engineering.
#8 Misconception: Our web app firewall will do vulnerability scanning and stop all attacks
Reality: WAFs are not intended to be the only line for application defense. This is especially true if they are hacked by determined attackers.
Another AppSec myth that originated with network perimeter defense is that just a firewall will keep you safe. Web application firewalls filter HTTP traffic to detect and block attacks.
They can also be used as load balancers and provide additional security. They cannot detect all attacks and are not designed to do so. As long as there is an underlying vulnerability, attackers will find ways to exploit it to bypass WAF rules.
#9 Misconception: Backups are available so that we can restore them in the event of an emergency
Realism: While backups are essential for data retention and business continuity, they won't mitigate the collateral damage of a data breach.
Backup strategies have always been an integral part of security policies. There is no substitute for good backups and a reliable plan for recovery.
Even the most robust backups can't stop cybersecurity incidents. Knowing that you have a copy of any confidential data lost will not be a comfort if it is stolen or leaked won't. Backups are not able to prevent data loss.
They won't be able to help with any other potential consequences, such as downtime and reputation loss. It is equally important to make your applications secure from the beginning and be ready for recovery.
#10 Misconception: Nobody could possibly want us to be attacked
Reality
This misconception is not only for developers. It also plays into the human belief that bad things can only happen to others.
Organizations believe that they are not a target for smaller businesses that don't fully understand the extent of their attack surface. They hope against all odds that they won't be attacked by application security.
Real cybercriminals aren't lone wolves searching for prey on the internet, but rather organized criminal organizations that flood the web with automated attack probes 24 hours a day.
Malicious bots actually account for 39% e traffic, more than all human users. Once the bots perform vulnerability scanning on your application and discover a weakness (think log4Shell), they will add you to the list.
You can only make sure that your applications are as secure and safe as possible.
#11 Misconception: Hackers are only interested in popular custom web applications and large organizations.
Reality
We have often seen startups and small and medium-sized enterprises believing that they don't need security measures because they aren't large organizations.
Contrary to popular belief, 43% of cyberattacks are targeted at small businesses. Small businesses are also at risk in 70% of data breaches.
#12 Misconception: Security Vulnerabilities are not an issue for us.
Reality
Many decision-makers believe that their applications are secure because they haven't been affected by a data breach.
Their applications and their components are mature in terms of security and therefore not vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
It doesn't mean you are secure if you don't have a security breach. You might also be unaware that your security has been compromised.
You may not be aware of potential vulnerabilities in your system because you don't perform regular app security checks. These vulnerabilities can be used by hackers to gain access to your system. If you're not careful, the hackers could use your data to steal it.
If you're very unfortunate, your data will be stolen. Scary!
Fail: Systematic AppSec is less risky and requires less work for everyone
Modern web and mobile application security is multi-layered and changing. It is not enough to just firefight occasionally.
There are many vulnerabilities that keep coming back and adding more problems to the ever-growing backlog. It is dangerous to ignore application security while developing software for any of these reasons. This can also lead to more work than it saves.
It makes more sense to integrate security testing and remediation into the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
Looking for custom web development services, that offer solutions with a high level of security, hire web developers at CIS!
