Web Application Security

Web application security, or web application protection, is the combination of protocols and tools IT experts use to protect websites and applications from online criminals. Hackers and cybercriminals are constantly searching for ways to exploit vulnerabilities in these applications to steal data, disrupt operations, or cause malicious harm.

Basic web application security typically includes:

• Protecting the code: IT professionals can secure applications by identifying and patching vulnerabilities in the code. This involves static analysis to scrutinize code for security holes during development and dynamic analysis to test the application for vulnerabilities while it's running.
• Fending off common attacks: We're always on the lookout for common threats like SQL injection (where attackers manipulate databases) and cross-site scripting (where they inject malicious scripts into websites). We implement safeguards to block these attempts.
• Securing data: A core principle is keeping sensitive data confidential. This means strong encryption for transmissions and storage, along with access controls to restrict who can see what data.
• Keeping configurations tight: Misconfigured systems are a hacker's dream. We ensure web servers, databases, and other components are set up securely, with no unnecessary access points.
• Staying updated: Digital threats are constantly evolving. We stay up to date on the latest vulnerabilities and patching procedures to keep applications secure.

• Web application security involves protecting websites and applications from online threats through various protocols and tools.
• Common risks include injection attacks, broken authentication, sensitive data exposure and security misconfigurations.
• Key strategies for web application security include defense in depth, secure development practices, input validation and regular testing.

When dealing with web-based application security, here are the most common risks to watch for:

• Injection attacks (SQL injection, XSS): Imagine a web form asking for your username and password. In a standard query language (SQL) injection attack, a hacker might inject malicious code disguised as input that tricks the application's database into revealing user data or even taking control of the entire database. Similarly, cross-site scripting (XSS) exploits vulnerabilities in how web applications handle user input. Hackers can inject scripts that steal your cookies, redirect you to phishing sites, or deface the website entirely.
• Broken authentication: Weak passwords like "123456" or other easily guessable information are a hacker's dream. Forgoing multifactor authentication (MFA), which adds an extra step to the login process beyond just a password, further weakens defenses. Additionally, predictable session IDs that don't expire or get refreshed can be stolen and used to impersonate legitimate users.
• Sensitive data exposure: This occurs when inadequate security measures expose confidential information like credit card details, Social Security numbers, or other personal data. It can happen if data is transmitted unencrypted or stored in plain text on servers. It’s also more likely to occur if access controls are too permissive, allowing unauthorized users to see sensitive information.
• Security misconfigurations: Web servers, databases, and applications all have configuration settings. If not configured properly, these settings can leave vulnerabilities open for attackers to exploit. For instance, running unnecessary services on a web server or leaving insecure defaults unchanged can create easy entry points for hackers.
• XSS: We covered XSS earlier, but it's so common it deserves another mention. Hackers can inject malicious scripts into various parts of a web application, like forum posts or comment sections. When users view these seemingly harmless posts, the scripts can steal their login information, redirect them to phishing sites, or disrupt the website's functionality.
• Insecure direct object references (IDOR): Imagine a web application that enables you to view your bank account details. An IDOR vulnerability exists if an attacker can manipulate URLs or internal references to access someone else's account information. For instance, changing a user ID in the URL from your account number to another user’s might grant unauthorized access to their data.
• Security misconceptions: Sometimes, the biggest security risk is simply not taking it seriously enough. Underestimating the importance of security, failing to patch vulnerabilities promptly, and lacking a culture of security awareness within an organization can leave applications exposed and vulnerable to attacks.
• Using components with known vulnerabilities: Many web applications rely on third-party libraries, plugins, or frameworks to add functionality. If these components have known security vulnerabilities and haven’t been updated with patches, they can introduce weaknesses into your application that attackers can exploit.
• Insufficient logging and monitoring: Web applications should constantly log activity and monitor for suspicious behavior. Without proper logging, it’s difficult to detect if someone is trying to break in or if a security breach has already occurred. This lack of visibility makes it hard to promptly identify and respond to attacks.
• Session hijacking: Session hijacking occurs when an attacker steals a user’s session ID or cookie, which acts like a virtual key that keeps them logged in. Once stolen, the attacker can use these credentials to impersonate the legitimate user and gain unauthorized access to their account.
• Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks: Imagine a website bombarded with so much traffic that it crashes and becomes unavailable to legitimate users. This is a DoS attack. Attackers can use botnets (networks of compromised devices) to overwhelm a web application with traffic, causing disruptions and preventing users from accessing the service.
• Unvalidated redirects and forwards: Web applications can redirect users to different pages based on certain actions. If these redirects and forwards are not properly validated, attackers can manipulate them to send users to malicious websites designed to steal their data or infect their devices with malware.

Use the below list of common web application security strategies for reference as you configure your application protection solutions.

Defense in depth

Imagine a layered castle protecting a valuable treasure. Web application security follows a similar approach. Typically, teams will use web application security software to implement multiple security controls to create a layered defense that makes it increasingly difficult for attackers to breach the system.

This might involve firewalls at the network perimeter, intrusion detection systems monitoring traffic, secure coding practices within the application itself, and access controls to restrict who can access sensitive data.

Secure development lifecycle (SDL)

Security shouldn’t be an afterthought. A secure development lifecycle (SDL) integrates security considerations throughout the entire development process, from initial design to deployment and maintenance.

This might involve threat modeling to identify potential vulnerabilities, secure coding practices to avoid common pitfalls, code reviews to catch security issues early, and vulnerability scanning to identify weaknesses before launch.

Input validation and sanitization

The security of web applications relies on user input, but this can be a double-edged sword. Malicious actors can inject harmful code through forms, search bars, or other input points, making input validation and sanitization crucial strategies.

Validation ensures data conforms to expected formats (e.g., numbers where numbers belong). Sanitization removes or encodes potentially harmful characters before processing the input, preventing attacks like SQL injection or XSS.

Access control

Not everyone needs access to everything. Access control ensures only authorized users can access specific resources and functionalities within the application.

This involves user authentication mechanisms (like logins with passwords or MFA), authorization rules that define user permissions, and session management to securely manage user access throughout their interaction with the application.

Data security

Sensitive data like credit card numbers or personal information needs robust protection. Data security strategies include encryption (both at rest on servers and in transit over networks) to render data unreadable even if intercepted. Secure storage practices also come into play, with restricted access controls and regular backups to ensure data availability in case of incidents.

Security patch management

Software vulnerabilities are a fact of life. Security patch management involves keeping web applications, frameworks, libraries, and operating systems up to date with the latest security patches. This ensures that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly, minimizing the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit them.

Regular testing and monitoring

Security is an ongoing process. Regular penetration testing by ethical hackers simulates real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities before attackers do. Vulnerability scanning tools continuously scan for known weaknesses. Additionally, security information and event management (SIEM) solutions collect and analyze logs to detect suspicious activity and potential security incidents.

Security awareness and training

Human error can bypass even the best technical controls. Security awareness and training programs educate employees about cyber threats, best practices for secure coding and data handling, and how to identify and report suspicious activity.

The more we rely on the internet, the easier it becomes for cybercriminals to bypass our web applications and security. There are several risks to consider, and pursuing complete web app security is your first line of defense. Here are some primary ways web application security can reduce your overall risk and exposure.

Proactive threat mitigation

• Code reviews: Security experts meticulously examining code during development helps identify potential vulnerabilities, like buffer overflows or SQL injection points. Early detection and patching significantly reduce the window of opportunity for attackers.
• Vulnerability scanning: Using automated tools to scan applications for known vulnerabilities in code libraries, frameworks, and components keeps you out front of potential threats. This proactive approach helps identify and address weaknesses before they can be exploited.
• Penetration testing: Ethical hackers simulating real-world attacks can uncover application vulnerabilities. This helps organizations assess their security posture and identify areas for improvement.

Data protection

• Encryption: Scrambling sensitive data like credit card numbers and Social Security numbers using encryption algorithms makes them unreadable to unauthorized users even if intercepted.
• Access controls: Granular access controls ensure that only authorized users have the necessary permissions to view or modify sensitive information.
• Secure storage: Storing data securely on servers with strong authentication and encryption measures helps keep bad actors at bay. Additionally, data minimization practices ensure only essential data is collected and stored, reducing the attack surface.

Reduced business disruption

• Improved system stability: Secure applications are less prone to crashes or outages caused by vulnerabilities exploited by attackers. This translates to better uptime and availability for legitimate users.
• Incident response planning: Having a plan in place for security incidents helps organizations respond quickly and effectively to minimize damage and downtime.
• Disaster recovery: A robust disaster recovery plan ensures you can restore critical systems and data quickly in case of a successful attack, minimizing business disruption.

Enhanced user trust

• Data privacy: By demonstrating a commitment to data security, organizations build trust with users who know their personal information is protected.
• Transparency: Clear communication about data privacy practices and security measures fosters trust and strengthens customer relationships.

Compliance with regulations

• Data privacy laws: Many industries have regulations, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), that mandate specific data security measures.
• Compliance audits: Application security helps ensure an organization can pass compliance audits and avoid potential fines or legal repercussions.
• Reduced risk of litigation: Data breaches can lead to lawsuits. Strong application security helps mitigate this risk.

You’ll notice there are already some best practices covered in the strategies section. Combining the actionable steps below with those mentioned beforehand will provide a robust library of web application security protocols to keep IT teams and their clients safe:

• Secure coding practices: Employ secure coding techniques from the beginning of the development lifecycle to avoid common vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). This involves input validation to sanitize user input, using parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks, and avoiding hardcoding sensitive data.
• Principle of least privilege (PoLP): Grant users only the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks. This principle minimizes the potential damage if an attacker gains unauthorized access to a user account.
• Regular penetration testing and vulnerability scanning: Conduct regular penetration testing (pen tests) where ethical hackers simulate real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities. Additionally, automated vulnerability scanning tools should be used to continuously scan for known weaknesses in code, libraries, and frameworks.
• Strong authentication and authorization: Implement strong authentication measures like MFA to make it harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access. Additionally, enforce granular authorization controls to restrict user access to specific data and functionalities based on their roles.
• Regular patching and updates: Promptly patch vulnerabilities in web applications, frameworks, libraries, and operating systems. Outdated software with known security holes is a major target for attackers.
• Secure data storage and transmission: Encrypt sensitive data at rest (stored on servers) and in transit (transmitted over networks) using strong encryption algorithms. This renders data unreadable even if intercepted by attackers.
• Session management: Use secure session management techniques to prevent session hijacking. This includes using strong session IDs, setting appropriate expiration times, and invalidating sessions after a period of inactivity.
• Security incident and event management (SIEM): Implement an SIEM solution to collect, analyze, and respond to security incidents. This helps organizations detect suspicious activity, investigate potential breaches, and mitigate risks in a timely manner.

To take a deeper dive into this subject, check out the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10 best practices and see what you can implement within your own company. 

Our everyday lives more than involve the internet — they rely on it. As this trend grows, web application security becomes infinitely more important. Understanding and implementing the concepts above will put you and your team on your way to providing a safer, more enjoyable internet experience for your employees and your customers.

Barracuda is here to help. Try Barracuda Application Protection free, or contact us anytime to chat with one of our expert team members. Your success is our goal, and we pride ourselves on designing the best solution possible for your business.