Autor: Codenga 28.03.2024

Today's digital world relies on numerous web applications. We use them at every turn: we shop online, manage finances, communicate with others. Web applications are also a fundamental tool for work in many companies. The more we use them, the more threats lurk. It's worth knowing these fundamental threats and how to prevent them.

Why Security Matters

A secure application is one that effectively protects user data and inspires trust. Data breaches, phishing attacks, or hacking attempts can lead to serious consequences. Their outcome could be identity theft or significant financial damage. An application that loses the trust of its users can have very negative consequences for the business relying on it.

Major Threats

Let's take a closer look at the major threats to web application security. Below, we briefly describe the most popular types of attacks.

SQL Injection

This is one of the most common threats to web applications. It involves injecting malicious SQL code into forms or other input fields. Such an attack can lead to theft, modification, or deletion of data stored in the database. Real consequences may include stealing user passwords or other confidential information.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

This is an attack in which a hacker injects malicious JavaScript scripts into the content of a web page or forms, which are then executed by the user's browser. XSS attack allows the hacker to hijack the user's session, steal session cookies, or redirect the user to fake pages.

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

This type of attack exploits the user's trust in a website to perform unauthorized actions. The attacker sends fake HTTP requests from a trusted site, using the user's session. This can allow them to perform various actions on behalf of the user: change passwords, make financial transactions, etc.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)

A DDoS attack aims to overload the web application server by sending a huge number of requests. This makes the website or application unavailable to regular users. DDoS attacks can cause significant financial losses and damage a company's reputation.

How to Defend - Key Security Techniques

Now that we know the main types of attacks, let's look at key techniques to mitigate their occurrence.

Software Updates

Software developers often release security patches that fix known vulnerabilities. It is also important to keep track of publicly available vulnerability information (CVE - Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) and follow recommendations for fixing them.

Authorization and Authentication

User identity verification and access control to application resources are key elements of security. Using strong authentication mechanisms, such as two-factor authentication, helps prevent unauthorized access.

Protection against XSS Attacks

To secure the application against XSS, input data should be properly encoded and validated, and mechanisms such as Content Security Policy (CSP) should be used.

Protection against CSRF Attacks

To prevent CSRF, unique CSRF tokens should be used in forms and appropriate HTTP headers, such as SameSite, should be implemented.

Protection against SQL Injection Attacks

To secure the application against SQL Injection, parameterized SQL queries should be used, and dynamic query building should be avoided.

Protection against DDoS Attacks

To protect against DDoS attacks, you can use CDN (Content Delivery Network) services and implement network traffic filtering and resource access limiting mechanisms.

Secure Storage of Passwords and Data

All sensitive data, such as user passwords, should be stored securely, preferably using hashing algorithms and additional salting. Avoid storing passwords in plain text in the database.

Monitoring and Responding to Incidents

It is important to maintain awareness of application activity by monitoring logs and reporting suspicious events. In case of security incidents, swift action should be taken and appropriate remedial measures implemented.

Continuous Knowledge and Skill Development

Continuous improvement of knowledge about security is also very important. It's obvious, but often overlooked.

Summary

We have discussed the major threats to web applications, such as XSS, CSRF, or SQL Injection attacks, and presented key security techniques that can be applied to protect applications from these threats. It is worth remembering that ensuring the security of web applications is not only an obligation but also a key element in building trust and success of applications among users.