Vulnerabilities in Web Apps and How to Prevent Apps from those Vulnerabilities

Have you ever wondered why the number of cybercrimes has significantly increased? Why have security issues become a primary concern for many businesses?

Web applications provide various advantages to companies but since they provide easy access to a wide range of audiences, they are becoming one of the most popular targets of hackers. 

What are the top Web App Vulnerabilities and ways of prevention?

1 – Injection

An injection is a process where unfiltered data penetrates a server as a part of the query. The types of injections include SQL, LDAP, OS, and NoSQL. Among these kinds, SQL queries are the most common target of mal-intent. By sending unfiltered data through the SQL query, attackers get complete access to the application’s data. As a result, they can easily get relevant information about administration operations, credit cards, and passwords.

Prevention

– Input validation prevents the improperly formed data from entering the system. To prevent injections, it is pivotal to validate the input. 

– Do database audits on a regular basis

– Well-prepared statements with well-parameterized queries. It is one of the effective ways to forestall SQL injections. These parameters are not specified while creating a statement but they are added during the execution process. Therefore, hackers cannot modify the queries even if the command itself was theirs. 

– Limited user rights. There is no need to connect the database of an application by using accounts with admin privileges. To alleviate the chances of injection, database users should have the most crucial rights. For instance, it is better to provide them access to a particular database without creating a piece of altering information in the tables. 

2 – Broken authentication

Broken authentication is a process that verifies the identity of users by affiliating the incoming information with a set of credentials. It includes biometrical data, passwords, and others. However, broken authentication directly stems from insufficient protection of user credentials, weak passwords, passing ID and URL sessions, and others. 

Prevention

– Multi-factor authentication solves a lot of verification issues and helps in identifying the true users. 

– Rejection of weak passwords. There is an immense need for an application to have a set of requirements for the passwords. Just in case, if the password does not comply with any of these requirements, the users should improve it until and unless it confirms the whole set. Furthermore, it is recommended to limit the lifecycle of passwords without giving access to users to change them.

– Session length. The web application should be capable enough to close the session. It is widely popular in the banking sphere. 

– Security alerts. It helps in keeping the information of customers secure. Broken authentication can be easily prevented by applying security alerts that will notify users about important and suspicious activities like an increased number of emails being sent from your account. 

3 – Sensitive data exposure

This type of web application vulnerability has security issues. It reveals the sensitive information of customers like phone numbers, account information, credit card numbers, and whatnot. The data-exposure vulnerability has been a wake-up call for businesses. It results in broken authentication, injections, and other types of attacks.  

Prevention

– Enhanced data protection. Trusted Mobile App developers need to encrypt both stored and transmitted data by using modern encryption techniques. 

– Security protocols. All the incoming information should have advanced security protocols like HTTPS, SSL, and TSL. 

4 – XML external entities

This type of vulnerability usually occurs due to antediluvian and poorly configured XML processors. By getting advantage of this vulnerability, hackers can get easy access to the back-end and external systems.  

Prevention

– Disablement of DTD (Document type definition). It is one of the most efficient ways the prevention of XXE attacks. However, if it becomes impossible to disable all the DTD simultaneously, then it is important to disable them one by one according to a specific parser.

5 – Broken access control

Broken access control is one of the well-known types of web application vulnerabilities that are not accessible to users. Developers with malicious intentions use it for connecting to other user accounts, changing information, viewing sensitive data, and in worse-case scenarios getting full access to the web application. Access control vulnerabilities often stem from a lack of automated detection and poor functional testing. 

Prevention

– It improves access control. Access control is always operated on the server-side that applies Access control lists and role-based authentication. 

– Broken access control can be forestalled by denying access to functionality. Users should not execute any actions with features they do not have access to like functionalities, field pages, and other actions.

6 – Security misconfiguration

It is one of the most common issues when it comes to mobile applications. This vulnerability occurs due to the lack of security control and issues caused by security errors. The majority of applications tend to have this type of vulnerability due to incomplete configurations and default configurations. Security misconfiguration can result in grave data breaches that can tarnish the reputation of a company and cause major financial losses.

Prevention

– Persistent vulnerability scanning. To avoid security misconfigurations, it is pivotal to conduct a regular scan of your system for detecting any flaws that can become an easy target. 

– Updates. Web applications always require regular updates for eliminating cyber threats and protecting customer information.

7 – Insecure deserialization

When it comes to insecure deserialization, untrusted data damages the web application by executing harmful coding, bypassing authentication, and altering the application’s logic. 

Prevention

– Insecure deserialization can be prevented by monitoring and rejecting sterilized objects from unknown sources. 

– Deserialization with limited access. If the deserialization can be executed by having special access rights, harmful desterilized objects, then the prevention becomes easier. 

Final Thoughts

Security is the key feature when it comes to mobile app development. To stay competitive and stand out, companies throughout the world have come up with new and efficient security solutions. It confronts hackers and provides web application users a seamless and user-friendly experience. 

However, web application security is dependent on the awareness of developers about cyber threats and scheduled monitoring activities. Therefore, always make sure that your software engineers have enough knowledge about web application vulnerabilities and ways of prevention.