best practices for securing web applications AGAINST attacks.
Published: 2023-07-30 18:36:39

---
title: best practices for securing web applications AGAINST attacks.
published: true
date: 2023-02-21 15:29:21 UTC
tags: 
canonical_url: https://danrez.hashnode.dev/best-practices-for-securing-web-applications-against-attacks
---

### **Table of Contents:**

**I. Introduction**

A. Definition of web application security

B. Importance of web application security

**II. Common Web Application Security Threats**

A. Injection Attacks

B. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks

C. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Attacks

D. Authentication and Session Management Attacks

E. Malware and File Upload Attacks

F. Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks

**III. Best Practices for Securing Web Applications**

**A. Secure Coding Practices**

1. Input Validation and Sanitization

2. Parameterized Queries and Prepared Statements

3. Session Management and Authentication

**B. Network Security Measures**

1. Firewall and Intrusion Detection Systems

2. SSL and TLS Encryption

3. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

**C. System Hardening Measures**

1. Regular Software Updates and Patching

2. Secure Configuration of Servers and Databases

3. Access Control and User Privileges

**IV. Web Application Security Testing**

**A. Types of Testing**

1. Vulnerability Scanning

2. Penetration Testing

3. Web Application Firewalls

**B. Testing Tools and Techniques**

1. Automated Scanning Tools

2. Manual Testing Techniques

3. Code Review and Analysis Tools

**V. Conclusion**

A. Recap of Best Practices for Web Application Security

B. Future Trends and Developments in Web Application Security

C. Final Thoughts

**VI. References A. List of sources used in the article**

* * *

## I. **Introduction**

**_<mark>Definition of web application security</mark>_**

Web application security refers to protecting web applications and their associated systems and data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, destruction, or disruption. It involves a set of practices and technologies that aim to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of web applications and their data. Web application security is critical to cybersecurity, as web applications are among the most common targets for cyberattacks and data breaches. The goal of web application security is to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in web applications and their underlying infrastructure to prevent exploitation by attackers.

**_<mark>Importance of web application security</mark>_**

As already established, the internet plays a big part in the success of many businesses, big and small. If you can get the security of your applications right, there are several benefits.

- **Protection of Sensitive Data:**

- **No Business Disruptions:**

- **Reputation and Trust:**

- **Continuous Evolution of Threats:**

* * *

## **II. Common Web Application Security Threats**

- **Injection attacks:** These attacks involve injecting malicious code into an application's inputs, such as user input fields, to execute unauthorized actions, extract sensitive data, or gain control of the underlying system.

- **Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks:** These attacks involve injecting malicious scripts into a web page viewed by other users, often through user input fields, to steal sensitive information, modify the page's content, or redirect users to a malicious site.

- **Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks:** These attacks involve tricking a user into unknowingly performing an unauthorized action on a web application, often by exploiting trust in a known website, to act such as changing a password or transferring money.

- **Authentication and session management attacks:** These attacks involve exploiting vulnerabilities in an application's authentication and session management mechanisms to bypass authentication or hijack an existing session.

- **Malware and file upload attacks:** These attacks involve uploading malicious files, often disguised as legitimate files, to a web application, which can then be executed by the application or users to steal sensitive data or gain control of the underlying system.

- **Denial of service (DoS) and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks:** These attacks involve overwhelming a web application with requests, often from multiple sources, to consume system resources, slow down or crash the application, and make it unavailable to legitimate users.

* * *

## **III. Best Practices for Securing Web Applications:**

**<mark>A. Secure Coding Practices</mark>**

Secure coding practices are a critical component of web application security. These practices aim to reduce the likelihood of vulnerabilities being introduced into an application's code during development. Some of the key secure coding practices for web applications include:

- **Input validation and sanitization:** All user inputs, such as data submitted through forms, should be validated and sanitized to ensure that they are of the expected format and do not contain malicious code.

- **Parameterized queries and prepared statements:** All database queries should use parameterized queries and prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks.

- **Session management and authentication:** Strong authentication and session management practices, such as enforcing strong password policies and using multi-factor authentication, can help prevent unauthorized access to web applications.

**<mark>B. Network Security Measure</mark>**

Network security measures are essential for protecting web applications from attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in the underlying infrastructure. Some of the key network security measures for web applications include:

1. **Firewalls and intrusion detection systems:** A firewall is a network security device that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic based on a set of predefined rules. A properly configured firewall can help prevent unauthorized access to a web application.

2. **SSL and TLS Encryption:** Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are protocols that provide encryption and authentication for web communications. SSL was first introduced in the 1990s and has since been replaced by TLS, which is the current standard.

**SSL** and **TLS** use a combination of public key and symmetric key encryption to protect data in transit between a client (such as a web browser) and a server. When a user accesses a web application over HTTPS (HTTP Secure), the application's server presents a digital certificate that is used to authenticate the server's identity. The client and server then establish a secure connection using SSL or TLS, which encrypts all data exchanged between the two parties. [Read more here](https://dev.to/techschoolguru/a-complete-overview-of-ssl-tls-and-its-cryptographic-system-36pd).

**_SSL and TLS provide several key benefits for web application security:_**

- **Encryption:**  **SSL** and **TLS** provide strong encryption for data in transit between a client and server, protecting sensitive data such as passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal information from interception.

- **Authentication:**  **SSL** and **TLS** use digital certificates to authenticate the identity of web servers, helping prevent man-in-the-middle attacks and other forms of spoofing.

- **Data Integrity:**  **SSL** and **TLS** use message authentication codes (MACs) to verify the integrity of data exchanged between a client and server, helping prevent data tampering.

- **Trust:** The use of **SSL** and **TLS** can help build trust with web application users, who may be more likely to trust an application that uses encryption to protect their data.

- Virtual private networks (VPNs) can play a role in web application security by providing an additional layer of protection for sensitive data and network traffic. VPNs can be used to create a secure and encrypted connection between a user's device and a web application, which can help prevent unauthorized access, interception, and tampering.

- One way that VPNs can be used to enhance web application security is by providing a secure channel for remote users to access the application. For example, if a web application is only accessible through a company's internal network, remote users may need to use a VPN to securely connect to the network and access the application. This can help prevent unauthorized access to the application and protect sensitive data from interception.

- VPNs can also be used to protect against attacks that target the network layer, such as distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. By encrypting traffic and providing a secure tunnel, VPNs can help mitigate the impact of these types of attacks and prevent the application from becoming overwhelmed and unavailable.

- However, it's important to note that VPNs are not a panacea for web application security and should be used in conjunction with other security measures, such as firewalls, access controls, and vulnerability scanning. Additionally, the security of a VPN depends on the quality of the encryption and the security of the VPN provider, so it's important to choose a reputable provider and configure the VPN properly. [Find the list of the most popular VPNs here](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/best-vpn/)

**<mark>C. System Hardening Measures</mark>**

**1. Regular Software Updates and Patching:** Regular software updates and patching are critical for keeping web applications secure. Web applications are complex systems that rely on a wide range of software components, such as web servers, databases, programming languages, and third-party libraries. These components may have flaws that attackers can use to gain unauthorized access to the application or its data. Here are some reasons why regular software updates and patching are important for web application security:

- **Vulnerability management:** Regular updates and patching help to manage the risk of software vulnerabilities. As vulnerabilities are discovered, software vendors release patches and updates to fix them. Applyingpromptlya timely manner can help prevent attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities.

- **Compliance:** Many compliance standards and regulations require web applications to be regularly updated and patched. Failure to comply with these standards can result in fines, legal liabilities, and damage to the organization's reputation.

- **Protection against new threats:** New security threats and vulnerabilities are discovered regularly. Regular updates and patching help protect against these new threats by ensuring that software is up to date and that security features are working as intended.

- **Improved performance:** Updates and patches can also improve the performance and stability of the web application by fixing bugs, improving code efficiency, and adding new features.

2 **. Secure Configuration of Servers and Databases:** A critical aspect of web application security is the secure configuration of servers and databases. Web applications are typically hosted on servers and store and retrieve data through databases. Securely configuring these systems helps to reduce the risk of attacks and data breaches. Here are some key security configuration considerations for web application security:

- **Database hardening:** Databases used by web applications should also be hardened by disabling unnecessary features and services, encrypting sensitive data, and utilizing strong authentication methods. Only authorized users should have access to the database, and connections should be encrypted to prevent eavesdropping.

- **SSL/TLS encryption:** To encrypt data transmission between the server and the user's browser, Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) should be used. This helps to protect sensitive data from interception and theft, such as login credentials and financial information.

- **Web application firewalls** (WAFs) can be used to protect against common web application attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). WAFs can also aid in the prevention of attacks that take advantage of flaws in the underlying server and database software.

- **Regular updates and patches** : To address known vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of attacks, server and database software should receive regular updates and patches.

- **Access control:** Access to the server and database should be restricted to only authorized personnel. Strong authentication methods, such as two-factor authentication, should be used to ensure that users have only the permissions they need to perform their jobs.

- Access to web application resources should be restricted based on the user's organizational role. A user with administrative privileges, for example, should have access to more resources than a regular user. Role-based access control ensures that users only have access to the resources they require to perform their job duties.

- The least privilege principle states that users should only be granted the minimum level of access required to perform their job duties. This helps to mitigate the impact of any potential security breaches.

- Password policies should be implemented to ensure that users create strong passwords and change them regularly. This contributes to the prevention of unauthorized access to web application resources.

- Two-factor authentication: To add an extra layer of security to user logins, use two-factor authentication. Users must provide two forms of authentication, such as a password and a one-time code sent to their mobile device, to proceed.

- Web application sessions should be managed so that users are automatically logged out after a certain amount of inactivity. If a user leaves their computer unattended, this helps to prevent unauthorized access.

- Access to web application resources should be audited and monitored to detect any unauthorized access or suspicious activity. This aids in the timely identification and response to security incidents.

## IV. **Web Application Security Testing**

**<mark>A. Types of Testing</mark>**

1. **Vulnerability Scanning**

- Vulnerability scanning is a type of web application security testing that identifies potential security flaws in a web application. This procedure entails scanning a web application with automated tools for known vulnerabilities and weaknesses in its architecture, configuration, or code. The goal of vulnerability scanning is to identify security flaws that attackers could exploit to gain unauthorized access to the application or its data.

- Vulnerability scanning is typically done with automated tools like vulnerability scanners or web application scanners, which are designed to scan web applications for known vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other types of vulnerabilities.

- The benefits of vulnerability scanning include identifying potential security issues before they can be exploited by attackers, improving the overall security posture of a web application, and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.

- It is important to note that vulnerability scanning is only one component of a comprehensive web application security testing program. Other types of security testing, such as penetration testing, code review, and threat modelling, may be required to fully identify and address all potential security risks.

- Pen testing is a type of web application security testing that involves attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in a web application to determine whether an attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems. This testing is typically carried out by skilled security professionals who simulate the behaviour of an attacker to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a web application.

- The goal of penetration testing is to identify potential security weaknesses and provide recommendations to mitigate or eliminate those vulnerabilities. A penetration testing engagement typically involves the following steps:

- **Planning and reconnaissance:** In this phase, the penetration testing team will gather information about the web application, such as its architecture, technologies, and components. They will also identify potential attack vectors that can be used to gain unauthorized access to the application.

- **Scanning and enumeration:** In this phase, the penetration testing team will use automated tools to scan the web application for vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other types of vulnerabilities. They will also manually enumerate the application to identify potential vulnerabilities that cannot be detected by automated tools.

- **Exploitation:** In this phase, the penetration testing team will attempt to exploit the vulnerabilities identified in the previous phase to gain unauthorized access to the application or its data. The team may use various techniques, such as social engineering, to trick users into revealing sensitive information.

- **Post-exploitation:** In this phase, the penetration testing team will attempt to maintain access to the web application or its data to test the application's security controls.

- **Reporting:** In this phase, the penetration testing team will provide a detailed report of their findings and recommendations to address any vulnerabilities identified during the engagement.

Organizations can use penetration testing to identify potential security flaws and improve the overall security posture of their web applications. It can also assist organizations in meeting industry standards and regulations requiring regular security testing. However, it is important to note that penetration testing should be only one component of a comprehensive security testing program that also includes vulnerability scanning and code review.

1. **Web Application Firewalls**

- A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a type of firewall that is specifically designed to protect web applications from various attacks, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other web-based attacks. WAFs work by monitoring the traffic to and from the web application and applying a set of rules to block malicious requests.

- WAFs can be deployed either on-premises or in the cloud, and they can be configured to provide a range of security features, including web application protection, intrusion prevention, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection.

- One of the primary advantages of using a WAF is that it can help protect against zero-day attacks, which are attacks that exploit vulnerabilities that are not yet known to the security community. WAFs can detect and block these types of attacks by analyzing the traffic and applying behavioural analysis techniques.

- Overall, Web Application Security Testing and Web Application Firewalls are both important tools for protecting web applications from malicious attacks and ensuring the security of sensitive data.

- Web application automated scanning tools are software programs that automate the process of scanning web applications to identify potential security vulnerabilities. These tools work by sending requests to the web application and analyzing the responses to identify potential security weaknesses, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other web-based attacks.

- Examples of web application automated scanning tools include [Burp Suite, Acunetix](https://www.acunetix.com/) [OWASP ZAP](https://owasp.org/www-project-zap/) and [Nessus](https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus). These tools typically offer a range of features, including vulnerability scanning, crawling, and reporting.

- Note that there are many other web application automated scanning tools available, and the specific tool or tools chosen for a particular project will depend on various factors such as the type of application being tested, the level of security required, and the budget available.

- **<mark>To carry out this technique, the following steps can be followed:</mark>**

1. Identify the target web application: Determine the web application to be tested and the scope of the testing.

2. Configure the scanning tool: Install and configure the automated scanning tool according to the specific requirements of the web application, such as authentication credentials and proxy settings. The process for configuring an automated scanning tool will vary depending on the specific tool being used and the requirements of the web application being tested. However, most scanning tools will have documentation and tutorials available that can guide how to configure the tool to meet the requirements of the web application. **<mark>Here are some links to documentation and tutorials for configuring the web application automated scanning tools mentioned earlier:</mark>**

- [Burp Suite](https://portswigger.net/burp/documentation/desktop/getting-started/proxy-setup/browser-configuration)

- [Acunetix](https://www.acunetix.com/blog/docs/configure-scanning-options/)

- [Nessus](https://docs.tenable.com/nessus/Content/Configure.htm)

- [OWASP ZAP](https://www.zaproxy.org/docs/desktop/start-hacking/)

1. Start the scan: Initiate the scanning process using the automated tool. The tool will send requests to the web application and analyze the responses to identify potential vulnerabilities.

2. Analyze the results: Review the results of the scan and identify potential security vulnerabilities. The automated scanning tool will typically provide a report detailing the vulnerabilities that were detected, along with recommendations for remediation.

3. Remediate the vulnerabilities: Address the identified vulnerabilities by following the remediation recommendations provided by the scanning tool.

4. Re-scan: Re-run the automated scan to verify that the vulnerabilities have been successfully remediated.

It is critical to understand that automated scanning tools are not a substitute for manual testing and analysis. If you are looking for a unique way to express yourself, this is the place to be.

1. **Manual Testing Techniques**

Manual testing techniques are methods used to identify potential security vulnerabilities and ensure the reliability and usability of web applications through manual testing, without the use of automated testing tools. Here are some commonly used manual testing techniques:

- Exploratory Testing: This involves exploring the web application without a predefined test plan to identify potential vulnerabilities, defects, and other issues. Testers will typically try different inputs and scenarios to see how the application responds.

- Functional Testing: This involves testing the functionality of the web application to ensure that it meets the intended requirements. This may involve testing individual functions or features, as well as end-to-end testing to ensure that the application works as intended.

- Usability Testing: This involves testing the user interface of the web application to ensure that it is user-friendly and easy to use. This may involve testing the layout, design, navigation, and other aspects of the user interface.

- Security Testing: This involves testing the web application for potential security vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other web-based attacks. Testers may use tools such as web proxies and browser extensions to test for security vulnerabilities, as well as manually test different inputs and scenarios to identify potential weaknesses.

- Compatibility Testing: This involves testing the web application on different platforms, browsers, and devices to ensure that it works correctly across a range of different environments.

- Performance Testing: This involves testing the performance of the web application under different load conditions to ensure that it can handle a high volume of traffic and requests.

Manual testing techniques require human expertise, and they can be time-consuming and labour-intensive. However, they are an important part of a comprehensive web application security testing program, as they can identify potential vulnerabilities that may not be detected by automated scanning tools.

1. **Code Review and Analysis Tools**

Code review and analysis tools are used to examine the source code of a web application to identify potential security vulnerabilities, as well as other issues related to performance, reliability, and maintainability. These tools can help developers identify potential issues early in the development process before they become more difficult and expensive to fix. Here are three examples of code review and analysis tools:

- [SonarQube](https://docs.sonarqube.org/latest/): This is an open-source platform for continuous code quality inspection, with a focus on security and reliability. It can analyze code written in multiple programming languages, including Java, C++, and JavaScript, and provide detailed reports on potential security vulnerabilities, code smells, and other issues.

- [Veracode](https://www.veracode.com/): This is a commercial application security testing platform that includes a code analysis tool. Veracode can scan the source code of a web application and identify potential security vulnerabilities and compliance issues, as well as guide how to fix them.

- [Checkmarx](https://checkmarx.com/): This is another commercial code review and analysis tool that is designed to identify potential security vulnerabilities in web applications. It can analyze the source code of a web application and provide detailed reports on potential issues, as well as provide guidance on how to fix them.

Code review and analysis tools are an important component of a comprehensive web application security testing program because they can identify potential security vulnerabilities that other testing methods may miss. They can also help to improve the code's overall quality and maintainability, resulting in a more secure and reliable web application.

## **V. Conclusion**

- In today's digital landscape, web application security is more important than ever before. The rise of cyber-attacks and data breaches has made it essential for businesses to take proactive measures to secure their web applications against potential threats. This article has covered some of the best practices for securing web applications against attacks, including network security, authentication and access control, input validation and output encoding, and secure coding practices.

- As the technology and methods used by attackers continue to evolve, businesses need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in web application security. Some future trends and developments in web application security may include the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify and mitigate potential security threats, as well as the increased use of automation and DevSecOps practices to integrate security into the development process.

- In conclusion, securing web applications against attacks requires a multifaceted approach that includes both proactive measures and reactive responses. By following best practices and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in web application security, businesses can help protect their web applications and their users from potential threats.

## **VI. References A. List of sources used in the article**

Here are some references used in this article:

- OWASP Top Ten Project:[https://owasp.org/Top10/](https://owasp.org/Top10/)

- NIST Special Publication 800-53: [**https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-53/rev-5/final**](https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-53/rev-5/final)

- SANS Institute: [**https://www.sans.org/**](https://www.sans.org/)

- The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP): [**https://owasp.org/**](https://owasp.org/)

- National Vulnerability Database: [**https://nvd.nist.gov/**](https://nvd.nist.gov/)

- Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database: [**https://cve.mitre.org/**](https://cve.mitre.org/)

- Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle (SDL): [**https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/securityengineering/sdl**](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/securityengineering/sdl)

- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework: [**https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework**](https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework)

- Veracode: [**https://www.veracode.com/**](https://www.veracode.com/)

- Checkmarx: [**https://www.checkmarx.com/**](https://www.checkmarx.com/)

- SonarQube: [**https://www.sonarqube.org/**](https://www.sonarqube.org/)

- Acunetix: [**https://www.acunetix.com/**](https://www.acunetix.com/)

- OWASP ZAP: [**https://owasp.org/zap/**](https://owasp.org/zap/)

- Burp Suite: [**https://portswigger.net/burp**](https://portswigger.net/burp)

- Nessus: [**https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus**](https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus)