Security in Web Development: 7 Common Threats & How to Address Them

Do you know about 70% of web issues are due to the shortage of cybersecurity skills? Also, web attacks are rated as one of the top risks in web development, including the data mishandling of websites and mobile web applications.

There is an urgency in the modern web landscape for programmers and system designers to improve their understanding of web security issues. So, web development security is at the top of our list of prime importance.

This article sheds light on the most frequent security threats in web development. As we speak on addressing the issues, you will gain insight into implementing powerful security measures to protect user information and the system’s integrity.

Understanding Web Development Security: What You Should Know?

In simpler terms, Web development security protects websites, applications, and APIs from suspicious attacks. We can categorize them into Browser, server-side, and client-side security. Any suspicious (malicious) activities that target web applications fall into the category of serious web ambush.

If a company is unaware of being attacked digitally, it might see significant expenses. From lost data to business disruption, common web threats may even damage a brand’s reputation.

There are a few manageable practices, such as reducing data transfers, using secure passwords, and updating software regularly. However, it is always beneficial to have an understanding of common web development threats.

CMS such as WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Ghost, Adobe Commerce, Wix, etc are secure for website development. But here are some of the most common threats and practical tips to handle them.

1. SQL Injection (SQLi)

SQL injection is a computing technique where attackers target a vulnerable computer program to change or destroy the original data. It is one of the common threats to web development that can cause severe impacts.

Attackers insert malicious SQL statements or code into an entry field database queries, allowing them to manipulate or extract sensitive data. It is mostly common in PHP and ASP applications and has become a common issue with database-driven websites.

SQLi occurs when the browser sends suspicious input to the server. Likewise, lousy input checking leads to malicious SQL queries.

How to Prevent SQL injection?

1. A traditional approach to handling SQLi is to accept them as input validation problems.
2. Accept characters from an Allow-List of safe values.
3. Identify and escape a Deny List of potentially malicious values.
4. Parameterized SQL codes require less maintenance.
5. Use stored procedures as they help prevent SQLi attacks by limiting the types of statements that can be passed to their parameters.
6. Separating data from SQL code highly reduces the chances of unauthorized access or manipulation of the database.
7. Ensure the user data is passed to an SQL query and can’t change its original nature.

2. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Did you know that in the Past, social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook were affected by cross-site scripting (XSS)? So, what exactly is an XSS?

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is also sometimes called HTML injection, where malicious scripts are injected into trusted websites. It allows attackers to steal sensitive information and potentially compromise user accounts.

Code injection is caused when any untrusted user data becomes code. In XSS, the unexpected code is JavaScript in an HTML document. XSS is severe and can lead to account impersonation, observing user behavior, loading external content, stealing sensitive data, and more.

There are three main types of XSS categories, which can be further compressed into two main categories. For years, people have considered Reflected XSS, Stored XSS, and DOM-based XSS to be three different types. However, we can use two new terms to help organize the types of XSS: Server XSS and CLient XSS.

How can cross-site scripting (XSS) be prevented?

1. Although modern web frameworks have fewer XSS bugs, implementing framework security protections is an excellent practice.
2. Output encoding for HTML, CSS, URL, and Javascript contexts.
3. HTML Sanitation and validating user input thoroughly.
4. Consider adopting Cookie Attributes, Web Application Firewalls, and Content Security Policy.

3. Is Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) really a thing of the Past?

CSRF is an attack where the end user is forced to execute unauthorized commands on trusted web applications. As the name suggests, a malicious user performs unwanted actions using the identity of another user without that user’s knowledge or consent.

The most common actions of CSRF attacks can be transferring funds, changing email addresses, etc. CSRF exploits the trust established between a user’s browser and a web application.

Unprotected target sites cannot distinguish between legitimate authorized requests and forged authenticated requests. Usually, CSRF tricks the user’s browser into sending HTTP requests to a target site where the user is already authenticated.

How to prevent CSRF?

1. Use the SameSite cookie attribute to prevent cookies from being sent with requests initiated by other sites.
2. Incorporate Anti-CSRF tokens or double-submit cookies in forms to prevent unauthorized requests.
3. Employing Custom Request Headers for AJAX/API. Verifying Origin using standard headers.
4. Implementing Synchronizer Token Pattern.

4. Security Misconfigurations

Security misconfiguration can happen in any computing system, software applications, and cloud and network infrastructure. It occurs when services are deployed with insecure default settings. In simpler terms, security misconfiguration occurs when security settings are not implemented or are deployed with errors.

Errors from security misconfiguration, such as improper server configurations, outdated software, and vulnerable plugins, create security gaps. Similarly, the gaps expose the application and its data to a cyber attack.

Attackers target access to default accounts, unused pages, unprotected files and directories, etc, to gain unauthorized access or knowledge of the system.

How to prevent security misconfiguration?

1. Regularly update software, disable unnecessary services, and enforce the principle of least privilege.
2. Practice synchronizing the development, operational, and QA environments.
3. Letting go of any unused features, unnecessary services, and frameworks.
4. Regularly auditing and reviewing configurations is essential.

5. Authentication Issues

Authentication failures are also common security threats in web development. Weakness in authentication and identification can lead to unauthorized access, as it is a critical component of web security.

Authentication weaknesses include brute force attacks, where hackers attempt numerous password combinations.

Weak passwords, lack of multi-factor authentication, and inadequate password storage practices can facilitate unauthorized access.

How do we prevent authentication issues?

1. Enforce strong password policies, employ secure, hashed password storage mechanisms, and implement multi-factor authentication (MFA).
2. Using secure session management practices helps prevent session hijacking.
3. Implement a Secure Password Recovery mechanism.
4. Transmit Passwords Only Over TLS or Other Strong Transport.
5. Require Re-authentication for Sensitive Features.

6. XML External Entity (XXE) Attacks

XXE attack is a type of web development threat that allows an attacker to interfere with an app’s processing of XML data. If successful, attackers can view files on the application server file system. Similarly, they can interact with any back-end or external systems.

XXE attacks allow attackers to view confidential data and can lead to denial of service, server-side request forgery, port scanning, and other system impacts. XML External Entity (XXE) attacks exploit vulnerabilities in XML processors.

How to prevent XML Attacks?

1. XXE Attack prevention can be done by disabling XML external entity processing and employing a secure XML parser.
2. Developers should disable XML external entity processing and use a secure XML parser.
3. Validating input against a predefined schema adds an extra layer of security.

7. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) is a malicious attempt to derange the regular functioning of a network, service, or website. Such attacks occur when significant traffic is sent to the victim from different sources.

In DDoS, attackers target sites or services hosted on high-profile web services such as banks or credit card payment gateways with the aim of overloading a system with excessive requests.

There are different types of DDoS attacks, such as SYN Flood, LAND attack, ACK & PUSH ACK Flood, etc. DDoS attacks are dangerous as one in two attacks successfully disrupt the services of the targeted platform.

How to prevent DDoS attacks?

1. Using multi-layered DDoS protection, firewalls, intrusion, and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs).
2. Developers must regularly scan, test, and audit websites to ensure there are no potential vulnerabilities.
3. Employ a comprehensive, intelligent, managed security solution to ensure complete security rather than just relying on a DDoS prevention service.

In conclusion, web development security is very crucial in today’s age of digitalization. Protecting web, mobile, and desktop applications has been a significant concern for years as they are the backbone of online interactions.

We hope you have gained insight into the most common web security threats through this article. Similarly, you may have found out how to address these attacks.

Always stay informed about emerging threats and implement the best security practices.