Our Journey to Secure Web Applications: Facing Modern Cyber Threats
The world we live in runs on data. From personal information to corporate secrets, data powers businesses and individuals alike. Yet, by relying on digital infrastructure so heavily, we became a top target for cybercriminals.
With each passing day, cyber threats grow more sophisticated, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Consider this: the global average data breach cost has reached an all-time high of $4.88 million in 2024. The consequences beyond financial loss are discouraging: reputational damage, disrupted operations, and, most critically, sensitive information exposure.
How can you protect your digital assets from such adverse outcomes? Read on to discover our experience and methods for securing web applications.
The Reality of Hacker Attacks
Hacker attacks aren’t some distant threat. CyberArk’s survey revealed that 93% of organizations experienced two or more identity-related breaches in 2023. Our clients, too, deal with their security challenges. Let’s explore the insights gained from these experiences in greater depth.
Major Client Experiences
Having completed over 200 projects, we witnessed several of our major clients targeted by hacker attacks. Each attack showed how clever hackers have become and how challenging it is for businesses to keep up with these threats. Securing a system effectively demands a multi-faceted approach—one that adapts to constantly changing and complex security issues.
Collaborating with Ethical Hackers
To better understand the modern hacker mindset, we collaborated with HackerOne, a world leader in ethical hacking.
Ethical hacking, also known as white-hat hacking, occurs when “good” hackers are hired to find and fix a system’s security vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them.
Working alongside HackerOne was a massive eye-opener for our team. We highlighted that:
Modern hackers are incredibly sophisticated and resourceful; they use advanced techniques and constantly improve them.
The cost of engaging ethical hackers can be substantial, with bounties for discovering issues reaching tens of thousands of dollars.
Even well-secured systems can have multiple vulnerabilities, making it a complex and expensive process to ensure complete protection.
Many SaaS and web application vendors realize the importance of strong security only when facing the intense scrutiny their large partner puts on security.
The Importance of Security: Addressing Vulnerabilities
When fighting against cyber threats, we consider it critical to address vulnerabilities at all levels — from the user interface to the underlying infrastructure. To build resilient systems, we focus on:
UI vulnerabilities. We secure the web app’s entry point by implementing input validation, preventing injection attacks, and protecting against cross-site scripting (XSS).
Backend vulnerabilities. We protect the application’s core logic through secure coding practices, authentication and authorization protocols, data encryption, and protection against SQL injection.
Infrastructure vulnerabilities. Beyond the app itself, its infrastructure — servers, databases, and networks — must be protected. We apply patches and updates, configure firewalls, use intrusion detection systems, and handle regular security audits.
Securing Web Applications Against Different Types of Attacks
Not only do you need to protect your app at all levels, but you should also secure it from specific types of attacks. Here are the most common ones:
Insecure API endpoints. APIs are essential for a web app’s operation but can become a target if not properly secured. To tackle that, use strong authentication mechanisms like OAuth or API keys.
Insecure direct object reference (IDOR). IDOR happens when an app exposes sensitive data through predictable URLs or form fields. To prevent this, avoid exposing internal identifiers, implement strict access controls, and validate all user input.
Cross-site scripting (XSS). XSS lets attackers inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. Prevent this by user input validation, output encoding, and using a Content Security Policy (CSP).
Server-side request forgery (SSRF). SSRF tricks a server into making requests to internal resources or external services. To mitigate it, implement strict network access controls, restrict allowed endpoints, validate all user-supplied URLs, and don’t expose internal systems to the internet.
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) tricks users into submitting unwanted actions on a web app they’re already authenticated with. To prevent these attacks, use anti-CSRF tokens, double-submit cookies, or a POST-Redirect-Get (PRG) pattern.
Path traversal. This attack exploits vulnerabilities in file path handling to access unauthorized files. To prevent this issue, validate and sanitize file paths, input and implement strict file access controls, and ensure secure file exchange.
Cookie and session management vulnerabilities. Improper cookie and session management can lead to session hijacking and data theft. Use secure HTTP (HTTPS), set appropriate cookie flags (HttpOnly, Secure), and regularly review and update session management practices.
Importance of WAF and How to Efficiently Deploy It
A web application firewall (WAF) is a security barrier between your app and potential attackers. Here’s why it is important:
Protection against common threats. WAFs secure your web app from SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and cross-site request forgery.
Real-time protection. WAFs detect and block attacks and let you monitor suspicious activities in real time.
Reduced attack surface. By filtering malicious traffic, WAFs significantly reduce the attack surface of your web application.
Regulatory compliance. Many industries have strict security regulations, and a WAF can help ensure compliance.
To deploy WAF effectively, follow these tips:
Choose the right WAF. Consider factors like deployment model (cloud, on-premises), features, and pricing.
Set up security rules. Configure the WAF correctly to address known threats and vulnerabilities. Use pre-defined rule sets as a baseline, but adjust them to your app’s needs.
Handle testing. Before going live, test the WAF deployment in a staging environment to identify issues and false positives.
Implement updates. Keep the WAF up-to-date so it can tackle emerging threats.
Monitor and analyze logs. Monitor the WAF’s performance and logs to identify issues and adjust rules as needed.
Our Experience in Web App Security
For the last two decades, we’ve been delivering highly secure, scalable, and efficient web applications for our clients. Here’s what it took us to create such solutions:
Building a World-Class Penetration Testing Team
To tackle modern cyber threats effectively, we needed a skilled penetration testing team. Here’s how we gathered the right specialists:
We focused on hiring security professionals with expertise in various areas: web app security, network security, and vulnerability assessment.
We didn’t stop on that and kept training our team to keep up with the latest security practices.
We developed methodologies for efficient penetration testing, covering reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, and reporting.
Real-Life Cyber Defense
To give you a deeper idea of how we improve software security, consider our work for CareOregon, a health insurance provider.
Our client needed an app that would collect and present data through intuitive dashboards and charts. Besides just that, the project demanded strong security and data integrity.
To meet CareOregon’s security requirements, our developers implemented a two-factor authentication system. This involved sending a unique code via SMS to every employee attempting to log into the system. This measure ensured our client’s data remained safe at all times.
Conclusion
Given the sophistication of modern cyber attacks, web app security is more crucial than ever. Luckily, by understanding different cyber threats and implementing robust countermeasures like WAFs, you can significantly reduce security risks.
If you’re looking to strengthen your organization’s security posture or protect your web app, our penetration testers can find and fix any vulnerabilities. All you need to do is contact Integrio for a consultation.
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