Web application security testing is a process that involves using various tools to test the security of web applications. It includes information gathering, research and exploitation, reporting, and remediation.

There are many vulnerabilities that can be found in a web application. Some of these include cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and authentication errors.

Cross-site scripting

XSS is a type of web security vulnerability that allows attackers to access sensitive user data. Specifically, this allows them to bypass the same origin policy that modern browsers rely on to segregate different websites from each other.

Fortunately, XSS can be prevented by applying a few simple measures. These include implementing validation rules and sanitizing data.

Validation means making sure that user inputs don’t contain any characters or tags that are commonly used in XSS. For example, an employee ID field should be validated to ensure that only alphanumeric characters are submitted.

Sanitizing data, on the other hand, means ensuring that data is only posted to the web server if it meets specific criteria. This is important because malicious data can be injected into the HTML that is sent to the browser, which will then execute the code when it displays the page to the user.

There are three main types of cross-site scripting attacks: stored, reflected, and DOM-based. Stored XSS attacks are the most damaging and the most common.

This type of attack involves injecting a malicious script into the body of a web page. Typically, this is done through message forums, blog comments, and username fields. The payload is saved on a compromised server, which then delivers the script to visitors who view the vulnerable page.

Reflected XSS is the most common type of XSS and involves embedding a malicious script in a url that looks legitimate. Normally, this will appear as the end of a link that is hosted on a trusted website.

Once clicked, this link will execute the injected code in the victim’s web browser. This can be especially dangerous if the website does not use a proper data sanitization process to prevent this from occurring.

DOM-based XSS is another type of cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs when attackers add a malicious script to the DOM (Document Object Model) of a website. This method can be particularly risky, as it can result in the attacker being able to execute code asynchronously. This is often done for spamming purposes or to gather data about the client’s browser.

SQL injection

SQL injection is an attack that enables an attacker to use malicious user input to manipulate the structure of a query. It is often used by hackers to exploit web applications, and can be particularly effective in compromising databases.

The resulting vulnerability can allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, including passwords and credit card details. This could lead to data leakage and identity theft.

For this reason, it is important to perform regular testing against SQL injection vulnerabilities. This is especially true if the application uses a database and requires users to login using passwords.

There are a number of ways to protect against SQL injection attacks, which can include using sanitized SQL statements and strict blacklisting of user input. It is also advisable to update software to ensure that any vulnerabilities are patched.

One of the most common techniques for exploitation is the Union Operator, which allows an attacker to execute an additional SELECT query and append it to the original one. This can help an attacker to retrieve data from different tables in a database, which can then be used to compromise the integrity of the system.

This method can be used to obtain usernames, passwords, product names and descriptions, and more. It can be particularly useful in a retail environment where product names and prices are commonly stored in a database, as well as personal user information such as name and address.

Another technique is time-based injection, which allows an attacker to send a SQL query that delays the response. This makes it easier for the attacker to determine whether a query is true or false based on how long the response takes to return.

For this reason, it is important to monitor all web server responses and inspect the source code. This can be a difficult task, but it is necessary to understand how the web application returns errors and if it provides any detail about them. It is also essential to check each field individually for vulnerable parameters. This will prevent a successful attack from occurring.

Authentication errors

Authentication errors are security vulnerabilities that allow attackers to masquerade as a legitimate user. This can make an application susceptible to attacks that expose sensitive data and functionality. The consequences of authentication errors can be severe, especially if users’ accounts are compromised.

OWASP 2021 lists “Identification and Authentication Failures” as the seventh most important issue in its list of top 10 vulnerabilities, which makes them a significant problem for any company that deals with sensitive information or personal details. These issues have a wide impact on the integrity of a website, so it’s important to identify and mitigate them as soon as possible.

Flawed authentication logic is a common security vulnerability, which can be caused by abuse of functionality, weak security measures or an application’s misunderstanding of how the process works. An example of this is the logic that deems certain security questions such as a user’s birthday or mother’s maiden name to be irrelevant. This logic is easy to circumvent, allowing an attacker to bypass authentication.

Web applications need to accept only valid input, such as dates and e-mail addresses, so the wrong data can cause them to malfunction or even give an attacker access to other parts of the application. For instance, an attacker could create a lookup query that allows them to get the output of all user names in a directory, or they could inject a portion of a SQL statement into a query, giving them access to underlying database tables.

Login CSRF is a common issue that can be found in many web applications. It involves the attacker manipulating a logged-in user’s login credentials to gain unauthorized access to other accounts, systems and services.

Some vulnerabilities can be difficult to detect, so it’s a good idea to run a web application security test using a purpose-built scanner. These tools often find many more vulnerabilities than traditional network scanners, though a manual test may uncover some of the same weaknesses as well.

Fortunately, there are many resources to help developers spot potential weaknesses and mitigate them before they can cause problems. Some of these include static application security testing (SAST) tools, which scan code against predetermined best practices to identify problematic code patterns; and dynamic application security testing (DAST), which scans code at runtime to find vulnerabilities before they become exploitable.

URL manipulation

URL manipulation is a common technique used by hackers to access websites and steal confidential data. This is usually done through a trial and error method, where a hacker modifies the site’s directory structure and file extensions in order to try to find important information.

A Uniform Resource Locator or URL is a unique identifier that web users use to locate resources online, including webpages, videos, social media posts and Word documents. These URLs are a vital part of the internet and can be easily modified by hackers to try and attack websites.

When a URL is created, it is broken down into five parts. The first part is called the protocol, which tells a computer network what language it is using. The most commonly used protocols are HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

The second part of the URL is an ID and password that can be used to gain access to secure servers on a computer network. The password is typically not visible to the user because it circulates unscrambled over a computer network.

In addition, a URL contains a domain name and port number that is associated with the type of information being requested. These parts are important to the function of a website because they give it its identity and allow it to be accessed by other computers in the network.

Finally, a URL contains a path that directs the server to the resources it needs. This is a crucial feature because it allows the server to determine where to send a request.

If a website is vulnerable to a URL manipulation attack, it could cause the entire system to crash or become unusable. This would negatively impact business operations, customers, and employees alike.

A reputable web application security testing company can help your business avoid these attacks. They can also help you recover from a successful attack by identifying and fixing any vulnerabilities.

A well-run web application security testing process can prevent hackers from accessing your databases and stealing valuable information. This can be a key factor in the success of your business, so it’s vital to have an effective testing procedure in place.