Tuesday 13 October 2015

Factors Behind the Rise in Web App Security Testing


When you are set to creating a web based application, you need to make sure that the application is completely full proof in terms of security. The smallest loopholes will be used by the hackers to enter and access the database of the web application. With advanced technologies, the hackers are becoming more potent which has caused a rise in the web app security testing.
  1.    Invalidated Input: In most cases the information fed to the web applications is often not validated. This makes the information vulnerable to the attack of the hackers and this calls for increased security testing parameters for the web based apps that are being used.
  2.     Broken Access Control: In most of the web applications that are developed, the amount of work that an authenticated user may do in the so called software is not well defined. This provides the hackers with an opportunity to breach the security system of the applications.
  3.     Broken Authentication and Session Management: These are some of the top factors which are used by hackers to breach the security system and are exactly why the web app security testing is very important. Passwords, keys, session cookies are some of the factors which the hackers compromises in order to enter the system.
  4.     Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Flaws: Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Flaws refers to the system by which the hackers’ breaks into the particular web based application in order to enter the system of the end user where in they can create spoof content to fool the users or access the database of the user.
  5.     Buffer Overflows: Web applications can be crashed into due to the fact that some of the languages in which he code of the application has been written do not get validated prominently leaving the system open to attack by the hackers. CGI, libraries, drivers are some of the components that are included.
  6.    Injection Flaws: As far as local operating systems or external systems are concerned, web applications often pass parameters which can be breached by the various hackers by injecting their own commands into these passes which will be executed by the external system on behalf of the web applications.
  7.       Improper Error Handling: Mishandling of the web application often leaves it vulnerable to the attack of the hackers. If the hacker can insert a system which is not properly handled by the application, then it may lead to the release of vital information from the database of the software under considerations.
  8.       Insecure Storage: In order to store and protect the client information, the web application often uses cryptographic functions. These functions are rather difficult to create and integrate with the other codes of the web application which often reduces the software protection process leaving it open to the attack of the hackers.
  9.     Denial of Service: An advanced hacker who is a pro at his job is apt enough to crack into a system to an extent where the real user can no longer gain access into the system. This causes the web application to fail.
  10.       Insecure Configuration Management: In order to ensure a strong security system for your web applications, you need to have a strong server on which the web application is based. When your server is weak it often leaves your web application open to various attacks by the hackers which cause security breaches.

These are some of the major factors as to why there is a sudden rise in the web app security testing in the current era.

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