Web developers play an important role in creating websites, handling both the front-end and back-end aspects. Their coding skills involve using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with a focus on best practices, such as writing clean and organized code and ensuring Cybersecurity Threats are effective and secure.
The advent of COVID-19 led to the widespread adoption of remote work in the corporate world, which has also brought an increase in security issues to light. As web developers incorporate secure coding practices, hackers are quick to adapt and evolve their strategies. Therefore, web developers must stay vigilant about common vulnerabilities and threats posed by hackers.
In this article, we will discuss five essential cybersecurity threats that web developers need to be aware of and take preventive measures against.
There are Some Best Cybersecurity Threats You Must Know As A Web Developer
1. External API Consumption
If an application doesn’t properly validate, filter, or sanitize the data it receives from external APIs, it becomes susceptible to unsafe API consumption. This situation may result in security vulnerabilities like command injection attacks or data leakage.
With the growing reliance on third-party APIs to deliver critical functionality, ensuring secure data consumption becomes even more vital to prevent potential attackers from exploiting these integrations. As a web developer, it is essential to verify that your web application validates and sanitizes data before processing or storing it. This ensures that the web application only handles valid and safe data.
Since it is important to gain the skills to safeguard web applications, mission-critical networks, and valuable data from hackers, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is ever-growing. The first step in becoming one of these sought-after experts is pursuing higher education. If you’re ready to take on this exciting challenge, consider pursuing a master’s in cybersecurity online degree. This advanced program will equip you with the expertise needed to make a significant impact in the technology and security industry.
2. XML External Entity (XXE)
An XML External Entity (XXE) attack targets applications parsing XML input with weak configurations. It involves referencing an external entity, leading to potential consequences such as data leaks, denial of service (DoS), server-side request forgery, and port scanning. Preventing XXE attacks involves completely disabling document type definitions (DTDs) and ensuring XML inclusions (XInclude) are not enabled. These measures help eliminate the risk of XXE vulnerabilities in your application and improve security.
Understanding and mitigating such vulnerabilities is a cornerstone of human risk management in cybersecurity. Personnel who are aware of and trained in the potential threats and proper configurations of XML parsing are less likely to leave security gaps that could be exploited through XXE attacks.
Also Read: The 5 Best Substack Alternatives
3. Cross-Site Scripting
Cross-site scripting (XSS) represents one of the most prevalent techniques employed by hackers to gain access to sensitive and confidential customer information. This malicious attack exploits application vulnerabilities with the goal of infiltrating the user’s browser. XSS attacks primarily focus on targeting vulnerable applications and can be classified into three main types:
Stored XSS
Stored cross-site scripting (also known as second-order or persistent XSS) happens when an application obtains data from an untrusted source and subsequently incorporates that data in an unsafe manner into its HTTP requests. As a consequence, the script executes within the victim user’s browser, thereby compromising their security.
Reflected XSS
Reflected XSS is the most straightforward form of cross-site scripting. It occurs when an application receives data in an HTTP request and incorporates that data in an unsafe manner within its immediate response. As a result, when a user visits the compromised URL, the script executes in their browser. This allows the hacker to perform any action the user can perform and also access the user’s data.
Dom-based XSS
DOM-based XSS (DOM XSS) occurs when an untrusted source writes data back to the Document Object Model (DOM) in an unsafe manner. In this type of attack, attackers typically control the value of an input field, allowing them to execute their own script. As a result, the user’s data, credentials, and access control become compromised, and the attacker can impersonate the victim user.
As a web developer, it is important to thoroughly test your web applications for XSS exploits. To mitigate XSS attacks, you can incorporate a content security policy (CSP), which is a browser security mechanism. CSP helps restrict the resources a page can load and prevents the page from being framed by other pages, thus bolstering the overall security of your application.
Also Read: Best Content Marketing Practices for Technical Writing
4. Insecure Deserialization
Serialization converts an object for future restoration, while deserialization does the opposite. However, attackers can exploit deserialization to inject malicious data, leading to dangerous attacks like remote code execution, DoS, and authentication bypass.
To protect against insecure deserialization, use a web application firewall (WAF), implement blacklisting and whitelisting for network traffic, and consider runtime application self-protection (RASP). These measures can help enhance application security and protect it against potential threats.
5. Insufficient Logging & Monitoring
Insufficient logging and monitoring can compromise the security of your web applications. Monitoring failed login attempts, warnings, errors, and performance issues is essential for an active response. Attackers often exploit these weak points to gain unauthorized access and exploit application vulnerabilities.
Web developers must record and maintain all logins, server-side input validation issues, and access control alerts to identify suspicious activities or accounts. Regularly auditing these logs helps prevent data breaches and information leakage. For added security, high-value transactions should have integrity checks and an audit trail to safeguard against tampering or accidental deletion.
Adopting an active threat response and recovery plan, such as NIST 800-61 Rev 2 or a newer version, enhances the overall security posture of your web applications and aids in promptly addressing potential threats.
Conclusion On Cybersecurity Threats For Web Developers
In the face of hackers exploiting new vulnerabilities, web developers must proactively stay ahead of the game. By checking and fixing code for any loopholes diligently, you can ensure secure access to your web applications.
Implementing logging, monitoring, and auditing practices will track all suspicious activity, including failed login attempts, access control issues, warnings, and errors. This ensures your web applications remain safe and available for users. Lastly, remember to stay informed about existing and emerging threats to guarantee the security and safety of your web applications at all times!
Interesting Reads:
Why Technology Companies Need SEO Agency Services
