M
Michael Gokey
Guest
Think about web security; itβs tempting to assume that firewalls, antivirus software, and strong passwords are enough. Yet most successful attacks donβt start at the network edge; they slip through cracks in the way applications are built. The real battleground for security is often in the very forms, queries, and scripts developers write every day.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) are two major web security threats. Both can cause serious damage to websites and users.
XSS happens when bad actors put harmful code into trusted websites. When users visit these sites, the bad code runs in their web browser. This can steal cookies, passwords, or personal information. Think of it like someone hiding a virus in a letter that activates when you open it.
CSRF is different. It tricks users who are already logged into a website into doing things they don't want to do. For example, an attacker might make you change your password or send money without knowing it. This happens because the website thinks the request came from you.
To stop XSS attacks, you should clean all user inputs before using them. Use content security policies to control what scripts can run. Pick web frameworks that have built-in XSS protection. Always encode data before showing it to users.
To prevent CSRF attacks, use special tokens that prove requests are real. Check where requests come from. Set your cookies to "SameSite" mode. Ask users to re-enter their password for important actions.
Good session management helps with both threats. Use secure cookies that can't be accessed by scripts. Change session IDs regularly. Set timeouts so users get logged out after being inactive. Keep sensitive data on your servers, not in users' browsers.
Finally, follow good coding practices. Test your security regularly. Keep your software updated. These simple steps will help protect your website and users.
SQL injection is a serious web security threat. It happens when attackers put harmful database code into your website's input fields. They do this to steal, change, or destroy your data.
This attack works when websites don't properly check user input before adding it to database commands. For example, an attacker might type ' OR '1'='1' -- into a login box. This trick code can let them log in without knowing the real password.
The best way to stop SQL injection is to use parameterized queries. These are also called prepared statements. Instead of mixing user input directly into your database commands, you use placeholders.
Here's the difference: Bad code looks like SELECT FROM users WHERE username = '" + userInput + "'. Good code looks like SELECT FROM users WHERE username = ? and sends the user input separately. This way, the database treats user input as data, not as commands.
Check all user input carefully. Only allow letters, numbers, and symbols you expect. Use stored procedures when you can. Give database accounts only the permissions they actually need. Clean user input by escaping special characters. Add a web application firewall for extra protection.
Many modern web frameworks have built-in tools called ORMs. These automatically use safe database queries. This makes it much easier to avoid SQL injection problems.
Test your security often. Use both automated tools and manual checks. Find and fix problems before the bad guys do. Regular testing helps keep your website and data safe.
Another common but often overlooked vulnerability is Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR). This occurs when an application exposes references to internal objects such as files, database records, or keys, without properly checking whether the user is authorized to access them. For example, imagine a URL like
To fix this, always check user permissions on the server before sharing sensitive data. Donβt use easy-to-guess IDs. Use random values like UUIDs instead. Make sure each user role can only access what theyβre supposed to.
Vulnerabilities like XSS, CSRF, SQL injection, and IDOR arenβt just theoretical. They are used by attackers all the time! The upside is that with secure coding, careful design, and regular testing, you can stop most of these problems before they reach production.
Which of these vulnerabilities do you think developers forget, or struggle with the most, and why?
π·hashtags:
#WebSecurity
#CyberSecurity
#AppSec
#WebDevelopment
#InfoSec
#CodingBestPractices
Continue reading...
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) are two major web security threats. Both can cause serious damage to websites and users.
XSS happens when bad actors put harmful code into trusted websites. When users visit these sites, the bad code runs in their web browser. This can steal cookies, passwords, or personal information. Think of it like someone hiding a virus in a letter that activates when you open it.
CSRF is different. It tricks users who are already logged into a website into doing things they don't want to do. For example, an attacker might make you change your password or send money without knowing it. This happens because the website thinks the request came from you.
To stop XSS attacks, you should clean all user inputs before using them. Use content security policies to control what scripts can run. Pick web frameworks that have built-in XSS protection. Always encode data before showing it to users.
To prevent CSRF attacks, use special tokens that prove requests are real. Check where requests come from. Set your cookies to "SameSite" mode. Ask users to re-enter their password for important actions.
Good session management helps with both threats. Use secure cookies that can't be accessed by scripts. Change session IDs regularly. Set timeouts so users get logged out after being inactive. Keep sensitive data on your servers, not in users' browsers.
Finally, follow good coding practices. Test your security regularly. Keep your software updated. These simple steps will help protect your website and users.
SQL Injection Attacks and Form Protection
SQL injection is a serious web security threat. It happens when attackers put harmful database code into your website's input fields. They do this to steal, change, or destroy your data.
This attack works when websites don't properly check user input before adding it to database commands. For example, an attacker might type ' OR '1'='1' -- into a login box. This trick code can let them log in without knowing the real password.
How to Protect Your Forms
The best way to stop SQL injection is to use parameterized queries. These are also called prepared statements. Instead of mixing user input directly into your database commands, you use placeholders.
Here's the difference: Bad code looks like SELECT FROM users WHERE username = '" + userInput + "'. Good code looks like SELECT FROM users WHERE username = ? and sends the user input separately. This way, the database treats user input as data, not as commands.
Other Ways to Stay Safe
Check all user input carefully. Only allow letters, numbers, and symbols you expect. Use stored procedures when you can. Give database accounts only the permissions they actually need. Clean user input by escaping special characters. Add a web application firewall for extra protection.
Many modern web frameworks have built-in tools called ORMs. These automatically use safe database queries. This makes it much easier to avoid SQL injection problems.
Test your security often. Use both automated tools and manual checks. Find and fix problems before the bad guys do. Regular testing helps keep your website and data safe.
Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR)
Another common but often overlooked vulnerability is Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR). This occurs when an application exposes references to internal objects such as files, database records, or keys, without properly checking whether the user is authorized to access them. For example, imagine a URL like
/profile?id=1234. If the application doesnβt verify ownership, a malicious user could change the value to 1235 and gain access to another userβs profile.To fix this, always check user permissions on the server before sharing sensitive data. Donβt use easy-to-guess IDs. Use random values like UUIDs instead. Make sure each user role can only access what theyβre supposed to.
Vulnerabilities like XSS, CSRF, SQL injection, and IDOR arenβt just theoretical. They are used by attackers all the time! The upside is that with secure coding, careful design, and regular testing, you can stop most of these problems before they reach production.
Which of these vulnerabilities do you think developers forget, or struggle with the most, and why?
π·hashtags:
#WebSecurity
#CyberSecurity
#AppSec
#WebDevelopment
#InfoSec
#CodingBestPractices
Continue reading...
