Changes in concern environments and the progresss in web engineerings have made the services of corporate, public and private houses to be more widespread over the web by doing usage of web applications. Although web services can supply greater convenience, flexibleness and efficiency, they besides possess great figure of menaces which could be a important hazard for the organisation if non properly dealt with. This paper discusses the assorted exposures that web applications present and the best patterns to use counter-measures and extenuate those hazards

II. Risks of Web Technologies

A. Ubiquity

In today 's e-world the activities of web users are increasing twenty-four hours by twenty-four hours on the potentially vulnerable World Wide Web. The new impressing applications that are available today are developed utilizing assorted tools and engineerings, whose easiness and convenience of execution had made them so popular and to be widely used. Today about all the private and authorities organisations depend on the web engineerings and applications to transport out their mundane indispensable operations.

B. Web Application exposures

Much of the confidential and fiscal affairs refering an company and an person are carried out utilizing web which is prone to many security hazards like hacker onslaughts, sql injection onslaughts, website invasion, denial-of-service onslaught etc. There is an dismaying addition in the figure of onslaughts as hackers are happening new ways to assail the system.

The exposures that are being attacked now-a-days are really different from those carried out in the past old ages. While some onslaughts were carried out for pure psychological satisfaction of the aggressor, others aim at stealing sensitive informations like credit-card Numberss, bank history information, and sensitive informations from organisations.

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This has made the organisation to pass more on security related facets.

C. Role of Management

Web application security should be taken attention by direction by right determinations and techniques. Periodic preparation Sessionss should be conducted to convey consciousness among the developers, of new type of onslaughts and menaces and how to implement effectual security mechanisms to defence their applications or faculties against these menaces. Procuring web applications should be done right from the starting of the undertaking instead than adding at the terminal of the development procedure. The direction should guarantee that all necessary safeguards are taken before let go ofing the applications to the outside universe by thoroughly proving them.

III. Top Security hazards and Counter Measures

This subdivision discusses three of the top 10 security hazards of 2010 harmonizing to 'The Open Web Application Security Project ' ( OWASP ) .

A. Injection

Injection is the procedure of conveying malicious codification to another system through a web application. Malicious Commands written in scripting linguistic communications like hypertext markup language, JavaScript, python, Perl etc. , are passed to a web application translator to work the exposures of a system.

Although there are many types of injection onslaughts, SQL injection onslaughts are most widespread.

1. SQL Injection

Sql injection onslaught involves interpolation of malicious sql strings in to input parametric quantities of sql statements, these makes the databases to compromise sensitive information and to see, modify or cancel the information in databases by an aggressor. For illustration, see the undermentioned legitimate sql statement that retrieves the matched username from the input question

SELECT * FROM TableName WHERE username = ' $ username '

If an aggressor modifies the statement to

SELECT * FROM TableName WHERE username = ( ' ' or '1'='1 ' )

it retrieves all the rows in the selected tabular array because 1 peers 1 is ever true, therefore compromising sensitive information.

Countermeasures and Prevention

Although injection onslaughts can be easy detected and avoided, more and more onslaughts are found to be happening because of utilizing dynamic questions for taking user input. An onslaught can be successfully prevented by formalizing user input, utilizing parameterized questions and stored processs. While parameterized statements include topographic point holders like ' ? ' to replace the user input informations, the aggressor can easy replace malicious strings in to the topographic point holders. Using parameterized questions along with stored processs is found to be effectual as stored processs use the already defined codification in the database to take the input informations from application. However the usage of above two methods can impact the system 's public presentation, so another technique can be used for rejecting the user supplied statements by utilizing strong flight strategies or strings that are pertinent to each sort of statement so the DBMS can distinguish between user input and developer 's codification. It is advisable to use threading get awaying both on client-side and server-side to supply stronger security.

B. Cross-site scripting ( XSS )

It is the procedure of shooting malicious codification in to a trusted web site by utilizing a vulnerable web application or directing malicious book to be executed in the web browser of an user. This may ensue in compromising of sensitive information like stealing watchwords, cookies, session information stored in the browser, misshaping of web site and besides carry oning phishing onslaughts. These types of onslaughts normally arise from message boards, treatment boards, newsgroups, mail messages and forums. A user may implant malicious codification in tickets like & lt ; OBJECT & gt ; Malicious codification & lt ; /OBJECT & gt ; . When a user views the message the codification may be automatically executed thereby working the exposure.

1. Stored Ten onslaughts

The injected codification is for good stored in the database waiters, visitant log, Fieldss etc. The malicious codification is retrieved when users request stored information. The onslaught propagates to every user who requests the stored information.

2. Reflected XSS onslaughts

Malicious codification is sent to the waiter through specifically crafted agencies like a signifier, the petition is sent to the waiter and is responded to the user 's browser. The user 's browser executes the codification as the respond came from a trusted beginning

Prevention and Countermeasures

Ten onslaughts are hard to place and forestall. One method of securing is 'input filtrating ' the informations by excluding & lt ; book & gt ; tickets and other tickets. For utilizing advanced input filters the coder should hold good cognition of security facets. Output filtrating involves filtrating of the response informations instead than filtrating the input strings, but it has got its disadvantages that are similar to input filtrating. Other general bar methods like turning off the browsers automatic book executing installation to forestall script executing. Users should be selective of sing a web site, by traveling to the chief page of web site and so happen the necessary information instead than straight snaping the links of other users.

C. Broken Authentication and Session Management

Authentication and session direction maps are frequently ill implemented in web application which allows the aggressor to compromise watchwords, session items, keys, administrative histories, certificates etc. It is found that automatic scanning tools and inactive analysis tools are non likely to place loopholes in session direction and hallmark. Therefore package examiners have to manually prove the codification. Code reappraisal in concurrence with proving may detect the exposures in hallmark and session direction.

Protection

Secure transmittal of informations and proper storage of certificates can protect hallmark and session direction. Session tokens whether created by developers or provided by web application environment should utilize strong strategy and all informations should be passed over Secure Socket Layer ( SSL ) which uses encrypted protocols to protect the session from taking-off by an aggressor. HTTPS protocol should be used to convey session information to the waiter. It has to made certain that session ID 's and other identifiers do non look in the URL saloon of the browser. Session timeout has to be employed which automatically log-out the user after a specified clip period. It has to be made certain that hallmark mechanisms are non subjected to play back onslaughts which attack the session by fraudulently reiterating the transmittal. Besides when a user log-out of the system all session ID 's and information stored about the session should be deleted from the browser.

IV. Best Practices for procuring web applications

A. Training

As the figure of feats and onslaughts are increasing twenty-four hours by twenty-four hours, it is indispensable that organisations train the persons about the onslaughts. Organizations spend a great sum of resources on developing the employees. Each person in the organisation should be cognizant of the organisation 's policies, processs, patterns, moralss etc. Employees in different classs require different preparation processs like package developers has to have preparation on secure scheduling and specific engineering related facets that they work on while web coders and system applied scientists should be trained on secure web and socket scheduling and system technology. Awareness among the employees about the latest package onslaughts, menaces and countermeasures on how to observe and extenuate them will significantly cut down the figure of onslaughts.

B. Risk Assessment

Hazard appraisal is the procedure of analyzing a system to place possible hazards

1. Qualitative Hazard Appraisal: Factors that affect the quality of the system are identified and a hazard appraisal is made. Factors that are considered include

Threats - which may be caused by natural incidents or human activities

Vulnerabilities - Vulnerability is a failing which a menace will work to assail the assets. They can be failing in the system, design, execution or security, constellation.

Countermeasures - These are the actions that are to be performed to cut down the hazards of onslaughts and exposures

Threat chance chart - This is a chart prepared by undertaking director that consists of menaces that an organisation or undertaking may meet, the impact, chance, countermeasures of these menaces.

2. Quantitative Hazard Appraisal

As the name suggests quantitative hazard appraisal calculates the sum of hazard that an organisation may confront, Specific methods based on outlooks are used to cipher and show the hazard in quantitative steps. Knowing these values help the direction to take intelligent investing, fiscal determinations and protective counter steps.

C. Design and Implementation

Design stage occurs after all the demands were identified and thorough analysis is made. The system architecture, security steps, execution processs to be followed is documented. A theoretical account of the system is produced based on UML notation picturing the different facets of a system in item. Design methodological analysiss include Rapid Application Development ( RAD ) in which the system designers consult the terminal users to reexamine the paradigm and offer feedback. Joint Application Development ( JAD ) involves different parties like executive patron, director, system interior decorator, who jointly design and implement a system. After Design stage comes the Implementation stage in which developers can work with antecedently created codification or can work from abrasion to make different applications and constituents. They follow all the guidelines and demands from the architectural paperss and UML theoretical accounts. All the constituents developed by each developer are integrated to organize the coveted merchandise or system. Developers involved in execution should be trained to develop secure applications. Performance, quality cheques and proving are done in the execution stage. Next is the deployment phase in which the merchandise is delivered to the squad.

V. Testing Web Application Security

A. Specification Auditing

`` A package audit is a type of package reappraisal in which one or more members who does non belong to the package development organisation conduct an independent scrutiny of a package merchandise, package procedure, or set of package processes to measure conformity with specifications, criterions, contractual understandings, or other standards '' . ( IEEE ) It is a type of package reappraisal which is carried out after design phase and before execution phase. Sometimes an internal hearer conducts the audit. The procedure involves look intoing how the security and architecture specifications mentioned in the papers bluish print or UML theoretical accounts protect assorted facets of the system like databases, processing and related mechanisms. When scrutinizing is conducted by a tool it may meet jobs like non opening the executables or some tools does non seek specific locations like recycle bins or the file names had been changed. So the audit procedure could be ill done if the tool fails to observe assorted file formats.

B. Code Review

Code Review is the procedure of reviewing of package beginning codification by its developer or security expert or codification reappraisal tools to repair exposures that were overlooked in the initial phases of development. It helps to observe and forestall exposures like information escape, format threading feats, buffer floods, programming conventions, and loopholes in security mechanisms that protect the application. Formal codification reappraisal is found to be an effectual type of codification reappraisal in which developers attend formal meetings to reexamine each and every line of codification.

As it is really hard for the developer to reexamine each line of codification, organisations may do usage of codification reappraisal package which tests the codification in programmer-assisted or an machine-controlled manner. As tools make usage of predefined set of regulations to reexamine the beginning codification, they concentrate more on scheduling criterions and conventions instead than on the escape, feats and buffer overflow exposures which can be efficaciously detected in traditional codification reappraisal methods.

C. Testing

Software Testing is the procedure of proving a plan or system to happen mistakes and defects. It involves the procedure of finding whether assorted facets of the system like public presentation, capableness, functionality etc. , run into the demands mentioned in the specification papers. Sing the complexness of the package system, it is really hard to plan a package system without any defects, bugs and defects may be in any faculty. It is really critical to observe defects and bugs early in the development phase because the cost of repairing a defect becomes 10-100 times more as shown in the fig below.

McConnell, Steve ( 2004 ) . Code Complete ( 2nd ed. ) . Microsoft Press. pp. 960. ISBN 0-7356-1967-0.

Even though there are plentifulness of proving tools available that automates the testing process, examiners should non wholly trust on its limited ability mechanisms.

VI. Decision

New types of onslaughts are coming up daily as the systems and applications are going progressively complex, because of this turning complexness and new type of onslaughts, it is non practically possible for an organisation to wholly vouch the security facets of the system. It is of import for an organisation to specify what degree of hazard is acceptable to them and make up one's mind upon what security mechanisms would protect their systems efficaciously and the countermeasures to be taken when an onslaught has been identified.

VII. Mentions

Ryan, Barnett. `` Anatomy of SQL injection onslaught. '' Network World. Network universe, 10 October 2008.

`` Sql Injection. '' Microsoft development web library. N.p. , n.d. Web. & lt ; SQL Injection & gt ; .

Dave, Wichers. `` SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet. '' Microsoft development web. N.p. , n.d. Web. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.owasp.org/index.php/SQL_Injection_Prevention_Cheat_Sheet & gt ; .

Amit, Klein. `` Cross Site Scripting Explained. '' www.SanctumInc.com. N.p. , June 2002. Web. 30 Mar 2011. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //crypto.stanford.edu/cs155/papers/CSS.pdf & gt ; .

CERTA® Advisory. 03 feb 2000. Web. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cert.org/advisories/CA-2000-02.html & gt ; .

`` Broken hallmark & A ; Session Management. '' OWASP. N.p. , n.d. Web. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.owasp.org/index.php/Broken_Authentication_and_Session_Management & gt ;

`` Web Based Session Management. '' N.p. , n.d. Web. 30 Mar 2011. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.technicalinfo.net/papers/WebBasedSessionManagement.html & gt ; .

Kenneth, R. new wave Wyk. `` Training and Awareness. '' Software Engineering Institute, 28 August 2008. Web. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //buildsecurityin.us-cert.gov/bsi/articles/best-practices/training/256-BSI.html & gt ; .

Nguyen, Hung Q. `` Introduction to Software Testing. '' logigear Software Testing. LogiGear Corporation, may 2006. Web. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.logigear.com/newsletter-2006/271-introduction-to-software-testing.html & gt ; .

IEEE Std. 1028-1997, IEEE Standard for Software Reviews, clause 3.2

Updated: May 19, 2021
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Managing Web Application Security Computer Science Essay. (2020, Jun 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/managing-web-application-security-computer-science-new-essay

Managing Web Application Security Computer Science Essay essay
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