Common Web Vulnerabilities
Developers must be aware of how attackers exploit
weaknesses in the application logic or code
handling. Here are two of the most critical threats:
SQL Injection (Backend Threat)
This attack occurs when an attacker inserts
malicious SQL code into an input field (like
a login form) designed to query the database. If the
backend code doesn't properly sanitize the input,
the attacker can execute unintended commands,
potentially viewing, modifying, or deleting
sensitive data.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS - Frontend Threat)
XSS allows an attacker to inject malicious
client-side scripts (usually JavaScript) into
a webpage viewed by other users. This exploit can
steal user cookies (session data), capture form
input, or redirect users to malicious sites.
Essential Security Best Practices
Mitigating these threats often relies on simple,
consistent practices throughout the entire
development stack:
-
Input Validation: Never trust user input.
Always check that submitted data matches the
expected type, length, and format.
-
Sanitization: Remove potentially harmful
characters (like script tags or SQL syntax) from
any input before processing it.
-
Parameterized Queries: The primary
defense against SQL Injection. This separates
the SQL command from the user data, ensuring the
input is treated only as data, never as
executable code.
-
Least Privilege: Ensure that database
connections and server processes only have the
minimal permissions required to perform their
specific tasks.
-
Keep Software Updated: Regularly patch
and update all operating systems, libraries, and
frameworks to fix known security
vulnerabilities.
