Application Security Vulnerability Report
Nowadays, organizations face a lot of multiple security threats that can compromise
sensitive information and user trust. In this report, it tackles the three critical application
security vulnerabilities that poses significant risks to organizations. It also provides a
real-world and theoretical example together with its impact to provide a deeper
understanding of these vulnerabilities. Despite the inherent risks, it outlines effective
mitigation strategies to enhance application security.
Vulnerability Identification
1. SQL Injection
- A vulnerability where attackers insert malicious SQL code into a web application.
This occurs when the application dynamically constructs SQL queries without
properly validating user inputs. Through this technique, attackers can manipulate the
database to access sensitive data, modify records, or even execute administrative
operations.
In example of SQL Injection, a recent case involving a managed file transfer application
demonstrated the dangers of SQL injection vulnerabilities, it allowed attackers to gain
unauthorized access to sensitive data. This risk is exemplified by the 2011 Sony
Pictures hack, where attackers exploited SQL injection to bypass authentication and
access confidential employee data.
The impact of SQL injection includes data theft, unauthorized modification, or complete
database compromise. These breaches often result in financial losses, reputational
damage, and legal implications.
Below are the mitigation strategies to prevent the risk of SQL Injection:
• Employee Training: IT teams must be trained in SQL injection prevention to
understand how these attacks work and how to secure web applications
effectively.
• Don’t Trust User Input: Any user input should be treated as untrusted. Input
validation and security checks must be applied to ensure that malicious data
does not get processed in SQL queries.
• Keep Software Updated: Regularly update software to the latest versions.
Outdated software often lacks security patches, making it vulnerable.
• Regular Security Scans: Perform regular security scans to detect and resolve
potential vulnerabilities in web applications before they can be exploited.
2. Buffer Overflow
- Buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold.
It leads to data overwriting adjacent memory locations, potentially causing the
program to crash or execute malicious code.
Buffer overflow vulnerabilities have led to many high-profile security incidents in
computing history. In example, the 2017 WannaCry virus exploited a vulnerability in the
Windows Server Message Block protocol, infecting over 230,000 computers in a single
day and causing substantial financial losses and disruptions.
Its impact can lead to significant system crashes, resulting in downtime and reduced
service availability. These attacks may cause programs to enter infinite loops, further
destabilizing the system. Additionally, they often enable the execution of arbitrary
codes, which can bypass established security policies. Once attackers gain access,
they can exploit other vulnerabilities, potentially compromising additional security
measures.
These are the mitigation strategies to prevent the Buffer Overflow risk:
• Coding Practices: Developers should be trained in secure coding techniques
to minimize the risk. It ensures that common mistakes, such as improper
memory handling are avoided.
• Use Safe Programming Languages: Languages like Java, Python, or C# can
reduce the risk, as they have built-in safeguards against buffer overflows.
• Bounds Checking: Code should always include checks to ensure that data
being written does not exceed the allocated buffer size. Validating input lengths
before processing can prevent overflows.
3. Broken Authentication
- A term used to describe security vulnerabilities which can potentially allow
unauthorized users to compromise the system. It typically occurs when an
application’s functions related to user authentication, session management, and
password management are implemented incorrectly, leaving it prone to
cyberattacks.
In a real-world scenario of broken authentication, it often involve the exploitation of
weak passwords through techniques like credential stuffing, where attackers use
previously leaked passwords from one service to compromise accounts on different
platforms. This method typically targets users who recycle passwords across various
services, resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive information. Another exploitation
technique is session hijacking, where attackers take control of an active user session by
stealing session IDs. This vulnerability can arise if an application inadequately manages
session IDs, such as failing to invalidate them after a user logs out or permitting them to
be included in URLs.
According to Nedim Marić (2024), it gives impact by unauthorized access to user
accounts allows attackers to steal sensitive data, including personal data such as credit
card details and social security numbers. This can lead to significant financial losses for
organizations due to breaches and potential lawsuits. Moreover, an organization's
reputation can damaged resulting in a loss of customer trust. End-users may also
experience identity theft, leading to unauthorized transactions and personal harm.
To prevent the impact, below are the mitigation strategies:
• Avoid Session IDs in URLs: Session IDs should never be included in URLs,
anyone with access can hijack the session. Instead, store session IDs in
cookies or HTTP authorization headers.
• Adjust Session Lengths: Adjust lengths based on application use such as,
money transfer app should log users out after few minutes of inactivity, while a
streaming service can maintain longer sessions to enhance user convenience.
• Implement Strong Password: To protect against unauthorized access, adopt
passkeys to eliminate complext passwords which reduces credential theft.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Require multiple verification factors, such
as a password and a code sent to the user’s mobile device, to enhance
security. This ensures that stolen passwords alone cannot grant access.
In conclusion, understanding security vulnerabilities is essential for protecting sensitive
data. The three vulnerabilities discussed present significant risks that can result in
serious consequences if neglected. It is important to implement effective security
practices to mitigate these risks. Security should be a priority for individuals and
organizations to safeguard their assets. In doing so, they not only protect their data but
also maintain a positive image and reputation, gaining trust among users and
stakeholders.
REFERENCES:
Yasar, K., Hanna, K. T., & Lewis, S. (2023, April 27). SQL injection (SQLi). Software
Quality. https://www.techtarget.com/searchsoftwarequality/definition/SQL-injection
Secure By Design Alert: Eliminating SQL injection vulnerabilities in software | CISA.
(2024, March 25). Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA.
https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/secure-design-alert-eliminating-sql-
injection-vulnerabilities-software
What is buffer overflow? Attacks, types & vulnerabilities | Fortinet. (n.d.). Fortinet.
https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/buffer-overflow
Welekwe, A., & Welekwe, A. (2023, September 27). Buffer overflow vulnerabilities and
attacks explained. Comparitech. https://www.comparitech.com/blog/information-
security/buffer-overflow-attacks-vulnerabilities/
Marić, N. (2024, September 6). Broken authentication: impact, examples, and how to fix
it. Bright Security. https://brightsec.com/blog/broken-authentication-impact-examples-
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Authgear. (2023, July 14). Broken authentication: What is it and how to prevent it.
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