For many companies, preventing website vulnerabilities becomes a priority only after a security breach has occurred. And in 2020, websites seem to be getting less secure. According to The Cybersecurity Ventures Annual Crime Report for 2020, cybercrime damages are expected to cost businesses $6 trillion annually by 2021. In order to protect your company from cyber threats, it’s important for you and your team to maintain a proactive and defensive approach towards cybersecurity.
A vulnerability is a cybersecurity term that refers to a weakness or misconfiguration in a system. For websites, this could mean a flaw in the web application code that allows attackers to gain some level of control. Many vulnerabilities are exploited via automated bots and specialized tools. Attackers can then take advantage of these vulnerabilities to distribute malicious content, steal data and damage a business’s reputation.
SQL Injections
SQL injection is one of the most predominant types of web application security vulnerabilities. An attacker attempts to use application code to access or corrupt database content. This allows the attacker to create, read, modify or delete any data that is stored in the back-end of the database.
Cross Site Scripting (XSS)
This vulnerability targets an application’s users by injection code into a web application’s output. XSS alters client-side scripts of a web application, permitting attackers to execute scripts into a victim’s browser. These scripts can hijack user sessions, deface websites, or redirect victims to a malicious site.
Broken Authentication & Session Management
Broken authentication and session management includes security issues that deal with maintaining user identity. If authentication credentials and session identifiers are not protected, attackers are able to hijack an active session and assume the identity of a user.
Insecure Direct Object References
Insecure direct object reference occurs when attackers bypass authorization by modifying the value of a parameter used to directly point to an object. This is caused by the fact that the application takes user supplied input and uses it to retrieve an object without performing sufficient authorization checks. Exploiting this vulnerability allows attackers to gain access to database records, personal data and other files.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
This type of vulnerability allows an attacker to induce users to execute actions that they had not intended to do. CSRFs are typically conducted using malicious social engineering, such as an email or link that tricks users into sending a forged request to a server. The attacker then accesses functionality through the victim’s already authenticated browser and takes control. Successful CSRF attacks can be devastating for businesses and their users, resulting in damaged client relationships, unauthorized fund transfers, changed passwords and data theft.
If you own a business, having a working and cohesive website is essential for success. A website is an asset that connects with customers, showcasing your brand and answering any pressing questions that they may have. As such, having a solid knowledge of cybersecurity and website vulnerabilities is absolutely key for the ongoing maintenance of your business. For more information about cybercrime, read our Basics of Cybercrime and Cybersecurity blog or contact us at +1 (866) 960-9409.
