Web application security: invisible threats and necessary protections

Security of web applications is a strategic requirement. Corporate portals, dashboards and web apps are now key tools for daily operations and service delivery. This also makes them a prime target for increasingly targeted and sophisticated cyber attacks.

Why might your web app not be as secure as you think?

The use of HTTPS protocols, strong passwords or multi-factor authentication is important, but not sufficient. The most critical vulnerabilities often lie in misconfigurations, insecure code or poorly managed authorisations. Even well-known threats such as SQL Injection or Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) continue to be extremely effective in accessing sensitive data or altering application behaviour.

In other cases, it is DDoS attacks that compromise service availability, blocking user access and generating economic and reputational damage.

Other common vulnerabilities in web apps.

According to the OWASP Top 10, some of the most frequently encountered critical issues include:

• Broken Access Control
  Improper management of permissions allows unauthorised actors to access confidential resources or perform unintended actions.
• Security Misconfiguration
  Default settings or non-optimised configurations can expose endpoints, directories or error messages that provide valuable information to attackers.
• Use of vulnerable or obsolete components
  Outdated frameworks and libraries may contain known and already documented flaws that are easily exploited by automatic attack tools.

These conditions open the door to silent compromises, in which a malicious actor can remain latent in the infrastructure for months, gathering information and preparing targeted attacks.

A risk that also involves your customers.

A compromised web app can become a vehicle for malware campaigns or compromise customers’ personal data. The impacts do not only affect the organisation, but the entire digital ecosystem. Even a single incident can erode the trust built up over time.

Defending the application perimeter with a proactive approach.

Web security is a cyclic and integrated process. The most effective tools include:

• Web Application Penetration Test
  A test conducted by specialists to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Discover DSA Web
• API Security Test
  APIs are often the real point of interaction between services. Verifying their security is crucial. Discover DSA API
• Application firewalls and threat intelligence
  Continuous monitoring and active defence are essential to detect and block intrusion attempts in real time.
• Advanced Access Management
  Granular policies and MFA authentication drastically reduce the risk of compromised credentials.

A strategy for today and tomorrow.

Mobisec supports companies in adopting a comprehensive, scalable Web Security strategy in line with the highest standards. Our service makes it possible to identify critical situations, intervene promptly and guarantee continuity of service, protecting users, data and reputation.

Find out how we can help you secure your web app or web portal.