An in-depth look at Application Security (AppSec), what it is and why it is important for your business, types of AppSec technologies as well as application security best practices.

What does Application Security or AppSec Mean?

Application security (often referred to as AppSec) is the process associated with protecting applications from threats by addressing potential or existing vulnerabilities during the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC). AppSec, including the utilization of Application Security as a Service, deals with preventing vulnerabilities in software, as well as locating and correcting existing vulnerabilities.

Why is AppSec important?

Web and mobile applications now represent the face of most businesses as commerce becomes more reliant on technology versus brick-and-mortar operations. With the impact of COVID came a need for more workers to be enabled to perform their job duties remotely resulting in business becoming even more dependent on the use of software. Customer service jobs are also being replaced by technology in the form of applications allowing self-service options for customers. If vulnerabilities are present in these applications, exploits can cause devastating losses monetarily as well as for the reputation of the business and lack of consumer trust. 

Research suggests that most attacks and breaches target known or existing vulnerabilities in software. (Think Solar Winds, Log4j, or the Microsoft ProxyShell or PetitPotam bugs.) Further, in the last few years, the software attack surface area has expanded dramatically as the software supply chain has grown. Bugs and even common vulnerabilities in a single piece of code can easily be multiplied in a supply chain that quickly reaches tens of thousands or even millions of customers.

AppSec helps ensure that bugs, flaws, and other types of vulnerabilities don’t make their way into software. It also helps to identify weaknesses as early as possible in the software development cycle so any vulnerabilities can be fixed quickly and efficiently. 

Common Application Security Risks

The Web Application Threat Landscape focuses on risks mainly associated with traditional web apps. It targets browser-based vulnerabilities and UI elements. The API Threat Landscape, on the other hand, focuses on cyber threats that are specific to APIs like unauthorized data access, faulty endpoint security, and insecure data transmission.

Web Application Threat Landscape

The modern web application threat landscape refers to the evolving range of security risks and vulnerabilities that are present in the web apps we use. Organizations must invest in application security to defend against the main threats that we'll discuss below.

Flawed Access Restrictions

Flawed access restrictions are improperly implemented controls that don't limit an organization's data or systems. Inadequately implemented access controls can enable malicious or unwitting parties to view, modify, and even delete sensitive information; an employee may gain unnecessary access to sensitive financial data, inadvertently leading to a series of security breaches with catastrophic repercussions. 

Cryptographic Issues

Cryptography allows organizations to encrypt their information and make it inaccessible to unauthorized users. Weak encryption algorithms and improperly managed encryption keys are common cryptographic issues that can create potentially serious vulnerabilities, making it essential for businesses to use up-to-date encryption methods that can stand up to modern decryption techniques that malicious parties use. 

Malicious Payload Attacks (e.g., XSS, LFI, SQLi)

Malicious payload attacks deliver damaging code to an organization's system in the hopes of exploiting its vulnerabilities. These attacks often result in unauthorized access or damage and vary in method and impact. Each type of malicious payload attack, however, shares the common goal of exploiting an application's weaknesses. 

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): XSS attacks occur when attackers inject malicious scripts into web pages. These scripts can steal cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive information from a victim’s browser.
• Local File Inclusion (LFI): LFI attacks exploit vulnerabilities in web apps that let attackers add files to a server through a web browser. These attacks lead to the execution of malicious scripts or code on a server in an attempt to access sensitive data.
• SQL Injection (SQLi): SQLi attacks insert malicious queries via input data from a client into a victim’s web application. This can manipulate the database, allowing attackers to access, modify, or delete sensitive data.

The attacks described above demonstrate why it's so important to include secure coding practices in application development security.

Weak Security Design Patterns

Weak security design patterns - flawed approaches or practices in the architecture and design of software applications - create vulnerabilities and expose them to security threats. It can be tempting to overlook security considerations during an application's design phase, but weak security design patterns often stem from this very issue. Inadequate authentication mechanisms, lack of encryption, or poor error handling can all lead to weak design patterns that create significant security vulnerabilities within an application. 

Misconfigured Security Settings

In application security, misconfigured security settings are security parameters such as open ports or default passwords that have been improperly set up. Misconfigured security settings can create vulnerabilities and make it easy for attackers to target applications, leading to unauthorized access, data breaches, and compromised system integrity.

Out-of-Date and Exposed Components

Out-of-date components in the application stacks such as old libraries and frameworks can pose potentially significant risks in an organization's application security. Cybercriminals exploit these weaknesses to inject malicious code, gain unauthorized access, or steal sensitive data.  For example, an outdated web server might have a well-documented flaw that allows attackers to bypass security controls.

Flaws in User Identity and Verification

Secure user identity and verification in application security are vital to ensure that access to an organization's data and systems is granted to whoever is properly authenticated and authorized. Poor password management or the absence of multi-factor authentication (MFA) can lead to the unauthorized access of data, allowing malicious actors to masquerade as trusted personnel.

Integrity Issues in Software and Data

It's essential to maintain software and data integrity to ensure information remains accurate and that software applications function as intended.  Integrity issues, such as unauthorized modifications, malware infections, or system errors, can lead to data corruption, rendering information unreliable or unusable. This compromises the functionality and security of systems, potentially leading to security breaches. For example, a corrupted database due to a malware attack could result in the loss of critical data, impacting decision-making and operations.

Deficiencies in Security Logging and Alerts

Security logging and alerts allow organizations to respond to cybersecurity incidents and involve the collection and analysis of data. This data focuses on system activities like access attempts and transaction records to assist with the early detection of unusual or malicious activity that may precede a security incident. Deficient logging and alerting systems can lead to delayed breach detection and give attackers more time to successfully exploit vulnerabilities and steal data.

Server-Side Deceptive Requests

Server-side deceptive requests are malicious requests that attackers send to a server. These requests are designed to deceive a server into performing unintended actions. Attackers use these requests to exploit vulnerabilities and potentially manipulate server behavior, leading to data manipulation, unauthorized data access, or even full system control. An attacker may, for example, send a legitimate-seeming request that in fact contains malicious SQL code to gain unauthorized access to an organization's database. 

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is a security vulnerability that involves an attacker tricking a user's browser into executing unauthorized actions against a web app for which a user is authenticated. These attacks exploit the trust an application places in an end-user's web browser; successful CSRFs may lead to unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user, such as changing account settings, initiating transactions, or altering data.

API Threat Landscape

The API threat landscape is experiencing an increasing reliance on APIs in software and web applications. This reliance has escalated the number of security risks that organizations have experienced, and modern challenges include: 

• Faulty Object-Level Permissions 
• Flawed User Verification
• Overexposed Data Issues
• An Absence Of Resources And Request Throttling
• Faulty Function-Level Permissions
• Uncontrolled Bulk Data Assignment
• Incorrect Security Configurations
• Malicious Data Insertions
• Inadequate Management Of Assets
• A Lack Of Security Event Tracking And Alerts
• API Endpoint Exposure Without A Rate Limit 
• Weak API Dependency Security

Faulty Object-Level Permissions

Faulty object-level permissions are insufficient or incorrect implementations of access controls that govern user interactions with data objects such as an organization's files or database records. These faulty permissions can allow unauthorized users to access, modify, or delete data they shouldn't have access to, leading to data breaches, unauthorized data manipulation, and exposure of sensitive information. 

Flawed User Verification

In application security, flawed user verification practices are improperly implemented methods to identify the users who access an application. There are multiple significant implications of flawed user verification: 

• Unauthorized Access
• Identity Theft and Fraud
• Data Breaches
• System Disruption
• Compliance Violations

To mitigate these risks, our experts at GuidePoint Security can help you implement strong authentication methods, rigorous account verification processes, and continuous monitoring for suspicious activities.

Overexposed Data Issues

Overexposed data issues are scenarios in which excess data becomes accessible to users, typically due to inadequate access controls. This overexposure makes it likelier that unauthorized parties will be able to access sensitive information. Overexposed data issues can significantly impact user privacy and organizational security. 

Absence of Resource and Request Throttling

Resource and request throttling in application security involves limiting the number of requests a user or system can make to an application within a certain amount of time. This technique helps prevent Denial-of-Service attacks and makes it easier to manage server load. Throttling is also key in regulating API usage, preventing resource abuse, and enhancing security against brute-force attacks. 

Faulty Function-Level Permissions

Faulty function-level permissions in application security occur when users are granted access to functionalities that should lie beyond their privileges. These faulty permissions can lead to unauthorized actions with substantial security implications:

• Unauthorized Data Modification
• Execution Of Restricted Functions
• Potential Data Breaches
• Elevation of Privileges
• Audit and Compliance Issues
• Data Leakage
• Reputation Damage
• Exploitation of Application Logic Flaws

Our application security experts at GuidePoint Security can help your organization manage its function-level access control to mitigate these risks and ensure comprehensive, enterprise-wide application security. 

Uncontrolled Bulk Data Assignment

Uncontrolled bulk data assignment in application security is referred to as the practice of indiscriminately assigning large volumes of data to objects or variables without proper validation or filtering, leading to potentially significant security risks including:

• Data Exposure
• Data Manipulation
• Increased Attack Surface

Addressing uncontrolled bulk data assignments is crucial for safeguarding data privacy and maintaining application security.H4: Incorrect Security Configurations

Incorrect security configurations are settings within an organization's application or its environment that haven't been aligned with the proper security practices. Misconfigurations such as the improper setup of access controls or failure to encrypt data can compromise your application security framework and make it susceptible to vulnerabilities.  

Malicious Data Insertions

Malicious data insertions in application security refer to the unauthorized embedding of harmful data into an app, typically through user input fields. These insertions can lead to significant compromises in an organization's data integrity, and they can result in the loss or corruption of critical data, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and overall disruption of an application’s functionality.

Inadequate Management of Assets

Effective asset management is crucial in application security, as it involves identifying, tracking, and securing all digital assets, like software, hardware, and data. Proper management ensures that security measures are appropriately applied to each asset, reducing vulnerabilities. Inadequate asset management can lead to asset loss, where critical components are misplaced or forgotten, increasing the risk of security gaps. Additionally, unidentified or unmonitored assets can be exploited by attackers, leading to unauthorized access, data breaches, and system compromises. Therefore, maintaining a comprehensive inventory and regular audits of digital assets is key to safeguarding against potential security threats and ensuring the integrity of the application ecosystem.

Lacking in Security Event Tracking & Alerts

Security event tracking and alerts play a vital role in incident detection in application security by continuously monitoring for suspicious activities and anomalies. A lack of event tracking and alerting mechanisms can lead to delayed or missed detection of breaches, allowing attackers more time to exploit vulnerabilities and ultimately cause extensive damage.

API Endpoint Exposure without Rate Limit

API endpoint exposure without rate limiting refers to allowing unrestricted access to an API's endpoints, meaning there's no cap on the number of requests a user or system can make in a given timeframe. This lack of restriction poses significant risks, such as resource exhaustion, where too many requests overwhelm the server, leading to degraded performance or downtime. 

Weak API Dependency Security

Securing API dependencies is crucial in application security because API dependencies often involve external libraries or services that can introduce vulnerabilities if not properly managed. Weak security in API dependencies can lead to several risks:

• Data Breaches: Vulnerable dependencies may be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
• System Compromises: Attackers can use these weaknesses to infiltrate and manipulate the broader system.
• Dependency Chain Attacks: A single insecure dependency can compromise all connected systems, amplifying the impact.

Our application security experts at GuidePoint Security can help your organization ensure robust security measures for API dependencies are in place to protect against risks and maintain your overall security posture.

What are the types of application security tools?

There are several categories of application security testing (AST) tools. They include:

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST)—SAST tools are designed to analyze source code or compiled versions of code to help find security flaws. One of the advantages of SAST is that it enables developers to be armed with their own testing tools they can use which gives them the ability to test earlier and more often during the software development life cycle. As a result, the developers are able to learn secure coding concepts as they develop code. 
• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)—DAST provides a way to automate assessing applications at run time. This tool explores (or crawls) applications as a regular user would either from an authenticated or unauthenticated perspective. This tool may be fed user credentials and then can traverse the web application as that user role. DAST tools provide a significant ROI because they typically provide rapid results, are easy to implement, and typically are easy to use. They also provide vulnerability information related to the application as well as potential issues with some outdated third-party components and configuration issues such as SSL or outdated platforms in use.
• Software Composition Analysis (SCA)—In a software composition analysis, the tools analyze potential risk within third-party and open source software components. These tools typically aid organizations in creating an inventory of all third-party and open source components and may identify any licensing issues. They will identify outdated and vulnerable software components in use and typically identify updated versions as well as CVEs associated with any vulnerable components. Most modern applications incorporate third-party and/or open source components, dependencies, and libraries. These tools help organizations identify and discover these aspects of their attack surface which can otherwise be challenging to identify and inventory. This is not a point-in-time effort, but requires ongoing maintenance as well as all of the most up-to-date components will eventually become outdated or vulnerable. 

Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)—IAST is an automated testing tool that runs as an agent, collecting data that allows security teams to analyze events in real time. Most IAST products claim to have a better ability to catch real vulnerabilities in real time, reducing the likelihood of false positives while improving efficiency.