Compromising the user’s sensitive information creates a negative impact on the reputation of the organization. Today, hackers are way too smart to get a way to steal the financial data of innocent users. That is why all web applications require rigorous testing measures to ensure the system is not vulnerable to different security concerns. Security for web applications is crucial for an organization to eliminate the potential risks and cyber-attacks before their existence. For your business needs and software infrastructure, various IT outsourcing companies can assist you with security testing best practices so that you can avoid a system flaw and make pertinent data safe and protected.
This blog will elaborate on the importance of security testing in web application development by emphasizing the challenges and security tools that can help your business maintain a strong security standard. Let’s head into some basics and start with the critical aspects of a secure development lifecycle.
What is Application Security Testing (AST)
In general terms, application security testing is a comprehensive process of determining the vulnerabilities of a system and mitigating them to create a more secure code for web development. Application security testing benefits organisations by preventing threats before the products are released on the client’s servers. It comprises testing and analysing the security functions to prevent the risk associated with cyber attacks. There are a variety of security testing measures that an organisation can employ to make sure that unauthorised users do not have access to confidential information.
The primary goal of AST is to improve the overall security system of web applications when it progresses throughout the SDLC (Software Development Lifecycle). Web Development Trends in 2023 involve adopting agile methodology, creating a window of opportunity for cyber attacks. This is a wake-up call for many organisations to implement security measures for successful web app development.
Why is Security Testing Important in Web Application Development?
The importance of security testing in web application development cannot be overstated. Today, cyber threats are far more dangerous and can lead to a negative impact on the reputation of the business. Data theft and security breaches are something that users will not tolerate. Most customers show faith in web apps that have strict data protection measures. You become their first choice when you have identified how you will make a difference in their lives by protecting their privacy. As a result, it increases your brand value and prevents future unforeseen security circumstances.
The organisations follow web security standards to ensure that regulatory compliances are kept in place for governing data and privacy with a procedure. Further, testing for security can pinpoint the critical issues related to authentication and vulnerabilities about misconfigurations so that you have a better track of future attacks. Besides safeguarding reputation, web applications’ security can give you a competitive advantage with a strong track record of security adherence, which attracts security-conscious users.
What are the Key Security Challenges in Web Application Development?
Attackers have been finding new ways to deceive customers by getting unauthorised access to customer databases. This forces many organisations to have security policies and procedures to outsmart cybercriminals. Some of the critical security challenges are:
1. Broken Authentication
This challenge is related to the improper implementation of authentication techniques, which significantly impacts the possibilities of vulnerabilities. Bad session management is likely when the authentication breaks, leading to unauthorised access to hackers. As a consequence, hackers can commit identity fraud by accessing sensitive information. This requires a secure development lifecycle with strong multi-factor authentication.
2. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Appearing from the client-side server, this attack is injected into the system through a web development code. When the application does not validate the data, it creates chances of malicious code attacks. The legit user will run the script without knowing that the code is not a part of the website, and the attackers can now access sensitive information. The attackers can not only steal your ID sessions but also redirect your websites to other malicious sites, which can lead to phishing.
3. Unvalidated Redirects and Forwards
There are URL-based attacks caused by incredible redirection to malicious websites. Later, the malicious actor can transfer data to phishing sites, making your sensitive information vulnerable. As part of web application security, you must ensure that redirection is credible.
4. Security Misconfigurations
It is a standard web application security challenge developers face in security management. It arises when administrators forget to change the default settings or passwords, compromising your system’s security. The web app development company has to ensure that cloud services and essential features are configured occasionally to decrease the chances of attack. Plus, when the error handling gets delayed, it can lead to a clear vision of sensitive information when the default accounts are removed permanently.
5. XML External Entity
Sensitive data can travel while parsing XML entities and contain vulnerabilities. The system becomes vulnerable to port scanning, Cross-site request forgery (CSRF), denial of service, and many more. It happens when XML is parsed with a weak configuration.
Application Security Testing Tools
After you have identified the challenges in application security testing, it is clear that implementing security for web applications best practices is necessary for maintaining product excellence. While you learned how vital security testing is in web development, applying some tools will help you avoid vulnerabilities in the application layer.
1. Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
Also known as the White Box technique, SAST tools are used for suspecting threats in the source code. The application tester analyses the architecture through a diagram and compares each static code line by line against the bug. It is a time-consuming process of identifying vulnerabilities as it involves a different level of abstraction. This tool is usually used before the product is released so developers can fix issues to make a secure development lifecycle.
2. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
As the opposite of the SAST tool, DAST is a black box technique wherein developers do not have prior knowledge of the code. Developers detect the security issues in the application running stage to ensure the best practices for designing and developing custom web apps. The tester injects the malicious code into the operating system through hacking and attempts to identify exploitable vulnerabilities.
3. Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)
IAST is a hybrid approach combining SAST and DAST and identifies the code exploitable while the application is run. As an agile application security tool, it can develop advanced hacking scenarios due to knowledge of data and flow. This tool will obtain a dynamic analysis to recognise test cases and determine how the system responds. It can be used in the DevOps environment where individual SAST and DAST are time-consuming for the software development lifecycle.
4. Database Security Scanning
Database security tools handle security patch management, weak passwords, improper access controls, and configurations. The purpose is to safeguard sensitive data and thereby facilitate the integrity of the database to mitigate vulnerabilities. It also means assessing the data encryption measures to verify that data is protected. Also, database security scanning helps meet compliance regulations (e.g., gdpr, HIPAA), which are essential industry laws, prioritised by clients while choosing a provider.
5. Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST)
MAST is one of the practical tools for security testing in web application development. It not only combines the static and dynamic analysis of the application, but it also investigates the facts triggered by forensic analysis. It focuses on the issues specific to mobile applications and highlights them for reducing data breach risks and financial loss. It involves taking care of spoofed Wi-Fi connections, rooting devices, and handling certifications for recognising potential risks.
Conclusion
With the rise of cyber crimes, insecure software is susceptible to data breaches and loss of critical information. Keeping this in mind, various organisations have realised the importance of security testing in web application development to reduce future security-related problems. Test engineers must examine the system logic and specifications to make software behave correctly when any cyber attack occurs. You can empower your development team with security training and awareness to ensure the right approach is taken to maintain the overall integrity of web apps.
