Top AppSec Missteps You Need to Avoid

Over the last two years, increased digital transformation initiatives have surely aided organizations in surviving the effects of a worldwide epidemic. Businesses have never had to move as quickly to embrace new methods of working, whether it was the deployment of collaboration platforms, a migration to the cloud, or a shift to flexible working practices.

Developers, on the other hand, have been driven to innovate at a quicker rate than ever before to support these expanded digital transformation initiatives. In fact, 38% of developers release software on a monthly or quicker basis.

This fast speed, along with a growing reliance on cloud environments and resources, has made it all too easy for small AppSec errors to become huge security risks and thus risking application security.

It’s a trend that fraudsters are noticing, as evidenced by big application security breaches impacting companies like SolarWinds and Microsoft Exchange.

We have compiled the top 7 AppSec mistakes that one should avoid while working with a program to keep the application security strong.

Top AppSec missteps to avoid into maintaining application-security

What are the probable pitfalls that developers and business leaders should avoid if they want to keep their Appsec program secure? Let us understand:

1. Vulnerabilities caused by other parties

The use of open-source components by software development teams resulted in a significant change in how developers worked. They were able to employ open-source components to supply common or repeated features and functions instead of needing to construct software from the ground-up. Developers were able to focus more on important differentiators as a result of this freed-up time.

While open-source adoption has fuelled the software development market, it continues to pose a significant security concern for enterprises. Open-source software is still vulnerable to coding mistakes and vulnerabilities, and third-party code developers aren’t doing enough to guarantee that the code they’re utilizing is bug-free.

2. Irregular application security scans

The value of doing frequent website security scans cannot be overstated. Only by scanning regularly can we identify and resolve any vulnerabilities or holes that may occur. Organizations frequently make the fatal mistake of failing to monitor their websites every day and after big changes to corporate policy, systems, and other factors.

3. AppSec program protection against XSS

The second-most-common web application vulnerability in 2018 was Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). Without the user’s knowledge, XSS allows attackers to execute scripts in the visitor’s browser on behalf of a susceptible website.

They can be routed to fraudulent websites or have their cookies taken, among other things. The most important thing to remember about XSS is that it is easily detectable using application security testing tools. As a result, using these technologies in your security testing process is critical.

4. Inherited application security susceptibilities

Application developers frequently use application frameworks based on long-standing languages such as JavaScript to remain nimble. This enables developers to easily construct and prototype applications.

These frameworks, on the other hand, frequently rely on several entangled dependencies and might bring in components from unknown sources across the Internet, thus exposing the applications to attacks.

Developers sometimes depend on the popularity of a JavaScript library to judge its security, erroneously assuming that if a large number of developers use it, it must be safe. This is a bad strategy that exposes your application to security risks.

To avoid this sort of assault in your Appsec program, adopt the following proactive measures:

  • Instead of downloading packages from the internet every time you create, bring them in and mirror them locally in your development environment. To put it another way, don’t develop or deploy from the internet.
  • To find insecure packages in your local repository, use application vulnerability techniques, notably Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools. The OWASP Dependency Check tool, for example, is an open-source program that can analyze your code-base for outdated libraries.

5. Permissions and authentication

Weak root passwords, such as admin, 1234, or other widely used terms, from the admin or server end. Password-cracking tools may easily crack them, and once the password is cracked, the website will be hacked.

For website users, not enforcing a robust password policy and multi-factor authentication would cause damages. When a website enables users to use default passwords, permits weak passwords to be used without expiration, and depends solely on passwords for security, the company exposes itself to breaches and assaults.

A few other examples could be:

Giving end-users and external entities administrator powers and privileges without thinking makes the website insecure.

Changing folder and file permission structures to address permission issues based on bad advice from the internet, while allowing anybody to change the website’s structure, edit scripts, and execute harmful applications.

6. IT assets containing unnecessary/unwanted out-of-date software

Updates contain important fixes, and failing to update the software regularly invites attackers (who are always looking for gaps and security failures) to orchestrate breaches. Old and unwanted files, apps, databases, and other items that aren’t removed off the website serve as entry points for hackers.

Unpatched third-party software, obsolete plug-ins, open-source components, uninspected and copy-pasted programs, and other components that are known to have vulnerabilities render the website insecure, weak, and vulnerable to assaults.

What is the solution to Appsec program application security?

There is a variety of best practice efforts that organizations should implement to guarantee that their developers are not just thinking about AppSec while writing and utilizing code, but are also fully supported in the battle against threat actors attempting to exploit coding flaws.

  1. AppSec training should be expanded.
  2. Sharing the burden of application security
  3. Use of AI to cut down the tedious yet easy jobs
  4. Get support from Application Security Experts like Indusface

Conclusion

Application security systems will never be completely safe from cyber attacks, especially since threat actors’ strategies, techniques, and processes advance at a breakneck pace. Despite this, organizations and developers may put their best foot forward in the battle against cybercrime by implementing the aforementioned measures, making themselves and their code as safe as feasible.

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