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Web Security Notes

Comprehensive security notes, vulnerability research, and remediation strategies for web applications

January 1, 2025 Chandan Chakrobortty 12 min read
Web security and vulnerability research

Introduction to Web Security

Security is not a feature—it's a fundamental requirement. In today's digital landscape, web application security is critical for protecting user data, maintaining trust, and ensuring compliance with regulations. This guide documents common vulnerabilities, secure defaults, and practical remediation strategies.

OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) identifies the most critical web application security risks:

1. Injection Attacks (SQL, NoSQL, OS)

Attack where untrusted data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query.

Vulnerable:

SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ' + userInput + '

Secure:

db.prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?").execute(userInput)

Mitigation: Use parameterized queries, input validation, and ORM frameworks.

2. Broken Authentication

Compromised passwords, session tokens, or flawed authentication mechanisms.

  • Use strong password policies and hashing (bcrypt, scrypt)
  • Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA)
  • Use secure session management

3. Sensitive Data Exposure

Inadequate protection of personal, financial, or health information.

  • Encrypt data in transit (TLS/SSL)
  • Encrypt sensitive data at rest
  • Minimize data storage and implement secure deletion

Best Practices for Secure Development

Security Checklist

  • Input Validation: Always validate and sanitize user input
  • Output Encoding: Encode output to prevent XSS attacks
  • HTTPS Everywhere: Use TLS 1.2 or higher
  • CORS Policy: Implement strict CORS settings
  • Content Security Policy (CSP): Define trusted sources for resources

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