Do You Know All There is to Know About SQL Injections?

We have all heard about cybercriminals and the havoc they create for online businesses and corporations. In the last few years, we have seen a new generation rising to the digital forefront. Hacktivists… they are the digital activists of this era and have just started making their presence known. With social media and a wide internet infrastructure, IT savvy hacktivists make their passionate opinions known on social and political issues on a global scale. They hack their way into government operated websites with the intent of shutting them down or exploiting content that would aid in their cause.

Arguably, the most dangerous part of hacktivism is the intent. Many do fight for social and political change but there are entities only interested in personal and financial gain.

 What does this mean for the multi-national or even local business (with an online presence) in Australia? Web application security has become an even important component that should never be overlooked. SQL injections are the second thing that mustn’t be ignored when making your website or web application more secure.

SQL Injections - Most Common Type of Hack Attack

There are plenty of reasons why attackers prefer hacking into a web application with the help of SQL injections. This attack allows hacktivists or malicious attackers to inject their own commands into databases. Such databases are usually not configured properly for attack detection which makes it easier for hackers to obtain access to information on the database.

Damages Caused By SQL Injection

Given the right circumstances, an attacker can leverage SQL injection vulnerability by bypassing web application’s authentication and authorization process completely. This makes it easier to retrieve information even for an entire database! Additionally, hackers can also add, modify, and delete from sensitive information and records.   

Online businesses must know about the 3 main categories of SQL injection attacks against databases to devise an effective web application security strategy. They are:

SQL Manipulation

This is a process where SQL statements are modified with the help of operations like UNION. Changing clause of SQL statement is another way to inject this vulnerability through SQL manipulation. Different results are derived from this SQL manipulation method.  

Code Injection

It’s a process of inserting new SQL statements (or database commands) into an already vulnerable SQL statement. There are many different strategies used by hackers to achieve malicious code injection. The most commonly used is to write SQL server EXECUTE command at the end of the vulnerable SQL statement. This type of SQL attack can only take place if multiple SQL statements are supported per database request.

Buffer Overflows

This is caused by using function call injection. Additionally, patches are available for most of open source and commercial databases, which are important for a server’s security. This type of SQL injection attack happens when server is un-patched.

Protecting your web application against such vulnerabilities should be every business’s highest priority. As such, you must know where to look when searching for the best managed service provider for your business’s online application. Lean Security is a good option and here’s why!      

Are All Web Security Vulnerabilities Equally Dangerous For Your Online Business?

Are you responsible for the security of your company’s web applications?

What are the steps usually taken when it comes to removing vulnerabilities from web applications and websites?

Many IT managers rely on a web application security scan to help identify anomalies, this being the first step towards vulnerability removal.

Not having enough time and budget forces many IT managers to choose between vulnerabilities, i.e. try to fix highest priority risks first.

This is where the real problem begins.

SQL Injection is often given precedence over other vulnerabilities especially cross-site scripting. In fact, many in the web application security industry think XSS vulnerability isn’t as dangerous for web applications and websites, and can be identified and fixed last.  

XSS Vulnerability – Why Do You Think It Is Not a Dangerous Vulnerability?

In XSS vulnerability, the victim of an attack isn’t the actual web application, web server, or data stored in a database but the user/visitor. What does this mean? If a forum or WordPress blog post is injected by XSS vulnerability, the hacker will only gain access to the private messages, forum posts, and user’s profile. Such a hack attack won’t give access to sensitive data (credit card numbers, customer details) that can be stolen or enable the hacker to tamper the web application.  

What Can An Attacker Actually Do With XSS Vulnerability?

Malicious scripts are injected by hackers into an otherwise trusted website, in a cross-site site (XSS) attack. This vulnerability can then be exploited by the attacker in the form of a malicious code (usually a browser side script) that is sent to a different user of the same web application.  

Web developers and company’s in-house IT specialists think XSS vulnerability is relatively harmless and can be placed as the lowest priority. In reality, cross-site scripting can do some serious damage:

• l Bypass restriction in websites
• l Malware attack
• l Steal identity and confidential data
• l Denial of service attacks
• l Website defacement
• l Session hijacking

In the end, no vulnerability should be considered low priority. If possible, all should be identified and fixed within a reasonable timeframe so that end-users and customers don’t suffer.

It is also a good idea to undergo monthly web application security scanning and assessment by a reliable managed service provider. Lean Security is always ready for the test! Try our free trial today.   

What Are Your Resolutions For Web Application’s Pen Testing?

New Years has come and gone but the air is still filled with expectations that this year will be the best. If you are an online business owner and have suffered security hacks, liabilities and losses last year – 2017 is the time to redeem yourself in the eyes of customers. Keeping with tradition, did you write down a list of New Year’s resolutions that you intend to follow to the letter? Did those resolutions include web application pentesting? More importantly – isn’t it time to resolve and code review your business’s IT infrastructure and web applications via manual/automatic penetration testing?

Understanding the Real Value of a Penetration Test

Very few businesses with an online presence realize the importance and value of penetration testing, for their web/mobile applications and software security. There are a lot of misconceptions about this, like:

• My IT infrastructure will be safe after pentesting
• All vulnerabilities within application will be found

Penetration testing conducted due to the above mentioned reasons don’t explore the full capacity of the security testing service. There are actually other benefits of pentesting that you can enjoy!

Pentesting Reveals a Set of Vulnerabilities

Not all of them though! In fact, number of found vulnerabilities is connected to certain factors namely:

• Time length of the test
• Skills, experience, credentials, certifications of testers
• Network connectivity
• Active web application firewalls
• System changes during testing
• Application instability

Moreover, high risk vulnerabilities are focused first then medium-low risk ones (if none found). This is why for maximum results; a combination of automatic and manual pentesting should be performed. Some additional benefits of pentesting from a certified and experienced vendor are:

• Shows ‘real risk’ of vulnerabilities
• Offers third party’s expert opinion
• Tests cyber-defence capability of your IT infrastructure
• Helps comply with industry certifications and regulations

Businesses often question the best way to conduct pentesting of software, web applications and the rest of their IT infrastructure. What they forget is penetration testing should accomplish placed business goals and objectives, not merely check for random holes in security.

Here Is How to Conduct a Successful Security Evaluation Test

Choosing a good or right pentesting vendor is only half of the battle. Make sure the security assessment is conducted properly by:

• Establishing security baseline through annual tests
• Spell out your company’s security objectives and requirements
• Choose auditors that have ‘real’ security experience
• Involve business unity managers early on
• Make sure reliance is on experience, not just prepared checklists
• Ensure finished report reflects all organization’s security risks

Now that you know the importance of penetration testing for your web application’s or IT infrastructure’s security evaluation, are you going to scour the market for a pentesting software that doesn’t offer accurate results or are you choosing Lean Security?

Security Compliance And Audits – What You Should Know

When was the last time your company’s IT department conducted a security compliance and audit on infrastructure, web applications and software? Why is this necessary? Explained in simple terms – a security audit is usually carried out to ensure full working capability of your security systems and IT infrastructure.

A compliance audit on the other hand is a comprehensive review detailing adherence to regulatory guidelines of a company. Independent security or IT consultants offer compliance audits to clients, who then fix the gap holes in their security with the help of finished report. These professionals review user access controls, risk management procedures, and security policies over the course of the audit.

There are a few points that you should know about choosing security compliance and audits for your IT infrastructure for better results. Keep the following in mind:  

An Audit Isn’t a Design Session  

Does your security program’s design rely heavily on initial audit gap report? If yes, the programs might not be sustainable. In the end your auditor will try and target a specific requirement first which means compliance and security audits don’t deal with sustainability, holistic approaches, and existing business requirements integration.

Don’t Conduct Audit If Not 100% Ready

An audit is strictly conducted in accordance with independent review of your existent security program. There is no need to go through if you feel your organization doesn’t meet all aspects of the security audit. In fact, discrepancies and vulnerabilities within the IT framework should be fixed first! Remember, security and compliance audit results shouldn’t be measured but this evaluation does help fix issues.    

Always Aim Higher Than What Compliance Requirements Prefer

Going above and beyond when it comes to IT security can be a good thing. Requirements are placed at a minimum standard, by which businesses with an online presence can operate and work to exceed in. When making the budget for security and compliance audit, don’t just focus on meeting the standard requirement but try to provide everything that is needed by your organization to effectively mitigate risk.

Identify vulnerabilities and fix your web application’s security by effective assessment of IT infrastructure with the help of advance web security testing. Security and compliance will follow automatically afterwards. Lean on Lean Security for your entire web and mobile application’s security needs.   

How To Choose The Right Penetration Testing Vendor

When it comes to IT infrastructure’s and web application’s security, there are two ways businesses and companies with an online presence can establish thorough security. The good and bad way, i.e. you can either wait for your organization’s web application and IT infrastructure to get hacked or work with a professional penetration testing service before disaster strikes. The latter is the better option.

Penetration Testing Will Safeguard Your IT Infrastructure against Vulnerabilities

Contrary to belief, penetration testing is utilized to scan and find existing vulnerabilities within the framework of a web application. This vulnerability is then addressed and duly removed. Evaluation and penetration scanning is carried out by pentesting companies or individuals. The exact same techniques as ones used by hackers and cyber criminals are used by these professionals, to safely exploit vulnerabilities and highlight issues within infrastructure’s security. With pentest vendors operating in Australia (Lean Security is of them) how will you know you have partnered with the right one?

Look For Technical Capabilities

Extensive training and experience are two important factors all the best pentesters have in common. Your chosen penetration testing vendor must have the following certifications that promise both training and experience. There are:

• CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
• CEH – Certified Ethical Hacker
• GWAPT – GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester
• OSCE – Offensive Security Certified Expert
• OSCP – Offensive Security Certified Professional

Additional credentials to look out for are pentest’s background in network, systems management or developing applications before moving into this field.

Pricing Of Penetration Testing

You must get at least three quotes or recommendations for pentest vendors or companies, with complete information about services. This will help determine if the asked price package is worth the service. In any case, knowing what you are paying for will help.

Not all pentest companies are equal, either with services or certification. Don’t forget, you will get what you pay for which means choosing a low priced service will offer nothing but under qualified or inexperienced pentesting professionals.

Ask a Potential Pentesting Vendor These Questions

Choosing the right pentesting vendor has been made easy with the following summation of important questions to ask:

• How many pentesters do you employ? What are their qualifications?
• What assistance can you provide in scoping the tests?
• Do you offer phishing testing and social engineering?
• How is the pentest carried out and to what time scale?
• What steps are taken to minimize possible effects on the business?
• Will there be any reports and security recommendations provided after the test?
• Can you provide references or testimonials for other existing customers?

With help from the above, finding the right pentesting vendor for your online business or web application will become easier. Just know what you want done i.e. security assessment and evaluation only or something concrete. Look at what Lean Security has to offer when it comes to Penetration testing services.