web123456

Common security vulnerabilities in the network

introduction

With the rapid development of the Internet, network security problems are becoming increasingly serious. In the online world, all kinds of commonSecurity vulnerabilitiesto people's communication andData securityIt brings a huge threat. This article will introduce some common onesNetwork security vulnerabilitiesand provide some precautions.

1. XSS (cross-site scripting attack)

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a common network security vulnerability. The attacker uses the web application to not filter or escape user input and embed malicious script code into the web page. When the user browses the web page, the malicious script will be executed in the user's browser, which will lead to the attacker being able to obtain the user's sensitive information, control the user's account, etc.

Prevention method:

  • Effective filtering and escaping of user input ensures that it is not interpreted as script code.
  • Use Content Security Policy (CSP) to limit the source of resources that can be loaded in the page to prevent the injection of malicious scripts.

2. CSRF (cross-site request forgery)

Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) is a common cybersecurity vulnerability in which an attacker uses victims’ authentication credentials on a logged-in website to perform illegal operations by forging legitimate requests. Here is a detailed explanation of CSRF:

The process of CSRF attack is as follows:

  1. The victim logs into Site A and obtains authentication credentials such as session cookies or other authentication tokens.

  2. The attacker constructs a malicious website B and inserts a form or link to the web page that sends a request to website A. This form or link will trigger specific operations, such as modifying user information, transferring money, etc.

  3. When the victim visits malicious website B, the browser will automatically send a request to the website A, including the victim's identity verification credentials.

  4. After Website A receives the request, it cannot determine whether the request comes from a trusted site, and it will treat the request as legal and perform the actions expected by the attacker.

CSRF attacks can cause the following hazards:

  1. Unauthorized operations: Attackers can use CSRF attacks to perform unauthorized operations by users, such as changing passwords, modifying user settings, making money transfers, etc.

  2. Data tampering: Attackers can modify victims' data through CSRF attacks, such as changing personal information, sending malicious emails, etc.

  3. Information leakage: If the victim stores sensitive information on Site A, such as credit card numbers, social accounts, etc., the attacker can obtain this information through CSRF attacks.

To prevent CSRF attacks, here are some defenses:

  1. Randomized token: Generate a random, unpredictable token for each session and include it in a form or request. The server verifies the validity of the token when it receives the request, ensuring that the request comes from a legitimate site and is initiated by the current user.

  2. Homologous detection: The server can check the request's Referer header field, ensure that the request comes from the same domain name, and reject requests that are not of the same origin. However, this approach is not reliable because the Referer header may be affected by browser settings, firewalls, or proxy.

  3. Double confirmation: For sensitive operations, the user can be asked to perform double confirmation, such as entering a password, SMS verification code, or other additional authentication factors to ensure that the user is willing to perform the operation.

  4. Defense HTTP method: Use the POST method to perform sensitive operations, as most CSRF attacks use GET requests. Additionally, custom HTTP header fields or other custom methods can be used to increase the difficulty of attackers in impersonating requests.

  5. Use verification codes: For certain sensitive operations, such as password reset or payment processes, users can be asked to enter verification codes to ensure that the request comes from humans rather thanautomationattack script.

By using these defenses in a comprehensive way, the risk of applications being attacked by CSRF can be greatly reduced and users’ data and accounts can be protected.

3. SQL injection

SQL injection is a common cybersecurity vulnerability. Attackers directly access and operate databases by inserting malicious SQL code into the application's input fields to bypass the application's verification and filtering mechanism. Here is a detailed explanation of SQL injection:

SQL injection takes advantage of the problem that the application does not properly filter user input when building SQL query statements. When an application splices user input directly into an SQL query without proper validation and escape, an attacker can insert malicious SQL code into the input field, resulting in unintended actions.

SQL injection can cause the following hazards:

  1. Data breach: Attackers can construct malicious SQL queries to obtain sensitive information in the database, such as username, password, credit card number, etc. If the application stores user's personal information or other sensitive data, this data may be leaked to the attacker.

  2. Data Tampering: Attackers can use SQL injection to modify data in the database to manipulate the functions, contents, or data from other users. This can damage the integrity of the data, causing the application to fail to work properly or mislead other users.

  3. Denial of Service: An attacker can perform some resource-consuming query operations through SQL injection or cause database errors, which affects the performance and availability of the application. This may cause the application to fail to respond to user requests normally, resulting in a denial of service.

To prevent SQL injection attacks, here are some defenses:

  1. Parameterized query: Use parameterized queries (Prepared Statements) or bind variables instead of splicing user input into SQL query statements directly. Parameterized queries can ensure that user input is treated as data rather than SQL code, eliminating the risk of injection.

  2. Input Verification and Filtering: Strictly validate and filter user input to ensure that only the expected data format and content are accepted. You can use whitelisting mechanisms, regular expressions and other methods for input verification, filter special characters or spaces, etc.

  3. Minimum permission principle: In database configuration, set the minimum permission principle for the application's database connection. Ensure that the application can only perform necessary database operations and limit its access to sensitive data and database structures.

  4. Security updates and vulnerability fixes: Timely updates to the database used by the applicationsoftwareand related library files to fix known security vulnerabilities. Keeping the latest version of the software can reduce the risk of being attacked.

  5. Secure coding practice: Developers should follow security coding specifications, such as avoiding dynamic splicing of SQL queries and using secure password hashingalgorithm, limit the display of error information, etc. Regular security audits and code reviews are performed to detect potential SQL injection vulnerabilities.

By taking these defenses, the risk of applications being attacked by SQL injection can be greatly reduced and the security of user data can be protected.

4. Unauthorized access

Unauthorized access means that an attacker successfully obtains access to the system or application without authorization. This may be caused by system configuration errors, weak passwords, default credentials, etc.

Prevention method:

  • Configure the correct access control policy to limit user permissions.
  • Use a strong password and change it regularly.
  • The default username and password are prohibited.

5. Unupdated software and exploits

Unupdated software often has published security vulnerabilities that attackers exploit to hack into the system.

Prevention method:

  • Regularly update operating systems, applications, and security patches to fix known vulnerabilities in a timely manner.
  • Enable the automatic update function to ensure that the system and applications can get the latest security updates in a timely manner.

6. Social Engineering Attack

Social engineering attacks refer to attackers using deception, induction, coaxing and other means to obtain user sensitive information or perform illegal operations. Common social engineering attacks include phishing emails, phone scams, entities disguised as trustworthy, etc.

Prevention method:

  • Improve users' security awareness and be alert to unidentified requests and information.
  • Educate users not to disclose personal sensitive information at will.

in conclusion

Cybersecurity vulnerabilities pose huge risks to our communications and data. Only by enhancing awareness of network security and taking corresponding measures to prevent and respond to security vulnerabilities can we better protect our network security.

Click to pick it up
50G+ learning video tutorial
100+ Python Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Electronic Books