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Defending a Web Application API against injectiong attacks

This report addresses the critical issue of injection attacks on web application APIs, focusing on SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). It analyzes recent attacks, identifies common causes and limitations of current defenses, and proposes enhancements such as runtime anomaly detection and secure development practices. The implementation of robust security measures has shown resilience against common attack vectors, but continuous evolution of defenses is necessary to combat advanced threats.

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khoibut09
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2 views

Defending a Web Application API against injectiong attacks

This report addresses the critical issue of injection attacks on web application APIs, focusing on SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). It analyzes recent attacks, identifies common causes and limitations of current defenses, and proposes enhancements such as runtime anomaly detection and secure development practices. The implementation of robust security measures has shown resilience against common attack vectors, but continuous evolution of defenses is necessary to combat advanced threats.

Uploaded by

khoibut09
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Defending a Web Application API Against Injection Attacks

Nguyễn Hữu Đăng Khôi 23560079

Đỗ Nguyễn Minh Anh 2356083

Hoàng Lê Vinh Sơn 23560062

Introduction

Injection attacks are among the most common and critical security threats faced by web
applications. These attacks exploit vulnerabilities in input handling to execute malicious
commands, potentially compromising the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of
systems. This report focuses on defending a web application API against injection
attacks, specifically addressing mechanisms to prevent SQL injection and cross-site
scripting (XSS) attacks. While the application implements input sanitization and
parameterized queries through JPA repositories, it is essential to evaluate the robustness
of these defenses, identify limitations, and propose enhancements.

Problem Analysis: Recent Injection Attacks

Recent Cases of Injection Attacks

1. ResumeLooters Campaign (2023):

Source: SecurityWeek

o What happened: Hackers exploited SQL injection vulnerabilities in over 65


websites in the Asia-Pacific region, stealing data from over two million job
seekers.

o Cause: Poorly implemented input validation and lack of robust query


parameterization allowed attackers to execute unauthorized queries.

2. MOVEit Transfer Breach (2023):

Source: Wikipedia

o What happened: Attackers exploited a zero-day SQL injection vulnerability


in the MOVEit Transfer software, exposing sensitive data of more than 80
million individuals.

o Cause: An unpatched SQL injection flaw combined with inadequate


monitoring allowed unauthorized database access.

Common Causes of Injection Attacks

 Inconsistent or improperly applied input validation.


 Unpatched vulnerabilities in third-party libraries or frameworks.

 Inadequate isolation of sensitive application components.

 Misconfigured database or server environments.

 Lack of runtime anomaly detection for identifying unexpected behavior.

Limitations and Challenges

1. Zero-Day Exploits:

o Parameterized queries and sanitization cannot protect against vulnerabilities


in libraries, frameworks, or database software with unpatched zero-day
flaws.

2. Business Logic Flaws:

o Attackers can exploit application logic to bypass defenses, such as using


valid input in unintended ways to cause harm.

3. Chained Vulnerabilities:

o Injection attacks can be combined with other vulnerabilities (e.g., weak


access controls or insecure configurations) to escalate impact.

Enhancing Defenses

1. Runtime Anomaly Detection

 Implement machine learning or rule-based anomaly detection to monitor runtime


behavior and flag unusual activity.

 Example: Detect and block queries with unusual patterns, such as concatenated
SQL commands.

2. Secure Development Practices

 Conduct regular code reviews, penetration testing, and dependency audits to


minimize exposure to vulnerabilities.

3. Database Hardening

 Enforce least privilege access, disable dynamic SQL features, and implement query
timeouts to reduce risk.

Implementation and Evaluation

The developed web application API incorporates robust security measures to mitigate
potential vulnerabilities:
1. Implementation Details:

 Input sanitization is applied to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by


ensuring that all user inputs are properly cleaned before being stored in the
database. Thus preventing second order attacks.

 Parameterized queries are utilized through the JPA repository to safeguard


against SQL injection attacks.

2. Evaluation:

 Testing: The application was tested using OWASP ZAP, which reported only
low-security risks or informational findings, demonstrating its resilience
against common attack vectors.

 Metrics: Effectiveness was assessed based on its ability to withstand known


attack scenarios, including SQL injection and XSS.

3. Future Enhancements:

 Integration of anomaly detection mechanisms using Machine Learning to


identify and respond to injection patterns in real time.

 Adoption of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to provide additional layers of


security and reinforce existing defenses.

Conclusion

Defending against injection attacks requires a multi-layered approach. While input


sanitization and parameterized queries are foundational, addressing advanced threats
demands enhanced defenses such as runtime monitoring, and robust security practices.
By continuously evolving security measures and addressing limitations, the web
application API can achieve greater resilience against evolving injection threats.

References

 SecurityWeek. "Millions of User Records Stolen from 65 Websites via SQL Injection
Attacks." Available at: https://www.securityweek.com/millions-of-user-records-
stolen-from-65-websites-via-sql-injection-attacks/

 Wikipedia. "2023 MOVEit Data Breach." Available at:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_MOVEit_data_breach

 Github demo repository: https://github.com/khoibut/quizigmaAPI

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