What's Frontend security?
As the name suggests, a frontend serves as the main entry point to a web application, and it is all open to clients/users. Think of frontend as the front door to your home. It is the door that lets everyone into the house. Like in most houses, yours too has a backdoor that is only used by family members. Still using your house analogy, just because the same front door is the main entrance to your house, you don't leave it unlocked. You must lock it to guarantee the safety and security of your property. If anyone wants to enter your house, they will first ask for your authorization. Otherwise, they could be treated as trespassers or burglars. This reminds us that regardless of what route people use to enter a system, there must be security policies and measures to keep everything in check.
Top Frontend Security Risks and How to Stop Them.
Hackers want users to leave the frontend of their web application unlocked so as to make their (hackers') job easier. Rather than damaging walls to enter the system, they'll walk in easily, majestically, and enjoy a fulfilling moment causing havoc to the system. After all, they will not encounter any barrier or resistance in their way. A good number of users do not prioritize frontend defense as they do not comprehend it any better. Notwithstanding, as cliche as it sounds, ignorance is not a justification. Their knowledge deficit could land them irreparable damage. some of the top security risks associated with frontend include:
a) Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks are types of assaults where hackers inject malevolent scripts into credible websites. The hacker then carries on sending malicious programs to unsuspecting users. Because of the founded credibility of the website from where the malicious scripts come, the user's browser implements these scripts thereby 'swallowing the bait.' Attackers use malicious scripts to access and capture users' sensitive information, session tokens, browsing history, cookies, and caches among others. XSS attacks can be prevented by sanitizing all the inputs entering a web application. Irrespective of the website of interest, the frontend should be configured as though it vets all the inputs before it can process them.
b) Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks
A DDoS is a form of attack that overwhelms a website with excessive traffic until it crashes. A hacker manipulates thousands of systems to produce high traffic targeting users' web applications. The prevention of DDoS attacks is relatively easy: all you need is to configure firewalls to block unreasonably high and abnormal traffic. Also, all the firewalls must be updated frequently to install the latest security capabilities. Second option to go is Cloudlflare DDoS protection at a fraction of a cost.
c) Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is a form of attack where a hacker lures a user into executing a malicious action on their website that's authenticated with their (user's) login details. This is how it happens. It starts with a user who gets tired of entering their login details each time they are visiting a particular site. So they decide to save their login credentials on the website. While this is something that virtually everybody does, it can bring you trouble. What happens next is a hacker sends the user a download URL for a site they have saved their credentials on. If the user clicks the link, they will perform a malicious action unknowingly. CSRF attacks can be prevented by executing token values. Token values are generated by the system on all pages of the web application. If an attacker's token does not resemble the one generated by the system, then the computer will not take the download action.
d) CSS Injection Attacks
This is a form of cyber-attack where a credible website is added with a random CSS code and the system browser renders the malicious file. Once the code is injected successfully, the hacker uses CSS selectors to gain unauthorized access to the user's sensitive data. Users can prevent CSS inject attacks by self-hosting their CSS files on their servers. To do it successfully, they must execute a vulnerability management tool for identifying potential flaws that exist within their systems.
e) Feature Request or Access
As a convenient way to improve users' experience, the majority of web applications are designed to request or retrieve features from users' devices. But if hackers learn that this feature is enabled on the user's network, they will exploit it, send malicious requests that seem legitimate, and gain unauthorized access to their sensitive data. Unauthorized policy requests can be stopped by configuring the Feature-policy HTTP header to halt them from executing if they aren't initiated by the user.
f) Third-Party Libraries
While third-party libraries enhance your system performance, sometimes, they come with security flaws that expose your computer to hackers. Users can stop cyber-attacks associated with third-party libraries by scanning all the libraries they have. This is done effectively by installing vulnerability scanners to identify existing flaws.
Why you must emphasize Frontend Security
Hackers seize the slimmest opportunity to gain unauthorized access to your system, steal, compromise, or destroy sensitive, invaluable data. In the event your frontend security lags, they will easily penetrate your system and compromise your web application. Will you allow that to happen? If not, keep your frontend security tight! Order security audit from Sunny Security Labs today.
