What is Web Attack?

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There are several ways attackers can target Web applications (websites that let you interact directly with software via browsers) to steal confidential information, introduce malicious codes, or take over your computer. These attacks exploit weaknesses in components such as web apps such as content management systems, web applications and web servers.

Web app attacks constitute an overwhelming portion of security threats. In the last decade attackers have developed their abilities in identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities that compromise the perimeter defenses of an application. Attackers can evade the most common defenses using techniques like phishing, social engineering and botnets.

A phishing attack involves tricking victims into clicking an email link that contains malware. This malware downloads to their computer, allowing attackers to gain access to systems or devices for different goals. Botnets are collections of infected or compromised connected devices that attackers can use to launch DDoS attacks, spreading malware, perpetuating fraud through ads, and much more.

Directory (or path) traversal attacks exploit movement patterns to gain unauthorized access to the data on a website, its configuration files and databases. Protecting against this type of attack requires proper input sanitization.

SQL injection attacks target the database that stores important site and service information by injecting malicious code that enables it to bypass security measures and disclose information that normally wouldn’t. Attackers are then able to execute commands, dump databases and more.

Cross-site scripting attacks (or XSS), insert malicious code on a trusted site to take over the browsers of users. This allows attackers to steal session cookie and confidential information, impersonate a user to alter content, and more.