Application Security Vulnerability Report

Nowadays, organizations face a lot of multiple security threats that can compromise

sensitive information and user trust. In this report, it tackles the three critical application

security vulnerabilities that poses significant risks to organizations. It also provides a

real-world and theoretical example together with its impact to provide a deeper

understanding of these vulnerabilities. Despite the inherent risks, it outlines effective

mitigation strategies to enhance application security.

Vulnerability Identification

1. SQL Injection

- A vulnerability where attackers insert malicious SQL code into a web application.

This occurs when the application dynamically constructs SQL queries without

properly validating user inputs. Through this technique, attackers can manipulate the

database to access sensitive data, modify records, or even execute administrative

operations.

In example of SQL Injection, a recent case involving a managed file transfer application

demonstrated the dangers of SQL injection vulnerabilities, it allowed attackers to gain

unauthorized access to sensitive data. This risk is exemplified by the 2011 Sony

Pictures hack, where attackers exploited SQL injection to bypass authentication and

access confidential employee data.

The impact of SQL injection includes data theft, unauthorized modification, or complete

database compromise. These breaches often result in financial losses, reputational

damage, and legal implications.

Below are the mitigation strategies to prevent the risk of SQL Injection:

• Employee Training: IT teams must be trained in SQL injection prevention to

understand how these attacks work and how to secure web applications

effectively.

• Don’t Trust User Input: Any user input should be treated as untrusted. Input

validation and security checks must be applied to ensure that malicious data

does not get processed in SQL queries.

• Keep Software Updated: Regularly update software to the latest versions.

Outdated software often lacks security patches, making it vulnerable.

• Regular Security Scans: Perform regular security scans to detect and resolve

potential vulnerabilities in web applications before they can be exploited.

2. Buffer Overflow

- Buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold.

It leads to data overwriting adjacent memory locations, potentially causing the

program to crash or execute malicious code.

Buffer overflow vulnerabilities have led to many high-profile security incidents in

computing history. In example, the 2017 WannaCry virus exploited a vulnerability in the

Windows Server Message Block protocol, infecting over 230,000 computers in a single

day and causing substantial financial losses and disruptions.

Its impact can lead to significant system crashes, resulting in downtime and reduced

service availability. These attacks may cause programs to enter infinite loops, further

destabilizing the system. Additionally, they often enable the execution of arbitrary
codes, which can bypass established security policies. Once attackers gain access,

they can exploit other vulnerabilities, potentially compromising additional security

measures.

These are the mitigation strategies to prevent the Buffer Overflow risk:

• Coding Practices: Developers should be trained in secure coding techniques

to minimize the risk. It ensures that common mistakes, such as improper

memory handling are avoided.

• Use Safe Programming Languages: Languages like Java, Python, or C# can

reduce the risk, as they have built-in safeguards against buffer overflows.

• Bounds Checking: Code should always include checks to ensure that data

being written does not exceed the allocated buffer size. Validating input lengths

before processing can prevent overflows.

3. Broken Authentication

- A term used to describe security vulnerabilities which can potentially allow

unauthorized users to compromise the system. It typically occurs when an

application’s functions related to user authentication, session management, and

password management are implemented incorrectly, leaving it prone to

cyberattacks.

In a real-world scenario of broken authentication, it often involve the exploitation of

weak passwords through techniques like credential stuffing, where attackers use

previously leaked passwords from one service to compromise accounts on different

platforms. This method typically targets users who recycle passwords across various

services, resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive information. Another exploitation

technique is session hijacking, where attackers take control of an active user session by

stealing session IDs. This vulnerability can arise if an application inadequately manages

session IDs, such as failing to invalidate them after a user logs out or permitting them to

be included in URLs.

According to Nedim Marić (2024), it gives impact by unauthorized access to user

accounts allows attackers to steal sensitive data, including personal data such as credit

card details and social security numbers. This can lead to significant financial losses for

organizations due to breaches and potential lawsuits. Moreover, an organization's

reputation can damaged resulting in a loss of customer trust. End-users may also

experience identity theft, leading to unauthorized transactions and personal harm.

To prevent the impact, below are the mitigation strategies:

• Avoid Session IDs in URLs: Session IDs should never be included in URLs,

anyone with access can hijack the session. Instead, store session IDs in

cookies or HTTP authorization headers.

• Adjust Session Lengths: Adjust lengths based on application use such as,

money transfer app should log users out after few minutes of inactivity, while a

streaming service can maintain longer sessions to enhance user convenience.

• Implement Strong Password: To protect against unauthorized access, adopt

passkeys to eliminate complext passwords which reduces credential theft.

 • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Require multiple verification factors, such

as a password and a code sent to the user’s mobile device, to enhance

security. This ensures that stolen passwords alone cannot grant access.

In conclusion, understanding security vulnerabilities is essential for protecting sensitive

data. The three vulnerabilities discussed present significant risks that can result in

serious consequences if neglected. It is important to implement effective security

practices to mitigate these risks. Security should be a priority for individuals and

organizations to safeguard their assets. In doing so, they not only protect their data but

also maintain a positive image and reputation, gaining trust among users and

stakeholders.

REFERENCES:

Yasar, K., Hanna, K. T., & Lewis, S. (2023, April 27). SQL injection (SQLi). Software
Quality. https://www.techtarget.com/searchsoftwarequality/definition/SQL-injection

Secure By Design Alert: Eliminating SQL injection vulnerabilities in software | CISA.

(2024, March 25). Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA.
https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/secure-design-alert-eliminating-sql-
injection-vulnerabilities-software

What is buffer overflow? Attacks, types & vulnerabilities | Fortinet. (n.d.). Fortinet.
https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/buffer-overflow

Welekwe, A., & Welekwe, A. (2023, September 27). Buffer overflow vulnerabilities and
attacks explained. Comparitech. https://www.comparitech.com/blog/information-
security/buffer-overflow-attacks-vulnerabilities/

Marić, N. (2024, September 6). Broken authentication: impact, examples, and how to fix
it. Bright Security. https://brightsec.com/blog/broken-authentication-impact-examples-
and-how-to-fix-it/

Authgear. (2023, July 14). Broken authentication: What is it and how to prevent it.
Authgear. https://www.authgear.com/post/broken-authentication-what-is-it-and-how-to-
prevent-it#prevent-broken