What is it about?
Imagine a library website. You type in the address bar: library.com?page=history. The website then shows you the History page by opening the file history.php. What happens if the site isn’t secure? A hacker can trick the site by changing the “page” value. Instead of loading the history page, the website tries to open a secret system file (like the list of users on the server). Everyday Analogy: It’s like a hotel where you ask for the room service menu, but instead of giving you the menu, the staff hands you the master key that unlocks every room. How to Fix It: Only allow safe pages (like history, science, and sports). Ignore or block any request that tries to go outside the “library.” In short: LFI happens when a website lets users pick which file to open without checking if that file is safe.
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Why is it important?
One of today's largest digital challenges is web application security. This article examines the most prevalent vulnerabilities (SQL Injection, OS Command Injection, Local File Inclusion, XML External Entities) and provides attack scenarios with code snippets and secure development methods. Due to its dual approach (attack and defense), the paper goes beyond theory and immediately connects academic discussion and practical application for developers, students, and security professionals. This essay combines theory and experience to address today's biggest web application vulnerabilities, providing attack scenarios and secure code solutions. With its hands-on approach, real-world examples, and future plans for blockchain and AI, developers, academics, and corporations can enhance security and prevent costly breaches.
Perspectives
This essay advances web application security immediately and practically. I like the focus on unsafe vs. secure programming samples. Many vulnerability talks are abstract, but this paper makes risks and remedies accessible for developers of all skill levels. I particularly like that the report emphasizes input validation and sanitization failures across all four vulnerabilities. The paper emphasizes a lesson I think is often overlooked: security is more about consistent secure coding than complicated protection systems. This supports the idea that a “security-first mindset” among developers can be as effective as advanced defensive solutions.
Arunakranthi G
Universiti Brunei Darussalam
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Securing web apps: Analysis to understand common vulnerabilities, attack scenarios, and protective measures, January 2024, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3641181.3641187.
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