October 28, 2024

Key DAST Vulnerabilities: Explained with Examples!

Introduction: Understanding Key Vulnerabilities Detected by DAST

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) scans running applications to detect security vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorized access, data leaks, and more. DAST works by simulating attacks on your application, helping you identify and address risks before they impact users.

Below, we break down common vulnerabilities DAST can detect, explain what each vulnerability does, and give practical examples to illustrate how these issues threaten application security.

Quick Overview of Key DAST-Detected Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability	What It Is
Broken Authentication	Weak login or session management allows unauthorized access.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)	Tricks authenticated users into unwanted actions.
Directory Traversal	Allows unauthorized access to files and directories outside the intended scope.
Insecure Deserialization	Allows attackers to manipulate objects or execute code.
Security Misconfiguration	Weak configurations that leave applications exposed to potential exploits.

Now, let’s dive deeper into these key vulnerabilities that DAST identifies:

1. Broken Authentication: Protecting User Accounts

What It Is

Broken Authentication occurs when an application fails to secure user accounts and sessions properly. This flaw can allow attackers to bypass login mechanisms, access user accounts, or take over sessions.

Example

Imagine a web application that doesn’t invalidate session tokens when a user logs out, leaving the session open for reuse. Here’s how a vulnerable code snippet might look in Python:

# Python session handling example

@app.route(‘/login’, methods=[‘POST’])

def login():

user = authenticate(request.form[‘username’], request.form[‘password’])

if user:

session[‘user_id’] = user.id # Sets user session on login

return redirect(‘/dashboard’)

In this code, the session isn’t invalidated when users log out. If an attacker steals or guesses a session ID, they can use it to log in as the user, compromising account security. However, properly invalidating sessions at logout and using session expiration reduce this risk.

2. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): Securing User Actions

What It Is

CSRF vulnerabilities let attackers perform actions on behalf of authenticated users without their consent. Attackers trick users into unknowingly submitting forms or clicking links, making unwanted changes or transfers.

Example

Consider a form where CSRF protection is not enabled:

html

<!– CSRF-vulnerable form –>

<button type=”submit”>Transfer Funds</button>

</form>

Without additional validation, an attacker could send this link to a user. When the user clicks it, funds are transferred, bypassing user consent. However, adding a unique CSRF token for each session prevents this by ensuring that only valid users can submit requests on their behalf.

3. Directory Traversal: Protecting Sensitive Files

What It Is

Directory Traversal allows attackers to access restricted directories or files by manipulating file paths. This may expose sensitive data, like configuration files, server logs, or passwords.

Example

Here’s a PHP example where user input isn’t validated, making the application vulnerable:

<?php

$filename = $_GET[‘file’];

include(“uploads/” . $filename); // Includes user-specified file

If a user enters file=../../etc/passwd, they can access files outside the intended directory. This vulnerability is dangerous because it can expose sensitive files like passwd, which stores critical system information.

To prevent this, validate file paths to ensure only authorized directories are accessible.

4. Insecure Deserialization: Controlling Code Execution

What It Is

Insecure Deserialization happens when an application processes serialized data from untrusted sources without validation, allowing attackers to modify or execute arbitrary commands.

Example

Consider the following Java code that deserializes user data directly:

// Java deserialization example

ObjectInputStream in = new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream(“user_input.ser”));

User user = (User) in.readObject(); // Reads user input as an object

If an attacker tampers with the user_input.ser file, they can escalate privileges or execute code on the server. The solution is to validate all serialized data or use formats like JSON, which are safer for handling data.

5. Security Misconfiguration: Strengthening App Setup

What It Is

Security Misconfigurations occur when applications use weak or default configurations, enabling unauthorized access. Examples include exposed admin interfaces, open directories, or outdated software.

Example

This Apache configuration example exposes the directory listing, allowing attackers to see and access directory contents:

# Apache example with directory listing enabled

Options Indexes FollowSymLinks # Enables directory listing

AllowOverride None

</Directory>

When Indexes is turned on, users can see files in that directory, which might include sensitive ones like:

.env (holds important environment settings)
.htaccess (controls web server behavior)
backups (copies of data that could be sensitive)

To protect against this risk, you should turn off directory listings and remove unnecessary settings.

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Conclusion: Strengthen Security with DAST

DAST identifies and helps you overcome runtime vulnerabilities that put applications at risk. Addressing these issues early ensures a secure user experience and strengthens overall application security. Integrating DAST into your security practices helps protect sensitive data and prevent breaches.