Web Application Security

Web Application Security is a specialized branch of cybersecurity focused on protecting websites, web applications, and APIs from online threats. It involves identifying, preventing, and mitigating vulnerabilities throughout an application's lifecycle to defend against common attacks like SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and broken authentication, which could compromise user data, disrupt services, or lead to unauthorized access. This is achieved through a combination of secure coding practices, regular security testing, vulnerability management, and the implementation of protective controls like Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application and its underlying data.

1. Introduction to Web Application Security
   1. Core Security Principles
      1. Confidentiality
         1. Data Privacy
         2. Data Encryption
         3. Access Controls
      2. Integrity
         1. Data Validation
         2. Message Authentication Codes
         3. Digital Signatures
      3. Availability
         1. Denial-of-Service Protection
         2. Redundancy and Failover
         3. Resource Management
      4. Non-repudiation
         1. Audit Trails
         2. Digital Signatures
         3. Logging and Evidence Preservation
   2. The Threat Landscape
      1. Common Threat Actors
         1. Cybercriminals
         2. Hacktivists
         3. Insider Threats
         4. Nation-State Actors
         5. Script Kiddies
      2. Motivations for Attacks
         1. Financial Gain
         2. Espionage
         3. Political or Social Causes
         4. Personal Challenge or Notoriety
         5. Revenge or Sabotage
      3. Attack Vectors
         1. Social Engineering
         2. Phishing
         3. Exploiting Vulnerabilities
   3. Browser Security Model
      1. Same-Origin Policy
         1. Definition and Purpose
         2. Enforcement in Browsers
         3. Limitations and Bypasses
         4. Impact on Web Application Design
      2. Content Security Policy
         1. Purpose and Benefits
         2. Policy Directives
         3. Implementation Strategies
         4. Bypasses and Limitations
      3. Cross-Origin Resource Sharing
         1. CORS Headers
         2. Preflight Requests
         3. Security Implications
         4. Best Practices for CORS Configuration