Web Application Security Implementation - © 2007 GIAC

Web Application Security Implementation

SANS MSISE GDWPKevin Bong

John BrozyckiJuly 26, 2007

Web Application Security Implementation - © 2007 GIAC

Introduction• Website vulnerability used to copy

customer data to foreign host.• Senior management to acquire

services of penetration team. Not available for immediate needs.

• Post incident,we are tasked with creation of a web application security assessment program, to implement within a few days.

Web Application Security Implementation - © 2007 GIAC

Web Assessment Process

Inventory

Automated Vulnerability Scan

Manual Web Server Audit

Manual Web Application Audit

Conduct Interviews

Report Findings

Web Application Security Implementation - © 2007 GIAC

Web Service Inventory

• Need to know what is legitimate and necessary. (Programs, services, ports)

• Need to know where the data lives and how it is accessed.

• Rate assets (web servers/services) to focus resources and set priorities.

Web Application Security Implementation - © 2007 GIAC

Performing Automated Scans

• Verify the inventory by confirming the existence of services.

• Identify additional, unneeded processes and check for common vulnerabilities and misconfigurations for both the necessary and unnecessary processes and services.

• Quickly identify the low hanging fruit.

Web Application Security Implementation - © 2007 GIAC

Manual Audit of Web Server Security

• Review if best practices are followed– Is defense in depth employed?– Configuration of web server and web

development frameworks– User and service accounts and rights– Error messages, other information leakage– Do log files store appropriate information?

• Review change processes for ports and services through interviews

Web Application Security Implementation - © 2007 GIAC

Manual Audit of Web Applications

• Based on inventory, focus on potentially vulnerable code

• Specific tests to be performed against each dynamic page

• Interview developers to determine if processes prevent new vulnerabilities

Web Application Security Implementation - © 2007 GIAC

Deliverables for the Senior Management Team

• Reports and recommendations delivered within days.

• Results of inventory, scans, and manual audits used to provide action items that can be given to implementation team.

• Additional recommendations from tiger team to management to minimize reoccurrences.