In today’s scenario coding is a valuable skill and asset for any job seeker in IT field. The system has many languages such as HTMLor Ruby or python etc. But JavaScript has a most as one of the most popular language among the developers. Javascript security issue can lead to account tampering, data theft, fraud and more. JavaScript security is a text-based programming language used both on the client-side and server-side that allows you to make web pages interactive. JavaScript gives web pages an interactive element that engage a user.
Security issues related to JavaScript are now more real than ever before. Main use the words JavaScript and security together that means that the security concerns have to be server sided as Java script cannot have any security concerns. JavaScript vulnerabilities can be both client-side problems and server-side as well as hackers are able to steal server-side data and infect the users with malware. Hackers can potentially harm your business by taking various paths through your application.
Website threats remainsunknown till they reach the firewall or web server. Securing client-side JavaScript is a problem which has gained attention recently.
Some of the vulnerable aspects of JavaScript are third-party JS issues from widgets, JS libraries, and embedded code.
While JavaScript is extremely popular because of its usefulness in building dynamic web applications, certain security concerns arise because of its popularity.
Listed below are the most common JavaScript vulnerabilities:
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Cross-site forgery
- Injection (SQL)
- Open-source vulnerabilities
- Filtering input
- Reliance on client-side validation alone
- Escaping or encoding user input
- Unintended script execution
- Inducing uses to perform unintended actions
Cross site scripting is one of the common JavaScript securities as these vulnerabilities enable attackers in manipulation of websites to return malicious scripts to visitors. Is scripts then execute on the client side in the predetermined manner by the attacker.
Now the question arises: Is JavaScript insecure?
However, this is not an insecure programming language instead it’s just that code bugsor infra per implementations that creates backdoors which attackers can exploit. It can be dangerous if the precautions are avoided. JavaScript is so ubiquitous across the web. Which can be used to view or steel personal data without even realising what is happening.
Tips to boost JavaScript security
JavaScript is a programming language with many useful and efficient features. Its main feature being flexibility and this feature gives you all the capability necessary to do what you want with that. Immediate parsing is also one of its most useful features. This means that the browser executes the code right as its downloaded content. But actually, this level of freedom comes with responsibilities.
This is a render blocking which has tremendous advantages when it is executed.
Due to all these vulnerabilities and maximum of advantages it comes necessary to protect java script on the client side as well as on the server side.
The following JavaScript security best practices can reduce the risks of being prone to vulnerabilities:
- Avoiding eval() : this command should be completely avoided since it completely execute fast argument if it is a JavaScript expression, which means if the hacker succeeds in manipulating the input value the person will be able to run any preferredscript. Instead of this one should opt for alternative solutions that are more secure.
- Encryption: Using HTTPS/SSL to encrypt data exchanged between the client and the server. This will help maintain the privacy and the seriousness of the JavaScript expressions.
- Setting of secured cookies: To ensure SSL/ HTTPS is in use then genius should set the cookies as secure that may limit the use of the application cookies to only secure web pages.
- Set API access keys: The assigning of individual tokens for each and every user at every end adds to the security as if the tokens don’t match up, the access is denied or revoked.
- Using safe methods of DOM manipulation: Methods such as another HTML are potentially dangerous as these do not limit or escape /encode the values that are passed to them. Using a method like in a text instead provides inherent escaping of potentially hazardous content. This is particularly useful in preventing DOM-based XSS attacks.
- Implementing strong authentication process: In reality weak or inconsistent authentication is easy to bypass. When creating passwords make sure to deliver the failed login attempts and return a generic incorrect credentialerror. Be sure to implement 2fa authentication. If done properly this can increase the security of the application drastically.
- Running automatic vulnerability scanning: Frequent vulnerability scans helps you find dependencies and thus provide a check for the vulnerability in a system.
- Encoding data: The cross-site scripting is one of the most common browser side vulnerability. XSS attacks can result in identity and data theft. This can be prevented by fitting the input on arrival, encoding data when outputting, using appropriate response headers and following content-security-policy. If these right set CSP rules r n forced one can prevent the browser from executing things that comes from an untrusted URL. Some points that could be used for prevention may be:
- Avoid using sources.
- Avoid using sinks where is possible.
- Try to perform whitelist base filtering on sources.
- Perform proper and coding before sending data to any sink.
- Using same site cookie attribute for session cookies: Cross-site forgery attacks are an attack where the hacker takes over or impersonate The Identity by hijacking the session cookie. This attack can lead to account tempering data theft fraud and more. The following preventive steps should be kept in mind to avoid such vulnerability:
- Always use same site cookie attribute for session cookies.
- Reference header or origin must be verified
- Implementation of user interaction best protection for highly sensitive operations.
- Process of authentication (password) should be stronger.
- One time token, CAPTCHA etc. can act as strong defence system if correctly implemented.
At last summing up, it should be taken to consideration that identifying potential JavaScript security problems is the first and essential step towards preventing for learner abilities in application development. It is constantly important for software engineers to give priority to the new JavaScript security risks that may arise with time. It is equally important to conduct functionality tests on applications using the security testing tools on a regular basis.This proves to be a key for preventing the vulnerabilities. Last but not the least following some simple and common best practices will definitely increase the durability of the applications.With sensitive logical making and authentication and security controls on client side we can even take care of the ladies that occur at the client-side due to ignorance or unawareness. The eval function is used specifically to speed up the benefits. Already it has been in the top priority for the enterprises to start working on JavaScriptsecurity.
