Cybersecurity risk

Full Answer Section

• • SQL Injection: Malicious SQL queries can be injected into the application, leading to data breaches and system compromise.

Business Logic Layer:

• Technology: PHP
• Risks:
  • Insecure Direct Object References: Attackers can access unauthorized resources by manipulating URLs or input parameters.
  • Session Hijacking: Attackers can steal valid session tokens to impersonate legitimate users.
  • Privilege Escalation: Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities to gain elevated privileges within the system.

Database Layer:

• Technology: MySQL or MariaDB
• Risks:
  • SQL Injection: As mentioned earlier, malicious SQL queries can compromise the database.
  • Weak Password Policies: Weak passwords can make the database vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
  • Insufficient Database Security: Lack of proper configuration and security measures can expose the database to attacks.

Mitigation Strategies

1. Input Validation and Sanitization:
   • Implement strict input validation and sanitization techniques to prevent malicious input from being processed.
   • Use parameterized queries to mitigate SQL injection attacks.
2. Secure Coding Practices:
   • Adhere to secure coding guidelines and best practices to minimize vulnerabilities.
   • Regularly update and patch the application and its dependencies.
3. Strong Password Policies:
   • Enforce strong password policies, including password complexity requirements and regular password changes.  
   • Consider using multi-factor authentication for sensitive accounts.
4. Web Application Firewalls (WAFs):
   • Deploy a WAF to protect the web application from common web attacks, such as XSS, CSRF, and SQL injection.
5. Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS):
   • Implement an IDPS to monitor network traffic and detect malicious activity.
   • Use IDS to identify potential threats and IPS to block attacks.
6. Regular Security Audits and Penetration Testing:
   • Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities and assess the overall security posture.  
7. Security Awareness Training:
   • Educate employees about security best practices, such as recognizing phishing attacks and avoiding social engineering tactics.
8. Incident Response Plan:
   • Develop and maintain an incident response plan to respond effectively to security incidents.

Integrating Risk Assessment into the SDLC

To ensure ongoing security, a risk assessment process should be integrated into the software development life cycle (SDLC). This can be achieved by:

1. Initial Risk Assessment: Conduct a thorough risk assessment at the beginning of the development process to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats.
2. Security Requirements Analysis: Incorporate security requirements into the design and development phases.
3. Security Testing: Perform regular security testing, including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.
4. Secure Coding Practices: Enforce secure coding standards and guidelines throughout the development process.
5. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuously monitor the system for security threats and vulnerabilities.

By following these guidelines and incorporating a robust risk assessment process into the SDLC, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect their sensitive data.

Sample Answer

Understanding the Target System

For this analysis, let's consider a popular open-source content management system (CMS) like WordPress as an example. WordPress is a multi-layered web application with a presentation layer, business logic layer, and database layer.

Presentation Layer:

• Technology: PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Risks:
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Malicious scripts can be injected into web pages, compromising user data and system integrity.
  • Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): Unauthorized actions can be performed on behalf of authenticated users.