Layer 7 security and how to prevent DDoS attacks

1. CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery)

CSRF occurs when an attacker exploits a website's trust during a user authentication session. The sophistication of this attack is based on the failure of web applications to verify that HTTP requests are coming from an authenticated user.

Relying on spoofing attacks authenticated users to perform unforeseen actions, such as transferring funds, changing passwords or email accounts, or sending HTTP requests to web applications.

2. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Cross-site scripting is one of the top security risks and concerns for most businesses and organizations, as they tend to rely heavily on web applications.

An XSS attack occurs when an attacker exploits a web application vulnerability to send malicious JavaScript to the client-side to interfere with the user's interaction with the application. This is a type of malware injection attack in which an attacker sends malicious code, not to the application but to the end-user.

XSS allows an attacker to execute malicious code in an authentic user's browser to access the data and display it as an immediate response. The XSS vulnerability also includes or stores data in the target server or database that reflects malicious content or scripts every time a user visits the website.

This allows an attacker to compromise a web application or take control of it if it is an administrator account or a privileged user account.

3. SQL Injection (SQLi)

SQLi is another type of malicious injection that performs backend database manipulation. The web application database uses unauthenticated user input or MySQL statement queries. This form of attack allows hackers to bypass application authentication and authorization measures to access MySQL database contents.

Once the attack is successful, the hacker can get the user list, and data tables and perform database modifications (change/insert/delete), and execute commands based on system and administrative privileges treated.

SQLi is one of the biggest security risks to applications, and these malicious injection attacks occur as a result of providing unsecured or unfiltered data to applications.

4. Application Layer (Application Layer 7 Security)

Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks at the application layer are small to medium-sized attacks that target application vulnerabilities to make services unavailable. DDoS attacks on Layer 7 Security often target specific web servers like Apache and BGP. This includes attacks such as GET/POST flooding, Slowloris, and high-load posts.

However, DDoS attacks are small-scale and complex to execute, as they require conformance to application layer protocols.

5. Parameter Tampering

Parameter spoofing is the manipulation of form fields or parameters within web pages or URLs.

Attacks target client-server parameters to modify credentials, and product prices for misuse, or third parties through a man-in-the-middle attack.

The attack is made possible by leveraging data inside HTTP headers, cookies, URL strings, and hidden form fields. A successful spoofing attack can lead to SQLi, XSS, path disclosure, or file include attacks.

Protecting the application layer from the growing threat of sophisticated attacks can be difficult, here are some standard measures that businesses can refer to:

1. Use a web application firewall (WAF) to prevent data breaches

This protects web applications by monitoring, intercepting, and filtering malicious HTTP requests and unauthorized data, acting as a reverse proxy.

2. Using input validation and filtering

Input validation ensures front-end security by validating user-controlled input against predefined templates. Similarly, filtering applied before input validation cleans requests from unnecessary characters.

3. Output encoding

These techniques reduce the attack level on the application layer. They protect against malicious transmission attacks by responding to malicious requests without executing malicious code and avoiding misleading strings or special characters.

4. Implement a Content Security Policy (CSP)

CSP is a standard for protecting against XSS attacks, clickjacking, and attacks on Layer 7 Security or other application layers that exploit trusted websites.

5. Define security level

Determining the security level will help prevent DDoS attacks, as it will make it easier to identify anomalies. Use security-focused flow analysis with behavioral analysis or deeper audits to detect unusual behavior.

Nowadays, organizations and businesses have realized the importance of cybersecurity measures. Meanwhile, attackers continue to discover new, more sophisticated attack ways to access and compromise enterprise data.

Application security can be difficult, but implementing WAF, continuous monitoring, and scanning for new and old vulnerabilities can help protect against these ever-evolving application-layer attacks.

VNIS has a Multi CDN system available in 32 countries with a total international bandwidth of up to 2,600 Tbps, capable of resisting Layer 3 & 4 DDoS attacks at the highest level. AI Load Balancing system leverages global CDN network availability and latency data through RUM (Real User Monitoring) and Synthetic Monitoring systems, which intelligently route traffic to available CDNs' best performance.

Cloud WAF (Web Application Firewall) allows blocking requests with bad signs based on criteria such as headers, cookies, IP of users to protect Layer 7 most effectively. At the same time, WAF protects the website from the top 10 security vulnerabilities of OWASP and forms of attack XSS, SQL Injection, Generic, Global Agents, HTTP Protocol... VNETWORK WAF cluster is located in many countries to fight layer 7 attacks. on a very large scale. In addition, VNIS has a room SOC (Security Operation Center) with 24/7 support to monitor the website activities, Analysis of threats attacking Layer 3, Layer 4, Layer 7 Security.

To answer questions related to how to prevent DDoS attacks on Layer 7 Security and VNIS's smart security solutions, please contact the hotline (028) 7306 8789 or fill in the registration information below. , our experts will advise you.