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Web Application Firewalls

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a special type of firewall that monitors, filters and protects traffic to and from web applications. Unlike traditional firewalls, which primarily secure network traffic between different devices, a WAF focuses on web application layer security (Layer 7 in the OSI model).

Here are some key features of a WAF:

  1. Protection against web application attacks: A WAF protects against a variety of attacks that specifically target web applications, such as:
    • SQL injection: Attacks that involve injecting malicious code into SQL queries.
    • Cross-site scripting (XSS): Attacks that involve attackers injecting malicious scripts into the user’s web browser.
    • Cross-site request forgery (CSRF): Attacks that involve the user performing unwanted actions in a web application without their knowledge.
    • File inclusion: Attacks in which malicious files are embedded in the web server.

  2. Analysis methods: A WAF can rely on both signature-based detection and behavior-based anomaly detection. Signature-based detection looks for known patterns of attacks, while behavior-based approaches detect suspicious behavior or anomalies in traffic.

  3. Protection against zero-day attacks: Some WAFs are able to detect unknown vulnerabilities (zero-day exploits) using machine learning or heuristics.

  4. Usage options:
    • In the cloud: Cloud-based WAFs offer flexible, scalable protection and do not require on-site hardware.
  • On-premises: Physical or virtual WAF devices that are placed directly in the company’s network.
  1. Rule-based filtering: Administrators can set rules to allow or block certain traffic based on IP addresses, HTTP protocols, URL parameters, etc.

A WAF thus complements other security solutions and is particularly useful for protecting web applications from modern cyberattacks.

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