Developer's Guide to Web Application Security [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Michael Cross (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 159749061X | ISBN-13: 978-1597490610 | Publication Date: February 15, 2007 | Edition: 1

Over 75% of network attacks are targeted at the web application layer. This book provides explicit hacks, tutorials, penetration tests, and step-by-step demonstrations for security professionals and Web application developers to defend their most vulnerable applications.

This book defines Web application security, why it should be addressed earlier in the lifecycle in development and quality assurance, and how it differs from other types of Internet security. Additionally, the book examines the procedures and technologies that are essential to developing, penetration testing and releasing a secure Web application. Through a review of recent Web application breaches, the book will expose the prolific methods hackers use to execute Web attacks using common vulnerabilities such as SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting and Buffer Overflows in the application layer. By taking an in-depth look at the techniques hackers use to exploit Web applications, readers will be better equipped to protect confidential.

* The Yankee Group estimates the market for Web application-security products and services will grow to $1.74 billion by 2007 from $140 million in 2002

* Author Matt Fisher is a highly sought after speaker who regularly delivers Web Application presentations at leading conferences including: Black Hat, TechnoSecurity, CanSec West, Shmoo Con, Information Security, RSA Conferences, and more

* The Companion Web site will have downloadable code and scripts presented in the book

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Cross (MCSE, MCP+I, CNA, Network+) is an Internet Specialist/Computer Forensic Analyst with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS). He performs computer forensic examinations on computers involved in criminal investigation. He also has consulted and assisted in cases dealing with computer-related/Internet crimes. In addition to designing and maintaining the NRPS Web site at www.nrps.com and the NRPS intranet, he has provided support in the areas of programming, hardware, and network administration. As part of an information technology team that provides support to a user base of more than 800 civilian and uniform users, he has a theory that when the users carry guns, you tend to be more motivated in solving their problems. Michael also owns KnightWare (www.knightware.ca), which provides computer-related services such as Web page design, and Bookworms (www.bookworms.ca), where you can purchase collectibles and other interesting items online. He has been a freelance writer for several years, and he has been published more than three dozen times in numerous books and anthologies. He currently resides in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, with his lovely wife, Jennifer, his darling daughter, Sara, and charming son, Jason. Michael wrote Chapter 11.

Product Details

• Paperback: 500 pages
• Publisher: Syngress; 1 edition (February 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159749061X
• ISBN-13: 978-1597490610
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #487,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Cross-platform Development

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just not quite the book it promises to be, June 3, 2008

By 

Jay P. Vansanten - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Developer's Guide to Web Application Security (Paperback)

More recent books on web application security are welcomed. The publication date of 2006 suggests it might fall into that category.

The focus on the programmer is also welcomed. Many security books deal with threats, but the actual practice of programming to ameliorate those threats may not be readily apparent. One would like support for a programmer "security mindset" and specific strategies to implement that.

The book is addressed to programmers and written in a fashion that is engaging. And, as a more general work to highlight the importance of security at the development stage, it's OK.

But, there's just not much depth here for it's intended topic. And, the content appears to reflect lectures presented in the 90s. There's some significant reference to C, which is not typically used in contemporary web programming. The focus tends towards the *nix world, but again a fair amount of emphasis, as I recall, on cgi, where again, PHP is more commonly used today. References in the Microsoft world are exclusively to ASP -- a technology which was superseded in 2002 by ASP.NET.

There's some appropriate programming advice here. But, it's soft rather than hard, and diffuse and general rather than focused and specific.

I would rate it 3 stars for that content if it were more appropriately titled.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good read for the security conscious, March 16, 2007

By 

Jason (Bozeman, MT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Developer's Guide to Web Application Security (Paperback)

When I came across this book on the O'Reilly website I was immediately interested, as web applications are becoming more and more prevalent. And other than thinking it covered methods of securing web applications I had no preconceived assumptions. My main aspiration for this book was to give me better awareness of security in the area of web applications and to provide me with some tools. After having read this book I can say that it has done both.

Each of the chapters in this book seem to follow a pattern of first defining the topic, second giving real world examples, and finally providing the reader with solutions. The book begins by providing a history of the hacking methodology and defining the various types of hacking. It was interesting to learn about some of the various hacks and hackers. For example, I had no idea Steve Jobs (Apple Computers) used to be a hacker.

In chapter two the author discusses what he calls a "Code Grinder", and how to not become or produce a code grinder. A code grinder is someone who works in a highly regulated environment where creativity is discouraged. I found it interesting that a code grinder environment typically produces more unsecure code then an environment that is open and promotes creativity.

Chapter three discusses the risks associated with mobile code. Chapter four covers vulnerable CGI scripts and introduces the reader to some tools such as Nikto and Web Hack Control Center to scan your website to find vulnerabilities. The author goes on to discuss the issues faced by the various CGI scripting languages, and then provides an outline of rules to writing secure CGI scripts.

Chapter five covers hacking techniques and tools. This section gets you into the mind of a hacker, what are their goals, how are those goals achieved and what tools do they use. In chapter six the topic is "Code Auditing and Reverse Engineering." This chapter I found exceptionally interesting and helpful. The author takes you through various types of vulnerabilities and with each weakness explains how it affects each of the more popular programming/scripting languages. And to take it a step further the author also provides the reader with the functions/methods for each programming/scripting language that are vulnerable to attack and then explains either how to use those functions securely or gives an alternative function/method that is more secure.

Chapters seven through ten cover securing code in specific languages; Java, XML, ActiveX, and ColdFusion. Chapter eleven discusses developing security enabled applications using such technologies as PGP, SSL, and PKI. Finally in chapter twelve the author wraps up the book by taking the reader through creating and working with a security plan.

CONCLUSION
--
I found this book to be interesting and a good read. I plan to make use of some of the tools it introduced in hardening applications I work with and develop. And as I mentioned before, the chapter on code auditing will be extremely useful to me in cleaning up existing apps and developing new ones. I liked this book and I would recommend it to anyone who is writing code.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Overview of a complex subject!, February 20, 2007

By 

Richard Callaby (Bradenton, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Developer's Guide to Web Application Security (Paperback)

With the increasing number of incidents of crime that is occurring on the world wide web it behooves every programmer to become fluent in all aspects of information security. This book provides a great overview of the various methods a hacker uses to penetrate various forms of web architectures. The author's goals it seems was to cover a broad subject by touching on all important aspects of securing a website.

Throughout the book a hacker mindset is presented and how to design your website to overcome the tools and tricks of the hacker. For instance in many of the chapters the manner of attack that a hacker would use to exploit a piece of technology is covered. Overall I believe this book to be a good introduction to the field of securing websites. Since security in of itself is such a broad subject and the Internet is also a broad subject it is unfair to expect one book to cover all aspects of a complex and dynamic environment