Security Blog

What is it? HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts data between your website and users' browsers.

Severity: Critical - Without HTTPS, all data is transmitted in plain text.

Solution: Obtain an SSL certificate and configure your web server to use HTTPS. Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through Let's Encrypt.

What is it? SSL certificates verify your website's identity and enable encrypted connections.

Severity: High - Invalid certificates can lead to security warnings or man-in-the-middle attacks.

Solution: Set up certificate auto-renewal and monitor expiration dates. Use tools like Certbot for automatic renewal.

What is it? CSP is a security layer that helps prevent XSS attacks by controlling which resources can be loaded.

Severity: High - Without CSP, your site is vulnerable to XSS attacks.

Solution: Implement a strict CSP header that only allows scripts from trusted sources. Start with a restrictive policy and gradually loosen it as needed.

What is it? Prevents your website from being embedded in iframes, protecting against clickjacking attacks.

Severity: Medium - Clickjacking can trick users into performing unwanted actions.

Solution: Set the X-Frame-Options header to "DENY" or "SAMEORIGIN" to prevent your site from being framed by other domains.

What is it? HSTS forces browsers to use HTTPS for all connections to your site.

Severity: High - Prevents SSL stripping attacks and ensures secure connections.

Solution: Add the Strict-Transport-Security header with a long max-age value (e.g., 31536000 for one year) and includeSubDomains for full protection.

What is it? Directory listing exposes the contents of your website's directories to anyone who knows the URL.

Severity: High - Can reveal sensitive files and directory structure.

Solution: Disable directory listing in your web server configuration. For Apache, use "Options -Indexes" in .htaccess. For Nginx, set "autoindex off;" in server block.

What is it? When your server reveals too much information about its configuration and software versions.

Severity: Medium - Helps attackers identify vulnerabilities to exploit.

Solution: Minimize server information in headers. Remove version numbers and unnecessary details. Use security headers like "Server-Tokens: Prod" in Apache.

What is it? When your admin interfaces are publicly accessible without proper protection.

Severity: Critical - Direct access to administrative functions.

Solution: Implement strong authentication, IP whitelisting, and consider using a separate admin domain or VPN access.

What is it? Ensuring all forms submit data over encrypted HTTPS connections.

Severity: High - Form data can contain sensitive information.

Solution: Always use absolute HTTPS URLs in form actions. Implement HSTS and regularly check for mixed content warnings.

What is it? Controls how much referrer information is sent when users navigate away from your site.

Severity: Medium - Can leak sensitive URLs and parameters.

Solution: Set Referrer-Policy header to "strict-origin-when-cross-origin" or "no-referrer-when-downgrade" for most sites.

What is it? CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) controls which domains can access your API endpoints.

Severity: High - Misconfigured CORS can lead to data leaks and CSRF attacks.

Solution: Configure CORS to only allow specific trusted domains. Use proper HTTP methods and headers. Consider using a CORS middleware in your framework.

What is it? Secure cookie configuration prevents session hijacking and CSRF attacks.

Severity: Critical - Insecure cookies can lead to account takeovers.

Solution: Always set Secure, HttpOnly, and SameSite attributes. Use short expiration times and implement proper CSRF protection.

What is it? Debug features in production can expose sensitive information and system details.

Severity: High - Debug information can reveal system internals and vulnerabilities.

Solution: Always disable debug mode in production. Use proper error logging instead. Implement environment-based configuration.

What is it? Uncontrolled redirects can be exploited for phishing attacks and malware distribution.

Severity: Medium - Can be used to trick users into visiting malicious sites.

Solution: Validate and sanitize all redirect URLs. Maintain a whitelist of allowed domains. Use relative URLs when possible.

What is it? Rate limiting controls how many requests a client can make within a specific time period.

Severity: High - Without rate limiting, your site is vulnerable to DDoS and brute force attacks.

Solution: Implement rate limiting at multiple levels (IP, user, endpoint). Use tools like Redis for distributed rate limiting. Set appropriate limits based on normal usage patterns.