Securing Modern Web Applications

Security is not optional—it's a fundamental requirement for any web application. Here's how to build security into your development process.

Common Vulnerabilities

OWASP Top 10

Understanding the most common vulnerabilities is the first step to preventing them:

1. Injection attacks

2. Broken authentication

3. Sensitive data exposure

4. XML external entities

5. Broken access control

6. Security misconfiguration

7. Cross-site scripting (XSS)

8. Insecure deserialization

9. Using vulnerable components

10. Insufficient logging

Security Best Practices

Input Validation

Never trust user input. Validate and sanitize all data before processing.

Authentication

Use strong authentication mechanisms:

• Multi-factor authentication

• Secure password hashing (bcrypt, Argon2)

• Session management best practices

Authorization

Implement proper access controls:

• Role-based access control (RBAC)

• Principle of least privilege

• Regular permission audits

Conclusion

Security is a continuous process, not a one-time checkbox. Stay informed, test regularly, and make security part of your culture.