APPLICATION SECURITY
Knowledge Base
Search Our Knowledge Base
Understanding JavaScript Vulnerabilities
When a vulnerability is detected within a JavaScript programming language, it’s identified as a JavaScript vulnerability. As you can imagine, these vulnerabilities are widely exploited by attackers and malicious users to manipulate data or gain control of web systems. This is mainly because many web apps are programming with JavaScript, which lets hackers quickly learn methods and techniques to use on different sites. The attackers just need to find a JavaScript vulnerability to replicate the same process in other websites or web apps.
Best Practices to Prevent JavaScript Vulnerabilities
Avoid evaluating user input - enable TLS/SSL encryption, secure API access, setting secure cookies or defining content security policies, among others. In addition, you can discover different ways to ensure your code. That’s why our JavaScript vulnerability scanner, included in Veracode DAST Essentials, provides a specific function where you don’t just find the vulnerability, but also precisely the different steps you could follow to fix it and, most importantly, prevent it for the next time. Read more about JavaScript vulnerabilities and their prevention.
Most Common JavaScript Vulnerabilities
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF or XSRF)
- Server-Side JavaScript Injection
- Client-Side Logic Attacks
Understanding JavaScript Security Scanners
A JavaScript security scanner probes your web app and identifies weaknesses like Cross-Site Scripting, Cross-Site Request Forgery, Injection attacks, and more. The idea behind it is to effectively simulate a hacker attack by using automated and non-malicious analysis. This way, you can save on time and budget spent on penetration testing.
Additionally, it offers a continuous security approach by allowing you to run regular probes on your staging system before you push to production.
Note: It’s important that you own and have the permissions to set the JavaScript scanner. The JavaScript tool can generate different HTTP Requests that can be considered attacks (even if they are entirely inoffensive), so consider that you need the authorization to run this scanner.
How Does JavaScript Security Scanner Work
A JavaScript scanner uses a web browser to execute the code. It automatically clicks on interactive elements and fills out form fields without requiring user input. It also scans the request detected during crawling (e.g., your REST API even if you have no documentation or specification for it).
In the end, it lists all findings in an extensive report, classifies them, and provides advice on how to fix them.
Why Should You Run a JavaScript Vulnerability Test
JavaScript vulnerabilities are among the most commonly used by hackers to gain access to user and system data. Some of these security loopholes include Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF, XSRF), Server-Side JavaScript Injections, Clickjacking, and Client-Side Logic attacks according to the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities list.
And since XSS and CSRF are some of the most common hacker attacks, you should scan for vulnerabilities before every release. Companies aren’t aware of how expensive it could be to be under an attack. In fact, in the last years, massive attacks have occurred to small and medium companies, which are the ones that invest less money on their online security.
If you want to avoid hacking and make sure you are doing your best to protect your data and users, a JavaScript vulnerability scanner could help you reach your goals while focusing on your work. Waiting until the last moment to identify security loopholes is too risky and may impact your business goals.
JavaScript security identification and remediation is often considered the first step to securing modern applications. While JavaScript has vulnerabilities and known security risks, organizations can best maintain application security using the programming language with pragmatic best practices and the right tools.
Veracode DAST Essentials is trusted by many software vendors and organizations globally to deploy safer web applications through vulnerability scanning and assessment. The solution leverages a collection of JavaScript scanning mechanisms that enable end-to-end vulnerability assessments for APIs, web applications, and microservices with a low false positives rate. The solution integrates with most modern development stacks to reduce the risk of being hacked through an API or web application. DAST Essentials also provides downloadable security audit reports you can share with your team or clients.
Start your 14-day trial of DAST Essentials today to explore how Veracode can help you detect, investigate, prevent and solve JavaScript vulnerabilities to secure your modern applications.