What is web injection?
Web injection, also known as a man-in-the-browser attack, is a type of cyber attack in which a threat actor injects malicious code into a web page viewed by other users. Malicious web injections can be used to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials and personally identifiable information.
Additionally, attackers can use web injections to create fraudulent requests for sensitive information, such as PIN codes, without triggering the bank’s fraud detection algorithms. This, alongside the difficulty in detection, makes web injection attacks particularly dangerous.
Why are web injection attacks dangerous for business?
Web injections are a serious security issue for businesses, with the potential to cause multiple consequences both for businesses and their clients. Malicious scripts injected into a company’s website or application may redirect users to fake websites or steal their login credentials, credit card numbers, personal information, or other sensitive user information. Ultimately, this can lead to poor brand reputation, loss of customers, and regulatory violations.
Web injections also adversely affect the functionality of websites and applications and can lead to website failure and denial of service. Also, criminals can use web injections to infiltrate a company’s infrastructure, potentially leading to significant security issues and huge losses.
As one of the oldest cyber threats, web injections remain a major problem due to their difficulty in detecting. Businesses should monitor their systems for any suspicious activity, as web injections can often go undetected for a long time.
Web injection attack types
Adversaries can use several types of web injection attacks to exploit vulnerabilities in web applications. Here are some of the most common web injection methods:
SQL injection
One of the most-used types of web injection attacks. Attackers inject malicious SQL code, which is then executed by the web application’s database server. This allows the threat actor to bypass authentication and access sensitive data. In the cases of more severe SQL injection attacks, adversaries can perform SQL commands to, for example, delete and unload data from a system, upload malware to it, and so on.
Cross-site scripting (XSS)
In this type of web injection attack, threat actors inject script (commonly, a JavaScript code) into a legitimate website or application. The script is executed in the victim’s browser, causing various effects. For instance, it may further download a crypto miner or other malicious software.
LDAP injection
A type of web injection attack that targets web applications that use Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) to authenticate users and manage directory information. In an LDAP injection attack, an attacker sends specially crafted input to a web application to manipulate the LDAP query that is used to authenticate the user. LDAP injection attacks can be particularly dangerous because they allow attackers to compromise large numbers of users.
Code injection
In this type of web injection attack, threat actors inject code written in an application language: HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and others. It allows attackers to hack into mobile applications. Usually, the injected code executes OS commands allowing an adversary to infiltrate the victim’s infrastructure and even escalate privileges. Such an attack may result in a full system compromise.
Why do web injection attacks happen?
The main reason behind web injection attacks is vulnerabilities in web applications that attackers can exploit. These vulnerabilities can arise from a variety of sources, such as insecure coding practices, outdated software, or inadequate security measures.
How to detect web injection attacks?
Detecting web injection attacks can be challenging. However, if the web injection attack is already happening, it can be identified by using the following methods:
Log analysis. Analyzing web server logs can help detect signs of web injection attacks, such as unusual or suspicious HTTP requests or responses. This can be done manually or using automated tools to analyze logs for patterns and anomalies.
Network traffic analysis. Network traffic analysis can help detect web injection attacks by analyzing the packets transmitted between the client and server. This can help identify unusual or suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate an attack.
Web application firewall (WAF). A WAF can help detect and block web injection attacks by analyzing incoming traffic and blocking requests that contain known attack patterns or signatures.
User behavior analysis. Analyzing user behavior, such as login attempts and page views, can help detect signs of web injection attacks. For example, if a user suddenly attempts to access a large number of pages or performs unusual actions, this may indicate an attack.
By using a combination of these techniques, web developers and security professionals can help identify and mitigate web injection attacks. Yet the attacks may still go undetected, which makes prevention of a key tactic to counteract web injections.
Web injection attacks prevention
Preventing web injection attacks require a complex of measures, starting with identifying injection flaws or injection vulnerabilities — weak spots in the company’s infrastructure and assets allowing attackers to inject malicious code on the victim’s website or applications.
How do you detect injection vulnerabilities?
Manual code review. One of the most effective ways to detect injection vulnerabilities is through manual code review. This involves analyzing the source code of the web application to identify potential vulnerabilities, such as unvalidated user input or insecure database queries.
Automated scanning tools. There are many automated scanning tools available that can help detect injection vulnerabilities in web applications. These tools can scan the code or the running application for potential vulnerabilities and generate reports on their findings.
Vulnerability assessment. This part of the vulnerability management process can be performed in-house or by a third-party vendor and allows companies to identify all the vulnerabilities presented in their infrastructure. However, having the full list of flaws may not be actionable as not all vulnerabilities pose the same risk. Therefore, penetration testing may provide much more useful insights for preventing web injections.
Penetration testing. Penetration testing involves simulating an attack on a web application to identify potential vulnerabilities. This can be done manually or by using automated tools, and can help identify injection vulnerabilities that may not be easily detected through other methods. Unlike a vulnerability assessment, a pentest allows you to understand which vulnerabilities can be easily exploited and therefore need to be addressed as soon as possible and which vulnerabilities are not particularly dangerous.
Other web injection attacks prevention techniques
Input validation and sanitization. Implementing strong input validation and sanitization practices in web applications can help prevent injection vulnerabilities from occurring. This involves checking all user input for malicious content and filtering or sanitizing it before processing it in the application.
Parameterized queries. Using parameterized queries in web applications can help prevent SQL injection attacks by separating user input from the query logic. This ensures that user input is properly sanitized and validated before being executed.
Secure coding practices. Following secure coding practices when developing web applications can help prevent injection vulnerabilities from being introduced into the code. This includes avoiding the use of user input directly in code execution or database queries and using prepared statements or stored procedures to access databases.
Regular software updates and patch management. Keeping web applications and their dependencies up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates can help prevent injection vulnerabilities from being exploited by attackers.
Does Group-IB provide solutions for protection against web injections?
Group-IB provides several solutions and services which can be used to detect injection vulnerabilities and prevent web injection attacks.
Penetration testing services
Group-IB penetration testing services combine the manual work of experts with over 40 automated tools, using the latest methods and techniques collected by Group-IB Threat Intelligence. Our specialists hold 21 international certificates, and our processes comply with international standards. With over 1,000 successfully completed security assessment projects, you can trust us to identify vulnerabilities and provide comprehensive recommendations to improve your security posture. To get more information, visit our website.
Fraud Protection
Group-IB’s flagship Fraud Protection solution allows you to eliminate web injection attacks by combining several features. Fraud Protection notices when there are unauthorized JavaScript code modifications injected by the user’s browser, including dynamic and self-destructing JavaScript injections.
Our solution prevents bot activity by distinguishing between user actions and actions produced by a script. Fraud Protection’s dedicated Preventive Proxy module is designed to counteract advanced bot activity.
Fraud Protection recognizes unauthorized activity. If the malicious script uses JavaScript to modify any data entered by the user (transaction amount or payment recipient), FP will detect these changes.
Fraud Protection determines the quality of the injection. Using patented fraud detection algorithms, machine learning, and Group-IB Threat Intelligence, Fraud Protection determines whether the injection is harmless or malicious. Learn more about Group-IB Fraud Protection.
Managed XDR
Group-IB Managed XDR solution is built to detect and prevent various types of cyber threats, including the ones that go unnoticed by other solutions.
With advanced network traffic analysis capabilities, our NTA technology uses its own signatures, Group-IB Threat Intelligence data, and machine learning technologies to provide unparalleled threat detection and prevention.
Our solution also allows you to work with leading analysts in a shared environment to proactively hunt for various threats. With our managed XDR solution, you can rest assured that your business is always protected from the latest cyber threats. Explore Group-IB Managed XDR.