Report Penetration Test: Example of Prevention Recommendations (en)
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Based on the results of the penetration test that has been conducted, here are some recommended actions to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future:
Implementation of Strict Input Validation
- Ensure that every user input is properly checked on the server side using adequate validation and sanitization techniques to prevent exploits such as SQL Injection and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). Use built-in functions like prepareStatement in SQL or specialized validation libraries to prevent code manipulation.
- Implement whitelisting instead of blacklisting when validating input, especially for data from untrusted users.
Regular System Updates and Patching
- Conduct regular updates for software, frameworks, and operating systems to ensure that all system components are running the latest versions and do not contain known vulnerabilities. This step can reduce the risk of attacks based on vulnerabilities found in older versions.
Application of Strong Security Policies for Access Management
- Implement a least privilege policy where each user account is given only the minimum access necessary to perform its functions. Regularly evaluate user access rights and remove accounts or permissions that are no longer needed.
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect access to user accounts, especially for users with higher privileges.
Use of Protection Against Brute Force and Password Cracking Techniques
- Limit the number of consecutive login attempts to prevent brute force attacks. Use temporary account locking mechanisms after a number of failed attempts and provide captcha to distinguish bots from human users.
- Require the use of strong passwords with a password complexity policy (e.g., a minimum length of 12 characters, a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters) and rotate passwords regularly.
End-to-End Encryption of Sensitive Data
- Encrypt all sensitive data, both at rest and in transit. Use strong encryption protocols such as AES-256 for stored data and TLS 1.3 or newer for data transmission.
Avoid storing passwords in plain text format in databases. Use secure hashing algorithms like bcrypt or Argon2 that support salting and stretching.
Implementation of Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to monitor and filter malicious traffic to web applications. WAF can help prevent attacks such as SQL Injection and Cross-Site Scripting by detecting common attack patterns and blocking them automatically.
Regular Security Audits and Testing
- Conduct routine application security testing, including penetration tests, source code audits, and vulnerability scanning to detect security issues that may arise after system updates or code changes. Use automated tools like OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite to detect vulnerabilities early in the development process.
By implementing the above measures, organizations are expected to reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities occurring in the future and improve overall system security.
This section provides clear and practical prevention recommendations, tailored to the types of vulnerabilities identified in the penetration test. These recommendations can also be adjusted based on the specific types of vulnerabilities found during testing.