In today's digital age, web servers and applications play a pivotal role in our interconnected world. They facilitate communication, commerce, and information exchange on a global scale. However, this widespread connectivity also opens the door to cybersecurity threats, including the hacking of web servers and applications. This unauthorized intrusion into online platforms poses significant risks to data integrity, user privacy, and the stability of online services.
Hacking, in this context, refers to the exploitation of vulnerabilities within web servers and applications to gain unauthorized access, manipulate data, or disrupt their normal functionality. Hackers, often motivated by personal gain, activism, or mischief, continuously evolve their tactics to exploit weaknesses in these systems. Their actions can have far-reaching consequences, ranging from financial losses for businesses to the compromise of sensitive user information.
This introduction sets the stage for a deeper exploration into the world of web server and application hacking. As we delve further, we will uncover the various methods hackers employ to breach these systems, the potential impacts of successful attacks, and the proactive measures that individuals and organizations can take to defend against such threats. By understanding the complexities of web server and application hacking, we can better appreciate the importance of robust cybersecurity practices in safeguarding our digital interactions and preserving the integrity of online platforms.
- What is hacking of web server
Once you know what ports are open, you can use some more operating system commands, like tracert and ping – to get information about the network. If you want to go even further, you can use the netcat utility to actually connect to web servers on the network and capture any data that are sent from them (like usernames and passwords). This is a very powerful technique because it gives you instant access to all of their internal network resources.
Finally, you should always use a convert channel to get onto networks without being noticed. This involves using a public protocol to transmit data that is normally used for something else. For example, think of IRC (Internet Relay Chat). It’s used by computer enthusiasts to talk about technology and other geeky stuff. However, it was actually created over twenty years ago as an alternative way of transmitting data on the internet. The biggest advantage is that IRC doesn’t require a username or password, and it runs over TCP port 6667 by default. This makes it an excellent way of getting internal data from networks because they don’t have time to figure out what you are doing by capturing your packets.
- Type of web server attack
- DENIAL-OF-SERVICE (DOS) / DISTRIBUTED DENIAL-OF-SERVICE (DDOS): Denial of Service is when an internet hacker causes the web to provide a response to a large number of requests. This causes the server to slow down or crash and users authorized to use the server will be denied service or access. Government services, credit card companies under large corporations are common victims of this type of attack.
- WEB DEFACEMENT ATTACK:In a Web Defacement Attack, the hacker gains access to the site and defaces it for a variety of reasons, including humiliation and discrediting the victim. The attackers hack into a web server and replace a website hosted with one of their own.
- SSH BRUTE FORCE ATTACK:By brute-forcing SSH login credentials, an SSH Brute Force Attack is performed to attain access. This exploit can be used to send malicious files without being noticed. Unlike a lot of other tactics used by hackers, brute force attacks aren’t reliant on existing vulnerabilities.
- CROSS SITE SCRIPTING (XSS): This type of attack is more likely to target websites with scripting flaws. The injection of malicious code into web applications is known as Cross-Site Scripting. The script will give the hacker access to web app data such as sessions, cookies, and so on.
5.DIRECTORY TRAVERSAL:
Directory Traversal Attack is usually effective on older servers with vulnerabilities and misconfiguration. The root directory is where web pages are stored, however, in this attack, the hacker is after directories outside of the root directory.
- DNS SERVER HIJACKING:DNS Hijacking refers to any attack that tricks the end-user into thinking he or she is communicating with a legitimate domain name when in reality they are communicating with a domain name or IP address that the attacker has set up. DNS Redirection is another name for this.
- MITM ATTACK:Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack allows the attacker to access sensitive information by blocking and modifying the connection between the end-user and web servers. In MITM attacks or smells, the hacker captures or corrects modified messages between the user and the web server by listening or intervening in the connection. This allows the attacker to steal sensitive user information such as online banking details, usernames, passwords, etc., which are transmitted online to the webserver. The attacker entices the victim to attach to an Internet server by pretending to be an agent.
- HTTP RESPONSE SPLITTING ATTACK:HTTPResponse Splitting is a protocol manipulation attack, similar to Parameter Tampering. Only programs that use HTTP to exchange data are vulnerable to this attack. Because the entry point is in the user viewable data, it works just as well with HTTPS. The attack can be carried out in a variety of ways.
Countermeasures:
- If your server is running a firewall, you can easily deny port 80 and 6667 access to the outside world by temporarily disabling them in the configuration.
- If you are using Metasploit to get remote access, you should select a different tool (such as Burp or Nmap) to help disable your web server and then test it repeatedly until you successfully retrieve data.
- Your best protection against SQL Injection is to create a new database on your web server that has only tables that are physically stored on the server.
- What is web Application Attacks
A web application is a program or software that runs on a web browser to perform specific tasks. Any web application has several layers – web server, the content of the application that is hosted on the web server and the backend interface layer that integrates with other applications. Web application architecture is scalable and has components which have high availability.
- types of web application attacks
- Cross-site scripting (XSS). That involves an attacker uploading a piece of malicious script code onto your website that can then be used to steal data or perform other kinds of mischief. Although this strategy is relatively unsophisticated, it remains quite common and can do significant damage.
- SQL Injection (SQLI). This happens when a hacker submits destructive code into an input form. If your systems fail to clean this information, it can be submitted into the database, changing, deleting, or revealing data to the attacker.
- Path traversal. Also resulting from improper protection of data that has been inputted, these webserver attacks involve injecting patterns into the webserver hierarchy that allow bad actors to obtain user credentials, databases, configuration files, and other information stored on hard drives.
- Local File Inclusion. This relatively uncommon attack technique involves forcing the web application to execute a file located elsewhere on the system.
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Such destructive events happen when an attacker bombards the server with requests. In many cases, hackers use a network of compromised computers or bots to mount this offensive. Such actions paralyze your server and prevent legitimate visitors from gaining access to your services.
- Countermeasures
- Automated vulnerability scanning and security testing. These programs help you to find, analyse, and mitigate vulnerabilities, often before actual attacks occur. Investing in these preventive measures is a cost-effective way to reduce the likelihood that vulnerabilities will turn into cyber disasters.
- Web Application Firewalls (WAFs). These operate on the application layer and use rules and intelligence about known breach tactics to restrict access to applications. Because they can access all layers and protocols, WAFs can be highly effective gatekeepers when it comes to shielding resources from attack.
- Secure Development Testing (SDT). This instruction is designed for all security team members, including testers, developers, architects, and managers. It provides information about the newest attack vectors. It assists the task force in establishing a baseline and developing a practical, dynamic approach to preventing website attacks and minimizing the consequences of breaches that cannot be stopped.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the hacking of web servers and applications presents a critical challenge in our digitally interconnected landscape. The ever-evolving tactics of hackers underscore the importance of a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. By staying vigilant, keeping systems up to date, employing strong authentication measures, and adhering to best practices, individuals and organizations can effectively mitigate the risks posed by these malicious actors. Safeguarding the integrity, privacy, and stability of web servers and applications is not just a technological imperative, but also a fundamental necessity for building trust in our online interactions and maintaining the resilience of our digital infrastructure.Top of Form
