What are HTTP protocol vulnerabilities?

What is an HTTP protocol?

An HTTP is a communication protocol that is used to build connections between web servers on the Internet.

After establishing a connection, HTTP sends HTML pages back to the browser. It plays an important role in web development, no matter the framework or language.

How HTTP protocol works

The client generates a request to the server after building the HTTP connection over the Internet and then waits for the response. After a successful response from the server side, the browser page will be rendered on the client’s side.

HTTP clients usually use TCPTransmission Control Protocol to communicate with the web servers, while HTTP servers only use HEAD and GET methods for the response.

The HTTP protocol also has some vulnerabilities, like any other protocol. Major HTTP protocol vulnerabilities include the following:

SQL Injection

SQL injection is one of the most common types of web application security vulnerabilities. In this situation, an attacker takes advantage of the application code base and runs malicious code to corrupt the database.

If the attackers succeed in launching the attack, they will have access to the database. This enables them to make modifications such as updating fake information about an unknown person, removing someone’s record, and more.

Cross-Site Scripting

Cross-site scripting targets a user’s application and injects malicious code, usually a client-side script like JavaScript, into the program’s output. The primary objective of this approach is to implant client-side code into a web application and have it run in the attacker’s desired manner.

Broken Authentication and Session Management

Broken authentication and session management can cause many security flaws related to managing a user’s identity. The attacker can hijack an active session because of unsafe session identifiers.

Broken Authentication and Session Management

Security Misconfiguration

Security misconfiguration can be a loophole in web apps. For this reason, it is mandatory to take measures to secure frameworks, database servers, and application servers.

Insufficient Attack Protection

Most programs and APIs recognize erroneous input but simply reject it, allowing the attacker to attack repeatedly. Such attacks are indicative of a malevolent or compromised individual that is probing or exploiting security flaws.

Sensitive Data Exposure

Sensitive data exposure occurs when a web application fails to properly protect sensitive information from being accessible to attackers.

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