28.Application-hardening

1. Application Inventory

Importance:

• A detailed and accurate inventory is the foundation of application security.

• It reveals all applications, including "shadow IT" and deprecated ones.

Tools:

• Nmap and EyeWitness (for budget-conscious teams).

• Various open-source and commercial inventory management tools.

2. General Hardening Tips

Secure Authentication:

• Enforce strong passwords.

• Change default administrative credentials.

• Disable default admin accounts.

• Implement multi-factor authentication (2FA).

Access Controls:

• Implement strict access control mechanisms.

• Limit external access to sensitive pages (e.g., login pages).

• Configure file and folder permissions.

Disable Unsafe Features:

• Disable features that can lead to code execution (e.g., PHP code editing in WordPress).

Regular Updates:

• Apply vendor patches promptly.

• Keep applications up-to-date.

Backups:

• Configure regular website and database backups.

• Ensure backups are stored in a secure, secondary location.

Security Monitoring:

• Use security monitoring tools and plugins.

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF).

LDAP Integration:

• Integrate with Active Directory for single sign-on.

• Enhance auditing and credential management.

• Enforce strong password policies.

Principle of Least Privilege:

• Apply the principle of least privilege throughout the application.

Limit External Exposure:

• Minimize the number of applications exposed to the internet.

3. Application-Specific Hardening Tips

WordPress:

• Use security plugins like WordFence for monitoring and protection.

Joomla:

• Use plugins like AdminExile to require a secret key for admin login.

Drupal:

• Disable, hide, or move the admin login page.

Tomcat:

• Limit access to Tomcat Manager and Host-Manager to localhost.

• Enforce IP whitelisting for external access.

Jenkins:

• Configure permissions using the Matrix Authorization Strategy plugin.

Splunk:

• Change the default password.

• Ensure proper licensing for authentication enforcement.

PRTG Network Monitor:

• Change the default password.

• Keep the application up to date.

osTicket:

• Limit internet access.

GitLab:

• Enforce sign-up restrictions and domain restrictions.

4. Continuous Improvement

Regular Inventory Updates:

• Maintain an up-to-date application inventory.

Regular Assessments:

• Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests.

Remediation:

• Implement remediation recommendations from assessments.

Security Awareness:

• Promote a security-conscious mindset within the organization.

5. Secure Configuration Management

Configuration Files:

• Securely store and manage configuration files.

• Avoid storing sensitive information (credentials, API keys) in plain text.

• Implement access controls for configuration files.

Environment Variables:

• Use environment variables for sensitive data.

• Ensure proper isolation of environment variables.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC):

• If applicable, use IaC tools to manage infrastructure configurations.

• Implement version control and code reviews for IaC configurations.

6. Input Validation and Output Encoding

Input Validation:

• Validate all user-supplied input to prevent injection attacks (SQL injection, XSS, etc.).

• Use whitelisting whenever possible.

• Sanitize input to remove or escape potentially malicious characters.

Output Encoding:

• Encode output to prevent XSS attacks.

• Use context-aware encoding.

7. Session Management

Secure Session IDs:

• Generate strong, random session IDs.

• Protect session IDs from disclosure.

Session Timeouts:

• Implement appropriate session timeouts.

HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS):

• Enforce HTTPS connections.

Secure Cookies:

• Use the Secure and HttpOnly flags for cookies.

8. Error Handling and Logging

Error Handling:

• Avoid displaying sensitive information in error messages.

• Implement custom error pages.

Logging:

• Enable comprehensive logging.

• Log security-related events.

• Securely store and manage log files.

• Monitor logs for suspicious activity.

9. Dependency Management

Software Composition Analysis (SCA):

• Use SCA tools to identify vulnerabilities in third-party libraries and dependencies.

• Keep dependencies up-to-date.

Supply Chain Security:

• Ensure that any external software that is being used comes from a trusted source.

10. Database Security

Principle of Least Privilege:

• Grant database users only the necessary privileges.

Input Validation:

• Validate all input to database queries.

Stored Procedures:

• Use stored procedures to minimize direct SQL queries.

Database Encryption:

• Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit.

11. Network Security

Firewall Rules:

• Implement strict firewall rules.

• Limit network access to applications.

Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS):

• Deploy IDS/IPS to detect and prevent malicious network activity.

Network Segmentation:

• Segment the network to isolate sensitive applications.

12. Security Awareness Training

Developer Training:

• Train developers on secure coding practices.

User Training:

• Educate users about security best practices.

13. Incident Response Planning

Incident Response Plan:

• Develop and maintain an incident response plan.

• Regularly test the plan.

Key Takeaways

• Application hardening is a crucial aspect of overall security.

• A layered approach is necessary, combining general and application-specific measures.

• Continuous monitoring and improvement are essential.

• Default credentials are a large security risk.

• Limiting exposure to the internet is very important.

• Keeping applications up to date is very important.