Web Hacking

Web Application Hacking

As more companies move their infrastructure to the cloud, the web browser has become the primary way we interact with software. As a result, Web Hacking is currently one of the most lucrative and highly demanded skills in cybersecurity.

Web hacking involves analyzing how a website communicates with its backend servers and manipulating that communication to make the application do things it wasn’t designed to do.

The primary weapon of choice for web hackers is Burp Suite, a tool that intercepts web traffic before it reaches the server.

The OWASP Top 10

If you want to learn web hacking, you must start with the OWASP Top 10. The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) regularly publishes a list of the 10 most critical web application security risks. Here are a few heavy hitters:

1. Injection (SQLi, Command Injection)

Injection flaws occur when untrusted user input is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query.

  • SQL Injection (SQLi) is the most famous. If a website asks for your username, and you type a piece of database code instead, a vulnerable website might execute your code, dumping all its user passwords directly onto your screen!

2. Broken Authentication

If a website poorly implements session management or login functions, an attacker can compromise passwords, keys, or session tokens. This allows the attacker to assume the identity of other users.

3. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

XSS occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a web page without proper validation.

  • The Hack: An attacker injects malicious JavaScript into a public forum post. When a normal user views the post, the script executes in their browser, potentially stealing their session cookies or redirecting them to a Phishing site.

4. Broken Access Control

This happens when users can act outside of their intended permissions. For example, if a normal user alters the URL from website.com/user/profile to website.com/admin/dashboard and the server allows them in, that’s a massive access control failure!

Finding Web Vulnerabilities

  1. Reconnaissance: Hackers use tools to map out every single page, directory, and input field on a target website. They look for hidden admin panels or old, forgotten subdomains.
  2. Fuzzing: Using Burp Suite Intruder, a hacker will send thousands of weird, unexpected characters (like ', ", <script>) to every input field to see if the server throws an error. An error often points to a vulnerability!
  3. Source Code Review: If the application is open-source, or if the hacker can read the frontend JavaScript, they will read the code line-by-line looking for logical flaws.

Bug Bounty Programs

One of the coolest things about web hacking is Bug Bounties. Companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook will legally pay ethical hackers thousands (sometimes hundreds of thousands) of dollars if they find and securely report a vulnerability in their web applications!

Remember: Only test web applications you have explicit permission to hack, or those that are part of an official Bug Bounty program.