Most security books on Java focus on cryptography and access control, but exclude key aspects such as coding practices, logging, and web application risk assessment. Encapsulating security requirements for web development with the Java programming platform, Secure Java: For Web Application Development covers secure programming, risk assessment, and threat modeling—explaining how to integrate these practices into a secure software development life cycle.
From the risk assessment phase to the proof of concept phase, the book details a secure web application development process. The authors provide in-depth implementation guidance and best practices for access control, cryptography, logging, secure coding, and authentication and authorization in web application development. Discussing the latest application exploits and vulnerabilities, they examine various options and protection mechanisms for securing web applications against these multifarious threats. The book is organized into four sections:
This complete reference includes a case study of an e-commerce company facing web application security challenges, as well as specific techniques for testing the security of web applications. Highlighting state-of-the-art tools for web application security testing, it supplies valuable insight on how to meet important security compliance requirements, including PCI-DSS, PA-DSS, HIPAA, and GLBA. The book also includes an appendix that covers the application security guidelines for the payment card industry standards.
The Internet Phenomenon
Evolution of the Internet and the World Wide Web
Mainframe Era
Client/Server Era
Distributed Computing Architecture
Internet and World Wide Web Era
Problems with Web Architecture
Web Applications and Internet
Role and Significance of Java Technology in Web Applications
Security in Java Web Applications
Introducing Information Security
Information Security: The Need of the Hour
The Need for Information Security
The Motivation for Security
Some Basic Security Concepts
The Pillars of SecurityThe CIA Triad
Risk 101
Defense-in-Depth
Internet Security Incidents and Their Evolution
The 1970s
The 1980s
The 1990s
The 2000sPresent Day
SecurityMyths and Realities
There Is No Insider Threat
Hacking Is Really Difficult
Geographic Location Is Hacker-Proof
One Device Protects against All
Introducing Web Application Security
Web Applications in the Enterprise
What Is a Web Application?
Ubiquity of Web Applications
Web Application Technologies
Java as Mainstream Web Application Technology
Why Web Application Security?
A Glimpse into Organizational Information Security
The Need for Web Application Security
Web Application SecurityThe Challenges
Client-Side Control and Trust
Pangs of the Creator
Flawed Application Life Cycle
Awareness
Legacy Code
Business Case Issues
Web Application Security—A Case Study
The Business NeedAn E-Commerce Application
The Company
The Existing Application Environment
Importance of Security
Panthera’s Plan for Information Security
Outlining the Application Requirements
The Request for Proposal
An Overview of the Application Development Process
The Application Development Process
FOUNDATIONS OF A SECURE JAVA WEB APPLICATION
Insights into Web Application Security Risk
The Need for Web Application Security Risk Management
Risk Management
The Benefits of Risk Management for Web Applications
Overview of the Risk Assessment Phase
System Characterization Process--Risk Assessment
An Overview of the System Characterization Process
Understanding Basic Application Architecture
Developing Security Policies for the Web Application
A Broad Overview of Security Policies for the Web Application
Security Compliance and Web Application Security
Threat Analysis
Understanding and Categorizing Security Vulnerabilities
Common Web Application Vulnerabilities
Basic Understanding of Threats and Associated Concepts
Threat Profiling and Threat Modeling
Risk Mitigation StrategyFormulation of Detailed Security Requirements for the Web Application
Risk Assessment for an Existing Web Application
Risk Assessment for the Typical E-Commerce Web Application
System Characterization of Panthera’s E-Commerce Application
Identification of Critical Information Assets
Practical Techniques to Identify Critical Information Assets
Identified Critical Information Assets for Panthera’s Web Application
User Roles and Access to Critical Information Assets
Application Deployment Architecture and Environment
Security Policies for the Web Application and Requirements
Panthera’s Security Policies
Threat Analysis
Threat Profiling
Threat Modeling
Risk Mitigation StrategyFormulation of Detailed Security Features for Panthera’s E-Commerce Application
Authentication and Authorization
Cryptographic Implementation for Panthera’s E-Commerce Application
Logging
Secure Coding Practices
BUILDING A SECURE JAVA WEB APPLICATION
Developing a Bulletproof Access Control System for a Java Web Application
Overview of Access Control Systems
A Brief History/Evolution of Access Control Mechanisms
An Overview of Access Control
Access Control Models
Developing a Robust Access Control System for Web Applications
Attacks against Web Application Access Control
User CredentialsUsernames and Passwords
SessionMaintaining a Secure State for Web Applications
AuthorizationEffective Authorization for a Web Application
Other Best Practices
Security Compliance and Web Application Access Control
PCI-DSS
Implementing a Secure Authentication and Authorization System for a Java Web Application
Java Security Overview
Java Authentication and Authorization Services
JAAS Core
Process of Authentication
Process of Authorization
Application Data Protection Techniques
Overview of Cryptography
Evolution of Cryptography
CryptographyTerminology and Definitions
Symmetric and Asymmetric Cryptography
Block Ciphers and Stream Ciphers
Block Cipher Modes of Encryption
Crypto Attacks
Crypto Implementation for Web Applications
Data Protection with CryptographyA Primer
A Study of Encryption Algorithms and Hashing Functions
Implementation Implications of Encryption in Web Applications
Key ManagementPrinciples and Practical Implementation
Security Compliance and Cryptography
Java Implementation for Web Application Cryptography
Implementation Independence
Implementation Interoperability
Algorithm Extensibility and Independence
Architecture Details
Core Classes, Interfaces, and Algorithms of JCA
Protection of Data-in-Transit
History of Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security
Java Secure Socket Extensions for Secure Data Transmissions
Features of the JSSE
Cryptography and JSSE
Core Classes and Interfaces of JSSE
Support Classes and Interfaces
Effective Application Monitoring: Security Logging for Web Applications
The Importance of Logging for Web ApplicationsA Primer
Overview of Logging and Log Management
Logging for SecurityThe Need of the Hour
Need for Web Application Security Logging
Developing a Security Logging Mechanism for a Web Application
The Constituents of a Web Application Security Log
Web Application LoggingInformation to Be Logged
Details to Be Omitted from Web Application Logs
Application LoggingBest Practices
Security Compliance and Web Application Logging
Logging Implementation Using Java
Control Flow
The Core Classes and Interfaces
Secure Coding Practices for Java Web Applications
Java Secure Coding PracticesAn Overview
A Case for Secure Coding Practices
Java Secure Coding PracticesAn Introduction
Input Validation and Output Encoding
The need for Input Validation and Output Encoding
User Input Validation for Java Web Applications
Java Implementation for Input Validation and Output Encoding
Secure Database Queries
Need for Secure Database Access
TESTING JAVA WEB APPLICATIONS FOR SECURITY
Security Testing for Web Applications
Overview of Security Testing for Web Applications
Security Testing for Web ApplicationsA Primer
Need for Web Application Security Testing
Security Testing Web ApplicationsSome Basic Truths
Integration of Security Testing into Web Application Risk Management
Designing an Effective Web Application Security Testing Practice
Approach to Web Application Security Testing
Threat Models for Effective Security Testing
Web Application Security TestingCritical Success Factors
Security Testing for Web Applications and Security Compliance
Practical Web Application Security Testing
Web Application Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing
Approach to Practical Web Application Testing
Tools and Technologies for Practical Security Testing
Practical Security Testing for Web Applications
Information Gathering and Enumeration
Testing Web Application for Access Control
Testing Data Validation
Appendix A: Application Security Guidelines for the Payment Card Industry Standards (PCI-DSS and PA-DSS)
Each chapter concludes with a Summary
Abhay Bhargav is the founder and CTO of we45 Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., an information security solutions company. As the CTO of we45, his primary role is to deliver information security consulting solutions for diverse clientele. He also oversees the information security research and application development activities of we45. He has performed security assessments for enterprises in various industires including banking, software development, retail, telecom, and legal. Previously, he was a security assessor for the payment card industry and has led several security assessments for payment card industry compliance. He specializes in Web application security and has performed security testing and consulting engagements for a wide array of enterprises and governmental/quasi-governmental entities. He also possesses security code review, vulnerability assessment, and penetration testing experience. He has been involved in several such assessments for small and large clients from various industries. Abhay is a regular speaker at industry events. He has spoken at the OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) AppSec Conference in New York. He is a regular speaker at prestigious industry events such as the PCI Summit in Mumbai, December 2008, Business Technology Summit and events organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He is also a trainer and has led several public workshops on information security subjects including PCI, PA-DSS, Web application security, and risk assessment. Apart from his professional interests, Abhay is also a trained Carnatic classical flutist and vocalist. He is also a playwright who has an English comedy play to his writing credits. He blogs actively and maintains an information security blog. He writes articles on computer education for the rural youth on a weekly basis for a leading daily. Dr. B. V. Kumar , currently t
Given that Java is the platform of choice for enterprise application development the world over, this book fills a much-needed gap by thoroughly and clearly outlining the security requirements of such a critical platform. I strongly believe that this work will prove invaluable to a wide audience, including Java developers, architects, and students.
—Kris Gopalakrishnan, CEO, Infosys Technologies Ltd.… a great resource that covers all of the essential topics when building out an application security program.
—Ed Bellis, CISO, Orbitz Worldwide