A web application firewall, or WAF, is a security tool for monitoring, filtering and blocking incoming and outgoing data packets from a web application or website. WAFs can be host-based, network-based or cloud-based and are typically deployed through reverse proxies and placed in front of an application or website (or multiple apps and sites). Show
WAFs can run as network appliances, server plugins or cloud services, inspecting each packet and analyzing application layer (Layer 7) logic according to rules to filter out suspicious or dangerous traffic. Why Is WAF Security Important?WAFs are important for a growing number of organizations that offer products or services online—this includes mobile app developers, social media providers, and digital bankers. A WAF can help you protect sensitive data, such as customer records and payment card data, and prevent leakage. Organizations usually store much of their sensitive data in a backend database that can be accessed through web applications. Companies are increasingly employing mobile applications and IoT devices to facilitate business interactions, with many online transactions occurring at the application layer. Attackers often target applications to reach this data. Using a WAF can help you meet compliance requirements such as PCI DSS (the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), which applies to any organization handling cardholder data and requires the installation of a firewall. A WAF is thus an essential component of an organization’s security model. It is important to have a WAF, but it is recommended you combine it with other security measures, such as intrusion detection systems (IDS), intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and traditional firewalls, to achieve a defense-in-depth security model. WAF workflow Types of Web Application FirewallsThere are three primary ways to implement a WAF:
WAF Features and CapabilitiesWeb application firewalls typically offer the following features and capabilities:
WAF TechnologyA WAF can be built into server-side software plugins or hardware appliances, or they can be offered as a service to filter traffic. WAFs can protect web apps from malicious or compromised endpoints and function as reverse proxies (as opposed to a proxy server, which protects users from malicious websites). WAFs ensure security by intercepting and examining every HTTP request. Illegitimate traffic can be tested using a variety of techniques, such as device fingerprinting, input device analysis, and CAPTCHA challenges, and if they appear not to be legitimate, they can be blocked. WAFs are pre-loaded with security rules that can detect and block many known attack patterns – these typically include the top web app security vulnerabilities maintained by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). In addition, the organization can define custom rules and security policies to match their application business logic. It can require special expertise to configure and customize a WAF. WAF Security ModelsWAFs can use a positive or negative security model, or a combination of the two:
WAF with ImpervaImperva provides an industry-leading Web Application Firewall, which prevents attacks with world-class analysis of web traffic to your applications. Beyond WAF, Imperva provides comprehensive protection for applications, APIs, and microservices: Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) – Real-time attack detection and prevention from your application runtime environment goes wherever your applications go. Stop external attacks and injections and reduce your vulnerability backlog. API Security – Automated API protection ensures your API endpoints are protected as they are published, shielding your applications from exploitation. Advanced Bot Protection – Prevent business logic attacks from all access points – websites, mobile apps and APIs. Gain seamless visibility and control over bot traffic to stop online fraud through account takeover or competitive price scraping. DDoS Protection – Block attack traffic at the edge to ensure business continuity with guaranteed uptime and no performance impact. Secure your on premises or cloud-based assets – whether you’re hosted in AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Public Cloud. Attack Analytics – Ensures complete visibility with machine learning and domain expertise across the application security stack to reveal patterns in the noise and detect application attacks, enabling you to isolate and prevent attack campaigns. Client-Side Protection – Gain visibility and control over third-party JavaScript code to reduce the risk of supply chain fraud, prevent data breaches, and client-side attacks. Which option is available to you only when the firewall encounters a commercial application that is unknown to appOne option to control commercial application traffic unknown to App-ID is to use a network analyzer to capture the application traffic and then submit the packet capture to Palo Alto Networks.
Which two methods can you use to control network traffic identified by the firewall as an unknown application?At least three methods are available to the firewall for processing traffic identified only as unknown-tcp, unknown-udp, or web-browsing.. create a custom application with a custom signature.. configure an Application Override policy.. Block unknown-tcp, unknown-udp in a security rule.. What is unknownWhat is the unknown-tcp or unknown-udp that sometimes shows up in traffic logs? In terms of App-ID, these are connections where not enough data, or data that did not match any known applications's behavior, were transferred and App-ID was unable to identify a known application.
How many packets are required to identify a tcp application for AppWait for a maximum of 4 packets or 2000 bytes of data in either direction (not including the TCP handshake). In most cases, the application will be recognized before receiving that amount of data. If an application is decided as unknown, it will appear as "unknown-tcp" or "unknown-udp."
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