What is a broken access control vulnerability? Access control—also known as authorization—determines what authenticated users are allowed to do within a web application. While authentication verifies identity, access control governs permissions. Despite its conceptual simplicity, implementing effective access control is complex and frequently flawed. According…
Security logging and monitoring failures: OWASP Top 10
Security logging and monitoring failures are one of the most commonly overlooked risks in application security. Ranked in the OWASP Top 10, these failures can leave teams unaware of breaches until long after the damage is done. Without strong logging and monitoring practices, it’s difficult…
DAST vs. VAPT: What’s the best approach for proactive application security
Organizations today are under increasing pressure to secure dynamic digital ecosystems while keeping pace with accelerated development cycles. To address these challenges, security teams often rely on two key testing methods: dynamic application security testing (DAST) and vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT). Although both…
Vulnerable and outdated components: An OWASP Top 10 risk
Vulnerable components are a top threat to web application security and software supply chains. By integrating SCA and DAST with a proactive patch management process, development teams can focus on the component vulnerabilities that hackers exploit most.
Next.js middleware authorization bypass vulnerability: Are you vulnerable?
A critical vulnerability in the Next.js framework, officially disclosed on March 21, 2025, allows attackers to bypass middleware security controls through a simple header manipulation. This post summarizes what we know about CVE-2025-29927, how you can mitigate the vulnerability, and how Acunetix can help you detect and confirm your organization’s risk.
Top 10 dynamic application security testing (DAST) tools for 2025
This guide explores the top 10 DAST tools for 2025, highlighting the best commercial solutions as well as open-source options. Learn how the right tools can help you build DAST-first AppSec to secure your applications in production, integrate with DevSecOps, and minimize your web application security risk.
Understanding Injection Attacks in Application Security: Types, Tools, and Examples
How Injection Attacks Exploit Web Application Vulnerabilities Injection attacks occur when malicious input is inserted into a web application, exploiting vulnerabilities in unvalidated user input to execute unintended commands. Attackers craft payloads that manipulate how the application processes data, often leading to unauthorized access, data…
Strengthen Your Web Applications with HTTP Security Headers
What is a HTTP security header? An HTTP security header is a response header that helps protect web applications by providing browsers with specific instructions on how to handle website content securely. These headers play a crucial role in mitigating various cyber threats, such as…
Disabling Directory Listing on Your Web Server – And Why It Matters
By default, some web servers allow directory listing, which means that if no default index file (such as index.html or index.php) is present, the server will display a list of all files and directories in that folder. This can expose sensitive files, scripts, and configurations,…