Ethical Hacking Questions
A web application firewall (WAF) is a security tool designed to protect web applications from various types of attacks, such as cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and other web-based vulnerabilities. It acts as a filter between the web application and the client, monitoring and analyzing incoming and outgoing web traffic.
WAF works by examining the HTTP/HTTPS requests and responses, looking for suspicious or malicious patterns and behaviors. It uses a set of predefined rules or policies to identify and block potential threats. These rules can be based on known attack signatures, abnormal traffic patterns, or specific application vulnerabilities.
When a request is received, the WAF inspects the data, headers, and parameters for any signs of an attack. If it detects any malicious activity, it can take various actions, such as blocking the request, redirecting it to a different page, or alerting the system administrator.
WAFs can also provide additional security features like session management, authentication, and encryption. They can be deployed as hardware appliances, software solutions, or cloud-based services, depending on the organization's requirements.
Overall, a web application firewall acts as a protective barrier, helping to safeguard web applications and prevent unauthorized access or exploitation of vulnerabilities.