Secure Coding

What is secure coding?

Secure coding is a set of practices that apply security considerations to software code and encryption to best defend against cyber-attacks or vulnerabilities. Defects, bugs, and logic flaws are the primary causes of commonly exploited software vulnerabilities. 

Security professionals have discovered that most vulnerabilities stem from a relatively small number of common software programming errors. Secure coding standards introduce safeguards that reduce or eliminate the risk of leaving security vulnerabilities in code. 

After defining a project and its requirements for users and systems, considerations on best practices and plans for secure code are determined and implemented with these requisites in mind.

During the software development lifecycle's building phase, specific coding techniques combined with early-stage security measures, such as static application security testing (SAST), help security programs penetrate the technology layer. 

So, what is a secure code?

Secure code helps prevent many cyberattacks by eliminating the vulnerabilities on which many exploits depend. If the software is vulnerable, it can be exploited. The 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack exploited a vulnerability in the Windows protocol.

What are the risks of insecure coding?

Insecure coding practices endanger customers and damage the company's reputation. For this reason, it is important to have a secure code. 

1. Improper logging and monitoring

2. Improper logging and monitoring procedures are dangerous. This makes the data vulnerable to tampering, extraction, and even destruction. 

3. Injection error

4. An injection error occurs when untrusted data is sent as part of a command or query. Attacks can trick the target system into executing unintended commands. 

5. Sensitive data exposure

6. Sensitive data, such as addresses, passwords, and account numbers, must be properly protected. 

7. Using components with known vulnerabilities

8. Components are made up of libraries, frameworks, and other software modules. Often, they run on the same privileges as your application. If a feature is vulnerable, it can be exploited by an untrustworthy agent. 

9. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

10. Untrusted agents can exploit cross-site scripting flaws to execute their scripts on the target system. 

11. Authentication failure

12. Authentication and session management application functionality must be implemented correctly. Failure to do so creates software vulnerabilities that untrusted agents could exploit to access personal information. 

13. Broken access control

14. User restrictions must be applied appropriately. 

15. XML External Entity (XXE)

16. XML is a common data format used in web services, documents, and image files. To understand XML data, you need an XML parser. However, it is dangerous if it is poorly configured and the XML input contains a reference to an external entity. 

17. Misconfiguration of security

18. Security misconfiguration can be caused by the following: insecure default configuration, incomplete configuration, misconfigured HTTP headers, or detailed information containing sensitive information.

19. Insecure deserialization

20. If deserialization fails, code is often executed remotely.

Best practices for coding security

Data input validation

This covers numerous data sources and data validation aspects, such as length.

Authentication and password management

Software architecture is also involved in coding.

Cryptographic practices

The handbook recommends that any cryptographic modules employed comply with FIPS 140-2 or an equivalent standard.

Error handling and logging

This is a critical area that, if not written safely, can lead to data leakage.

Data protection

The data protection rules advise storing passwords securely and avoiding data breaches through HTTP GET.

Communication security

Advice on safeguarding data in transit, such as through TLS connections.

Secure coding standard

Create and implement a certain coding standard for your development language and platform.