Picture this: Your development team just launched an amazing new app with top-of-the-line API security, hardening it with client-side protection, and even setting up defenses against bot attacks. You feel safe with the product and that your team is doing a great job.
But one thing that is special is that despite your best efforts, your application may still be at risk of being attacked. In fact the attack may not even trigger a single security alert, the risk of this attack comes from the business logic. If you haven't evaluated business logic attacks (BLAs) as part of your threat modeling, you should reevaluate your product now.
1. What is Business Logic Attack (BLA)?
A business logic attack is a type of cyber attack in which the cyber attacker exploits an application's intended functionality and flow rather than its technical vulnerabilities. They manipulate workflows, bypass traditional security measures, and abuse legitimate capabilities to gain unauthorized access or cause damage without triggering security alerts.
2. Why should we care about BLA?
1. Traditional security measures are not enough
While a web application firewall (WAF) is critical to protecting applications, it cannot completely protect against business logic attacks. Due to the idiosyncrasies of BLAs, typical security solutions are often unable to detect and prevent these threats.
2. Risk of data loss and financial loss: Business logic loopholes
A successful business logic attack can result in the theft of sensitive data, including personal details and financial information, leading to costly data breaches and even financial losses. A typical example is authentication bypass, where an attacker bypasses the authentication process and can abuse business logic within an application by escalating privileges or accessing sensitive information, which can lead to loss of critical data and damage to a company's reputation.
3. The possibility of reputation damage: the impact of business logic flaws
Data loss or a successful business logic attack can cause damage to your company's reputation. In an age when consumers are becoming increasingly cautious about their online security, any attack can quickly damage your business, resulting in lost customers, lost revenue or tarnished brand, and even legal consequences. Resolving BLAs is critical to maintaining public trust and keeping customers happy.
4. Increased application and API complexity: the challenge of securing business logic components
As applications and APIs become more complex, so do the risks and difficulties associated with securing them. The rapid growth in distributed microservices, multi-cloud architectures, and API usage makes it critical to understand and address the unique security challenges posed by business logic attacks.
3. How to protect your application from BLAs: Understanding and Implementing Business Logic
You can take the following steps to protect your application from them:
1. Understand your business logic: Understand your application's workflow, processes, and expected user behavior to identify potential weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
2. Implement advanced application security: Invest in advanced security solutions specifically designed to manage and secure APIs, such as application security platforms. This will help identify threats such as compromised authorization, bot attacks, and defend against business logic attacks.
3. Monitor and analyze user behavior: Employ tools and techniques that can analyze user behavior, including application usage patterns, and detect suspicious activity that may indicate a potential BLA.
4. Segment and control access: Limit the scope of APIs and enforce access controls based on user roles, minimizing potential damage in the event of a successful attack.
4. The importance of a multi-layered security approach against business logic attacks
Business logic attacks are becoming more common and pose a significant threat to the security of applications and APIs. To protect your data, reputation, and customers from potential damage, a multi-layered security approach including advanced bot protection and API security is critical, don't be caught off guard by business logic attacks, take the time to invest in your application security, Only by staying one step ahead of cyber attackers can we protect ourselves.