Web Application Security and the CI/CD Pipeline

Integrating Security into the Heartbeat of Development!

Web application security is a fundamental development aspect, especially in environments dominated by continuous integration and deployment.

The concept of DevSecOps underscores its critical role within the broader security scene. Therefore, it is seen as a proactive force in secure software development, supporting the backbone of modern web applications!

The evolution of development

The evolution of technology in the past decade has been transformative. Let's take a trip down memory lane. We can reflect on these developments, how they have resulted in shifting hacker tactics, and the critical need for a more dynamic and proactive approach to safeguarding digital assets.

Leaders in the industry have embraced new approaches and innovative strategies. Let’s start with LinkedIn's adoption of canary deployment in the 2010s. If you are curious about the term, it comes from the historical use of canaries in coal mines, which served as early warning signs for toxic gases to keep the miners safe. Anyway, back to it! Canary deployments introduce a proactive approach to feature rollout, allowing for iterative improvements while minimising risk. It does this by rolling out a new version of an application to a small percentage of users and then gradually releasing it to everyone. Because of this nature, canary deployments introduced safe rollbacks, so previous versions can be restored if there is a bug, non-compliant feature, or a potential break.

Shortly after, Etsy's embrace of continuous deployment enabled rapid iteration and experimentation, fostering a culture of agility and innovation while allowing it to detect flaws in all phases of the development lifecycle.

We then see X's adoption of microservices architecture, which revolutionised scalability and real-time data processing. Microservices can improve security by enabling customisable hardening based on the service's data processing and other factors; however, unlike monolithic environments, they can have their own intricacies and security challenges!

Then, “Borg” was born. Google introduced Kubernetes in 2014, and Amazon popularised AWS Lambda the same year, pushing towards containerisation and serverless computing.

These technologies have empowered developers to focus on code rather than infrastructure, streamlining development processes and enhancing security through automated management.

In 2018, Microsoft's launch of Azure DevOps further emphasised the industry's want and commitment to continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), collaboration, and DevOps practices.

The amalgamation of these new ways of building and deploying code shows the need for a more proactive and adaptable approach to web application security.

Understanding the CI/CD Pipeline

CI/CD is a streamlined framework for incorporating security at every stage, from code commit to deployment.

One of the critical aspects of CI/CD is its emphasis on automation, which plays a pivotal role in ensuring continuous security assessment and compliance. Automated tools such as Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) are integral components of this framework. SAST tools analyse the source code for vulnerabilities and security flaws, allowing developers to identify and fix issues early in development. DAST tools attempt simulations of real-world attacks on running applications, providing valuable insights into potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

To name just a few, here are some benefits of adopting this framework and mindset, including:

1. Early Vulnerability Detection: Security vulnerabilities are identified and remediated at the earliest stages of development, minimising the likelihood of costly security breaches identified in production.
2. Faster Time to Market: Contrary to the perception that security slows down development, integrating security checks into CI/CD pipelines streamlines the release process in the long run (if done right). Teams can confidently deploy updates, knowing they won’t need to roll back by not meeting security standards.
3. Improved Compliance: With automated security checks, you can ensure adherence to industry standards and regulations such as PCI-DSS and GDPR or measure your state regularly.
4. Culture of Security Awareness: Cross-functional collaboration provides a platform to build a culture of security awareness across development, operations, and security teams. This goes both ways: developers write secure code, and security practitioners gain insights into the nuances of application development.

Redefining the ‘hacker’ ethos

Due to improved defences, traditional attack vectors like SQL injection and cross-site scripting have declined in popularity. With the adoption of principles like zero trust and robust authentication measures, the traditional avenues for exploitation are closing. Supply chain attacks are on the rise, and along with AI, today's hackers have also evolved, leveraging advanced automation and artificial intelligence to exploit vulnerabilities!However, organisations have responded by embracing automation (e.g., CI/CD) and autonomous strategies (e.g., AWS Lambda or Borg), resulting in frameworks like DevSecOps. This approach adapts to the changing landscape and ensures continuous and adaptive vulnerability monitoring. In conclusion, DevSecOps is becoming the cornerstone of modern web application security, fostering a proactive stance against evolving cyber threats.

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