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Importance of Security Testing for an eCommerce App

By 

IIH Global

security testing

eCommerce websites process heaps of personal and financial information over the internet. Hence, these apps have also become prone to cyber-attacks. Hence, it has become essential to ensure a secure and reliable eCommerce application to stay competitive and achieve growth. Stricter regulatory compliances like the EU's Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR); data security has become business-critical for digital platforms all over the globe. As per the Gartner report, global information security expenditure has surpassed $124 Billion in 2019.

Why eCommerce Security Testing?

Security testing for eCommerce website is more than just releasing cutting-edge security features. It also involves ensuring the security of every component at the platform. Robust security testing of eCommerce applications can ensure businesses identify and fix security gaps in advance. It can also help you mitigate financial risks and follow international best practices to eliminate security risks.

Follow these essential points to execute the eCommerce security testing strategy efficiently.

#1 SSL and PCI Compliance

Encrypting the data in the web browser is crucial to safeguard all the user information. The data goes through a long chain of servers on the internet and it might compromise or corrupt the data in the absence of encryption or a secure socket layer (SSL) certificate. SSL certificate also improves the credibility of business apps as it enables the security of personal and financial data.

On top of that, it is essential for all eCommerce websites to be PCI DSS compliant to facilitate secure financial transactions. It is also a basic requisite from all credit card companies and internet banking vendors. PCI DSS compliance also helps in reducing financial fraud while enhancing the security framework. Encryption testing with RSA20148 of ECDSA 385 can also be done to test the capability of cryptography.

#2 Zero-Day Vulnerability

The zero-day vulnerability can impact the hardware, network, data, or even the entire system. The term “Zero-Day” means that a developer has a zero-day to fix any security issue that has just been identified or could have been exploited. In the majority of the cases, the vulnerability is only fixed after being exploited by hackers. It can happen via several types of threats including polymorphic worms, viruses, Trojans, and various kinds of malware.

How Zero-Day Vulnerability Happens?

Normally, cyber attackers use exploit code however, in several cases vulnerability could be the part of any email or its attachment.

Here is how attackers leverage Zero-Day vulnerability:

  • Searching for Vulnerability: Hackers scan the eCommerce app for vulnerabilities. In most the cases attackers even try to sell vulnerabilities to other cyberattackers.
  • Creation of Exploit Code: Hackers develop the exploit code.
  • Identifying Vulnerability: Hackers use the unidentified security bug in the eCommerce platform or OS.
  • Launching Exploit Code: Hackers insert malware or virus that is armed with the exploit code.

How to Detect Zero-Day Attacks?

Let us check out all the effective Zero-Day vulnerability detection methods:

  • You can detect it through signatures made or created via known exploits
  • Use defense models developed by studying the interaction of exploit
  • Detect in real-time by creating attack profiles through historical data
  • You can also create the right blend of the above points to find out vulnerabilities

How to Prevent Zero-Day Vulnerability?

Test engineers should depend upon proactive and reactive security actions to prevent zero-day vulnerability attacks. Here are they:

  • Deploy credible security software that covers both known and unknown threats
  • Ensure regular updates of software to keep the system updated with the latest security patches
  • Check browser updates on a regular basis to keep updating all the security patches
  • Ensure security best practices in the systems and among employees

#3 Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

SAST or static analysis is leveraged to analyze the exact source for all the security vulnerabilities that could affect the security of your eCommerce app. SAST is executed at a very early stage of the software development life cycle (SDLC). You can implement it without executing the code. You can also call it white box testing. It enables test engineers to identify vulnerabilities at an initial stage and resolve gaps without breaking builds to ensure robust and secure final release.

SAST ensures end-to-end analysis of the entire codebase at a faster pace. It is capable of scanning millions of lines of complex code within a few minutes. You can also use it to automatically identify business-critical vulnerabilities including buffer overflows, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting among others. It also helps in integrating static analysis into the SDLC for more secure coding.

Static application security testing ensures the assessment of the security of the eCommerce website through checking applications, associated databases, and servers. It helps test engineers analyze all the applications completely.

#4 Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

DAST can be used to identify the vulnerabilities that you can detect only in the simulated or live production environment. Dynamic application security testing helps test engineers identify hacking vulnerabilities that can impact the eCommerce website by replicating real-world hacking programs on the target app.

#5 Blocking Carts

The checkout cart holds all the added shopping items. You can also add and access all the items before processing the final payment. Cyberattackers target shopping carts by planting malicious bots that can add products from different IPs. The motive of making false transactions is to make a particular product out of stock. It results in discouraging genuine customers to buy specific products leading to financial losses for an eCommerce organization.

This vulnerability frustrates the customer during flash sales when the user wants to buy the product at highly discounted prices. This could lead to disrepute to the brand through negative feedback and reviews all over the internet. It can also manipulate the data analytics of your business.

Wrapping Up

In the current business environment where everything has gone online and big data analytics is playing a crucial role in making informed business decisions; it has become essential to deploy robust data security. End-to-end security testing of eCommerce apps can not only secure the data of users but can also help in making reliable business decisions through credible user data. 

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