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Web Application Firewall
This is a countermeasure. To view all countermeasures, please see the Countermeasure Category page.
- 1 Description
- 2 Strengths and Weaknesses
- 3 Important Selection Criteria
- 4 OWASP Tools Of This Type
- 5 Well Known Open Source Tools Of This Type
- 6 Commercial Tools from OWASP Members Of This Type
- 7 Other Well Known Commercial Tools Of This Type
- 8 Related Threats
- 9 Related Attacks
- 10 Related Vulnerabilities
- 11 Related Countermeasures
Description
A web application firewall (WAF) is an appliance, server plugin, or filter that applies a set of rules to an HTTP conversation. Generally, these rules cover common attacks such as Cross-site Scripting (XSS) and SQL Injection. By customizing the rules to your application, many attacks can be identified and blocked. The effort to perform this customization can be significant and needs to be maintained as the application is modified.
A far more detailed description is available at Wikipedia
Strengths and Weaknesses
Important Selection Criteria
- Very Few False Positives (i.e., should NEVER dissallow an authorized request)
- Strength of Default (Out of the Box) Defenses
- Power and Ease of Learn Mode
- Types of Vulnerabilities it can prevent
- Ability to keep individual users constrained to exactly what they have seen in the current session
- Ability to be configured to prevent ANY specific problem (i.e., Emergency Patches)
- Form Factor: Software vs. Hardware (Hardware generally preferred)
You may also use Best Paractices: Use of Web Application Firewalls to find out where and when to use a WAF and/or you may find
the Web Application Firewall Evaluation Criteria useful for evaluating the performance and other characteristics of a WAF.
The London Chapter WAF event held in 2006 has some comparative info amongst the WAF Vendors that participated in the event.
OWASP Tools Of This Type
The OWASP Stinger Project is not a full blown WAF, but it is a strong Java/J2EE input validation filter that can be put in front of your application.
Well Known Open Source Tools Of This Type
Commercial Tools from OWASP Members Of This Type
These vendors have decided to support OWASP by becoming members. OWASP appreciates the support from these organizations, but cannot endorse any commercial products or services.
- art of defence - hyperguard
- Breach - WebDefend
- Deny All - rWeb
- Fortify Software - Defender
- Imperva - SecureSphere™
Other Well Known Commercial Tools Of This Type
- Applicure - DotDefender
- Armorlogic - Profense
- Barracuda Networks - Application Firewall
- Bee-Ware - iSentry
- BinarySec - Application Firewall
- BugSec - WebSniper
- Citrix - Application Firewall
- eEye Digital Security - SecureIIS
- F5 - Application Security Manager
- Forum Systems - Xwall, Sentry
- mWEbscurity - webApp.secure
- Phion / Visonys - Airlock
- Xtradyne - Application Firewalls
- Protegrity - Defiance TMS - Web Application Firewall
- Cisco - ACE Web Application Firewall
