Written by Somya Agrawal II
WebSocket is a powerful tool for sending and receiving messages over a network. It enables quick and reliable data exchange by establishing two-way communication between the server and the client. It is used in everything from online gaming to real-time data streaming.
Unfortunately, WebSocket only comes with flaws. Cross-Site WebSocket Hijacking (CSWSH) is a security threat that allows malicious actors to hijack a legitimate WebSocket connection, allowing them to intercept, modify, delete, and inject data. They are also vulnerable to Denial-of-Service attacks, which can prevent legitimate users from accessing the network. WebSocket can also perform man-in-the-middle attacks, allowing attackers to modify or inject data into the network without the user’s knowledge.
Here’s everything you need to know about WebSocket!
WebSocket allows two-way communication between a website and its server in real-time. It is a protocol that allows the client and server to transmit messages over the channel at the same time. They’re used for things like chat apps and updating information on a website without having to refresh the page.
The WebSocket-based connection lasts as long as either party lays it off. When one party terminates the connection, the second party can no longer communicate since the link is automatically terminated.
WebSocket, like HTTP, can be either encrypted or unencrypted, as defined by the WebSocket schemes ws and wss, where ws:// is an unencrypted WebSocket, and wss:// is an encrypted WebSocket over TLS.
They act as a backdoor connection between your computer and the website. Instead of waiting for the website to send you information, you can ask for it and receive it immediately, and the website can also send you information without requiring you to refresh the page. It’s like a two-way phone call in which you and the website can converse simultaneously.
The usual WebSocket interaction between client and server consists of the following steps:
Improper WebSocket implementation can lead to serious vulnerabilities. Some of the most common security flaws are:
If the WebSocket handshake relies on HTTP cookies for the session and does not include a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) token, an attacker can write a custom script on their domain to establish a cross-site WebSocket connection to the vulnerable application. Using this attack approach, an attacker might obtain sensitive information.
You can find a common script below that can be used to exploit this vulnerability:
A WebSocket, like HTTP, can be encrypted or unencrypted. It utilizes the WebSocket schemes ws and wss to differentiate between the two. In particular, ws:// represents an unencrypted WebSocket, whereas wss:// represents a WebSocket encrypted with Transport Layer Security (TLS).
The server may receive an endless number of connections via WebSocket. This allows an attacker to perform a denial-of-service attack against the server, which significantly strains the server and consumes all its resources, thus delaying communication.
The script below frequently crashes the WebSocket server, affecting some versions of the WebSocket client:
This occurs when WebSocket fails to protect confidential information adequately and may allow unauthorized access to such information. Passwords, credit card information, private communications, and intellectual property are examples of sensitive data. Additionally, this type of security flaw can be vulnerable to various services and systems, including databases, operating systems, and network devices.
If an attacker has access to WebSocket communications and the server does not properly validate or sanitize the input, an injection attack may occur. An attacker, for example, can deliver specially crafted payloads as messages while bypassing client-side validation by utilizing a proxy tool such as BurpSuite. Furthermore, attackers can launch attacks if the server does not validate the input for special characters or malicious data.
Let’s assume we’re testing a chat application that uses WebSocket. The system will transmit a message in the following format when a user types it:
In the absence of input validation, an attacker can intercept the request using a web proxy (Burp, in this example) to trigger an XSS pop-up by replacing their payload:
You can use the following approach to avoid WebSocket Vulnerabilities:
• Make use of the wss:/ protocol (WebSockets over TLS).
• Hard code the URL of the WebSockets endpoint, and don’t include any user-controllable data.
• Avoid cross-site WebSocket hijacking vulnerabilities by protecting the WebSocket handshake message from CSRF.
• Avoid input-based vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting, and handle data properly on both the server and client sides.
The WebSocket industry is constantly evolving, and so are its security vulnerabilities. One thing to keep in mind is that not every WebSocket is vulnerable. However, if a WebSocket vulnerability is identified, address it immediately. Furthermore, organizations dealing with WebSocket must be extremely cautious and understand the need to implement all WebSocket security controls.
There are a variety of data collecting techniques, including Google Search, for acquiring data from a target system. In addition to web page source code analysis, various unrestricted tools and services are available on the market that gives information such as databases, table names, system software, and hardware used by third-party plugins.
Security flaws in the target network may be readily recognized based on the data acquired in the first stage. This allows penetration testers to perform attacks utilizing the system’s recognized entry points.
Starting an assault on the target system is the most crucial phase, and it requires specialized expertise and procedures. Expert penetration testers may start an attack on a system using their talents.
After conducting penetration testing, compile comprehensive reports for remedial measures. In these reports, all detected vulnerabilities and proposed remediation procedures are detailed. You may modify the format of vulnerability reports (XML, HTML, Microsoft Word, PDF) to meet the demands of your company.
In addition to penetration testing, Accorian can also recommend solutions or compensatory controls for identified vulnerabilities. Moreover, we can conduct penetration testing and map vulnerabilities to various compliance criteria to aid in prioritizing solutions. By doing so, we help customers understand the overall security posture of the environment.
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Role Summary:
As a wordpress developer, you would be responsible for the development, maintenance, and optimization of our company’s website. This role requires a strong understanding of web development technologies, content management systems, and a keen eye for design and user experience. You will play a crucial role in enhancing our online presence and ensuring a seamless user experience for our audience.
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Role Summary
The senior manager is responsible for leading and sustaining the team that drives the compliance strategy by working collaboratively with internal teams, SMEs, external customers, vendors, auditors and other stakeholders. He/she should be able to work collaboratively with other departments and stakeholders to achieve company-wide goals and satisfy the client.
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Role Summary:
The Sr. Security Consultant / Team Leader is responsible for leading a team of Security Consultants, managing team and professional development goals, ensuring on-time delivery of GRC projects, and providing expert guidance to team members on GRC-related matters.
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Accorian is actively seeking for a dynamic and seasoned Consultant/Senior Consultant specializing in
the Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) domain to join our team. The preferred candidate will
assume a pivotal role in providing strategic guidance to clients regarding the implementation of sound
risk management practices overseeing vendor relationships, conducting audits across various
frameworks, and harnessing the capabilities of the GRC tool. This multifaceted position necessitates a
profound comprehension of GRC principles, regulatory compliance, and the ability to implement
resilient risk management strategies. Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, conduct
evaluations of organizational processes, and deliver strategic recommendations aimed at enhancing
GRC frameworks.
Mandatory Skill Sets/Expertise
1. Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Information Security, Risk Management,
Cyberlaw, or a related field.
2. Proficient in leading GRC frameworks and methodologies (SOC, ISO 27001, HIPPA, NIST, PCI DSS,
etc.).
3. Strong understanding of cybersecurity frameworks and principles (e.g., NIST Cybersecurity
Framework, ISO 27001, HIPAA).
4. Familiarity with audit processes, internal controls, and assurance methodologies.
5. Experience with GRC software solutions (e.g. SAP GRC, ACL, Archer, etc.).
6. Knowledge of risk assessment, control design, and reporting methodologies
7. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Preferred Certifications: CISSP, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor or Implementer.
Key Attributes:
a. 1 – 3 years of experience in consulting or industry roles related to GRC.
b. Proven track record of successful GRC program implementation and optimization.
c. Customer-centric mindset with a focus on understanding and addressing clients’ unique needs.
d. Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear and actionable insights for clients.
e. Passion for staying up to date on the latest trends and developments in GRC.
f. Strong work ethic and a commitment to delivering high-quality results.
g. Add on Strong project management skills to successfully lead and execute projects.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Assessing cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities and partnering with the security team to identify
and analyze potential threats, evaluating their impact and likelihood of occurrence.
2. Developing and implementing GRC strategies to analyze industry regulations and standards
relevant to cybersecurity, translating them into practical policies and procedures for our
organization.
3. Conducting GRC audits and collaborating and performing regular evaluations of our security
controls and compliance measures, identifying gaps, and recommending improvements.
4. Collaborating with strategic-integration and fostering strong relationships across various
departments (IT, security, legal, compliance) to ensure seamless integration of GRC processes and
cybersecurity initiatives.
5. Provide expert advice on GRC strategies, frameworks, and methodologies to clients.
6. Collaborate with internal and external auditors, providing necessary documentation and support
for audits.
7. Ensure clients’ adherence to relevant regulations, standards, and industry-specific compliance
requirements.
8. Developing and delivering training programs to educate employees on cybersecurity best
practices and compliance requirements, promoting a culture of security awareness.
9. Staying informed on emerging threats and regulations and continuously update your knowledge
on the evolving cybersecurity landscape and adapt your strategies accordingly
Role Summary
The role of the Project Manager would be to help plan and track cybersecurity & technology projects to meet KRAs, milestones & deadlines. This would also include coordinating. meetings with clients & internal teams and resource planning. The primary KRA would be to ensure projects are delivered on a timely manner and all stakeholders. are updated about the latest status of the project.
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Role Summary:
As the Lead Software Architect, you will be a key leader in the development and evolution of our B2B SaaS product & it’s associated systems. The entire development team will report to you.
Drawing upon your extensive technical expertise and industry knowledge, you will design and implement scalable, robust, and efficient software solutions. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, technical leadership, and staying abreast of emerging technologies will be essential for success in this role.
About Our Product:
GORICO was incepted by security practitioners & audits with decades of experience to simplify the security conundrum and streamline the security compliance and security maintenance process. Security is a growth enabler today as it’s table stakes for doing business and a mandatory requirement as part of the third-party risk strategy of clients.
This is a single solution tailored to an organization to manage all your security adherence, compliance, vendor risk, vulnerability management , policy & procedure management and risk assessment needs.
It enables behaviour change and shift in the mindset towards security. It’s the only way to address the current reactive approach to it. Hence, going from a once a year or, couple of times a year audit rush to year long sustenance of security.
Hence, GORICO empowers organizations to understand, attain and sustain true security.
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As an IT Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in providing technical support to our internal members and ensuring the smooth operation of our IT environment. You will work under the guidance of IT Manager to resolve technical issues, help end-users, and contribute to the overall success of our IT support team
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As a developer, you will be responsible for designing, coding, testing, modifying and implementing new features in the B2B SaaS product. You would closely work with the technical architect towards building a scalable GRC tool.
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Role Summary
As a Content Strategist & Editor, you would be responsible for strategizing and creating high quality, engaging and informative content including blog spots, articles, product/service descriptions and other forms of digital and print media. You would be responsible for enhancing the brand awareness of Accorian whereby contributing towards lead generation from prospective customers.
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Drop your CVs to joinourteam@accorian.com
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