The e-commerce landscape is a dynamic and rapidly evolving sector, propelling businesses into unprecedented realms of growth and customer engagement. 

However, with these opportunities come significant security challenges. E-commerce platforms are prime targets for cybercriminals, given the vast amounts of sensitive data they handle. One report by the Internet Crime Complaint Center found that around $12.5 billion was lost to cybercrime in 2023. Understanding the common vulnerabilities and implementing robust strategies to mitigate them is crucial for safeguarding your business and ensuring customer trust. 

Here, I will explore five common e-commerce vulnerabilities and how to combat them effectively. 

SQL injection attacks 

Structured Query Language (SQL) injection attacks occur when cyber criminals exploit vulnerabilities in a website’s code to execute arbitrary SQL queries. This can lead to unauthorised access to the database, compromising sensitive customer information. In one recent incident, the data of over two million people was compromised due to an SQL injection attack. 

There are several ways this can be prevented. One of these methods, input validation, ensures that data meets certain requirements before it is processed. These requirements could include a limit on the data type, ensuring inputs are within a certain numerical range or adhering to a specific format.

Parameterised queries are specifically designed to prevent SQL attacks by separating SQL data from code. While input validation applies to all forms of user input, parameterised queries are limited only to SQL data to prevent SQL attacks.

Regular security audits will help to identify and correct any vulnerabilities in the code and database configurations. However, it’s essential that these audits form part of regular security maintenance rather than a one-off security measure.  

Cross-site scripting 

Cross-site scripting (XSS attacks) involves injecting malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. These scripts can then redirect users to phishing sites or steal session cookies.  One study recently found that a XXS vulnerability within a Google subdomain allowed hackers to perform various malicious attacks, including phishing and distributing malware.

Output encoding is a technique that transforms any data sent from a server to the user’s browser into a safe format before it is visible on a user’s webpage. This ensures that any data provided by users is visible only as text, rather than executable code.

A Content Security Policy (CSP) also provides additional security by giving developers the ability to control which resources can be executed on web pages. This blocks malicious users from executing their own content on the page.

Cross-site request forgery 

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks trick users into performing actions they did not intend. This could include changing account details or making unauthorised transactions, by exploiting their authenticated session with a trusted site. 

Anti-CSRF tokens can be generated by the server following each submission and this token is then validated before processing a user’s request. When a user initiates any action on a site, like logging on to a site, a unique token is issued. This token is then stored on the server for the duration of the session. Whenever they attempt an action on the site, like submitting a form or changing their details, the token is submitted with the request.

The server then checks if the token is valid. If a token is missing or invalid, the server rejects the request.

However, it’s essential to ensure that there is a token expiry after a certain period or when the user logs out. It’s also important to use secure channels to transmit these tokens so that attackers cannot intercept them.

Weak authentication and session management 

Poor authentication mechanisms, such as weak passwords or session management flaws, can lead to unauthorised access and data breaches. 

Additional security factors, like multi-factor authentication, can create an additional layer of security that significantly reduces the likelihood of unauthorised access.

One study found that an eight-character password can be cracked in as little as five minutes so it’s important to implement and enforce strong password policies and regular password changes. Passwords should be complex, with a variety of characters and at least 12 characters long for additional security.

It’s important to prioritise best practices for session management too. This includes setting session timeouts and regenerating session IDs when logging in.

Unpatched software and vulnerabilities 

One study found that thousands of WordPress plugins have vulnerabilities. Plugins can be exploited by attackers to gain access to e-commerce systems and data.  This plugin vulnerability also allowed hackers to redirect visitors to malicious sites such as phishing sites or those that download malware.

Run regular vulnerability scans to identify and address security weaknesses. To minimise manual checking, automated tools can be used to identify any malware or vulnerabilities.

Planning and keeping on top of regular software updates can also prove challenging so utilising automated patch management solutions is essential to ensure timely updates. 

Effective plugin management also requires diligent checking of apps and plugins used on the website to ensure that they are from verified sources.

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