Web Application Security: An Analytical Study of Cyber Threats and Defense Mechanisms

The use of internet technologies offers numerous advantages and has significantly transformed our daily lives, becoming a primary means of communication. Additionally, many businesses have shifted their services to digital platforms by leveraging web application technologies. As a result, vast amounts of data are exchanged between users and web applications—much of which contains sensitive and critical information. This makes them prime targets for cyber-attacks, including data theft and the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. According to the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), there are ten major risks that pose significant threats to web applications. In response, this paper aims to provide a thorough understanding of web applications, the potential cyber threats they face, and a detailed review of existing literature related to cybersecurity risks in web applications. To achieve this, a comprehensive literature review will be conducted to identify the primary vulnerabilities in web applications and explore current methods for mitigating and preventing these security threats.