Deprecated Headers
In cybersecurity, "Deprecated Headers" refer to HTTP headers that are no longer recommended due to security vulnerabilities, obsolescence, or standardization updates. HTTP headers are additional information sent between a client (such as a web browser) and a server during an HTTP request or response, providing instructions or metadata about the request or response.
Deprecated headers may include those that:
Pose Security Risks: Certain headers may be susceptible to vulnerabilities like injection attacks, cross-site scripting (XSS), or information leakage. These headers are deprecated to prevent exploitation by malicious actors.
Are Redundant or Obsolete: As web technologies evolve, specific headers become redundant or obsolete. Deprecated headers may include those replaced by newer, more efficient alternatives or those no longer relevant in modern web development practices.
Do Not Conform to Standards: HTTP standards and best practices are periodically updated to improve security, performance, and interoperability. Headers that do not conform to current standards may be deprecated to encourage adherence to the latest protocols and specifications.
Examples of deprecated headers in the context of cybersecurity may include:
X-Powered-By: This header discloses the technology stack (e.g., server software, programming language) powering a website, potentially providing valuable information to attackers. It is often deprecated to reduce the risk of targeted attacks against known vulnerabilities in specific software versions.
X-Frame-Options (XFO): While not necessarily deprecated, the X-Frame-Options header has evolved, with some of its directives (such as DENY and SAMEORIGIN) being superseded by the Content Security Policy (CSP) frame-ancestors directive. Older uses of X-Frame-Options may be deprecated in favor of CSP for improved security.
Referer: This header indicates the URL of the referring webpage from which a user navigated to the current page. However, it can leak sensitive information to third-party websites, such as user credentials or personal data. Best practices recommend minimizing the use of the Referer header or implementing security measures to protect sensitive information.
Organizations can improve the overall security posture of their online applications and infrastructure by deprecating headers that are no longer needed or that represent security risks. This lowers the possibility of successful cyberattacks and data breaches. To keep a safe and legal online environment, organizations need to upgrade their systems and stay updated about deprecated headers.
ThreatNG is an all-in-one solution combining External Attack Surface Management (EASM), Digital Risk Protection (DRP), and Security Ratings, with the capability to examine domains and subdomains for the presence of deprecated headers, would offer several benefits to organizations:
Enhanced Security Posture: With deprecated headers, the company may identify domains and subdomains and prioritize repair activities to close security risks. Eliminating out-of-date headers lowers the attack surface and lessens the possibility that malicious actors would take advantage of it.
Compliance Assurance: To protect the security and privacy of user data, compliance frameworks, and standards frequently advise against or require the removal of deprecated headers. Organizations can continue to adhere to industry standards and applicable requirements by identifying and removing outdated headers.
Reduced Risk of Vulnerability Exploitation: Deprecated headers may expose web applications to various security risks, including injection attacks, cross-site scripting (XSS), and information disclosure. By eliminating deprecated headers, organizations can reduce the likelihood of successfully exploiting these vulnerabilities.
Enhanced Reputation and Trust: Proactively identifying and addressing deprecated headers demonstrates a commitment to security and privacy best practices. It improves the organization's reputation and builds trust with customers, partners, and stakeholders, increasing brand credibility and loyalty.
Complementary security solutions that would benefit from this capability include:
Web Application Firewalls (WAF): WAFs protect web applications from various cyber threats, including attacks targeting deprecated headers. By integrating with EASM and DRP solutions, WAFs can dynamically adjust security policies to block or mitigate attacks exploiting deprecated headers.
Vulnerability Management: Solutions for vulnerability management assist businesses in locating, ranking, and fixing security flaws in all facets of their IT infrastructure. Vulnerability management platforms can prioritize vulnerabilities linked to deprecated headers for prompt remediation through integration with EASM and DRP solutions.
Web Application Scanners: Web application scanners automate the detection of security vulnerabilities in web applications, including those related to deprecated headers. Integration with EASM and DRP solutions allows web application scanners to scan all domains and subdomains for deprecated headers and provide actionable insights for remediation.
Content Security Policy (CSP) Management: CSP helps organizations mitigate the risk of various web-based attacks targeting deprecated headers. Integration with EASM and DRP solutions enables CSP management platforms to monitor and enforce CSP directives to reduce the impact of deprecated headers on web application security.
Examples of how these complementary security solutions would benefit from the capability to examine domains and subdomains for the presence of deprecated headers include:
A WAF can block incoming traffic to web applications that utilize deprecated headers, protecting against attacks such as XSS and injection attacks.
Vulnerability management solutions can prioritize remediating vulnerabilities associated with deprecated headers to reduce the organization's exposure to security risks.
Web application scanners can identify deprecated headers during automated security assessments and provide recommendations for remediation to ensure compliance with security best practices.
CSP management platforms can enforce CSP directives to mitigate the impact of deprecated headers on web application security, reducing the risk of exploitation by malicious actors.
