Secure your web application with an open source WAF.pdf

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security solution designed to protect web applications by filtering and monitoring HTTP and HTTPS traffic between the application and the internet.

1. SECURE YOUR WEB APPLICATION
WITH AN OPEN SOURCE WAF

2. WEB APPLICATION
FIREWALL
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security solution
designed to protect web applications by filtering and
monitoring HTTP and HTTPS traffic between the application
and the internet. WAFs operate at the application layer
(Layer 7 of the OSI model) and are specifically designed to
detect and prevent attacks that target web applications.
WAFs work by analyzing incoming traffic and blocking or
allowing requests based on predefined security rules. These
rules are often based on known attack patterns and can be
customized to meet the specific needs of an organization.
By acting as a barrier between the web application and
potential attackers, a WAF helps prevent unauthorized access,
data breaches, and other forms of cyberattacks.

3. Vision & Mission
VISION MISSION
To be the leading Open Source Web Application
Firewall (WAF) solution that empowers
organizations worldwide to protect their digital
assets, ensuring robust, scalable, and
transparent security for all web applications,
while fostering collaboration and innovation in
the cybersecurity community.
Our mission is to provide a high-performance, cost-
effective, and customizable Open Source WAF that
delivers top-tier web application protection against
modern cyber threats. We strive to build a global
community where developers and security
professionals can contribute, enhance, and adopt
cutting-edge security measures that ensure the
safety and integrity of online applications for all.

4. WHY CHOOSE OPEN
SOURCE WAF?
Cost-Effectiveness
1 2 3 4
Customization Flexibility Community Support
Open-source WAFs offer a
high degree of customization.
Since the source code is
publicly available,
organizations can tailor the
WAF to their specific needs,
adding or modifying features
as required.
Open-source WAFs can be
deployed in various
environments, including on-
premises, in the cloud, or in
hybrid setups. This flexibility
allows organizations to
integrate the WAF
seamlessly into their existing
infrastructure.
Open-source WAFs benefit
from a community of
developers and users who
contribute to the project,
provide support, and share
best practices. This
community-driven
approach leads to
continuous improvement
and innovation.
Open-source WAFs are
generally more affordable
than their commercial
counterparts. This makes
them an attractive option
for small to medium-sized
businesses (SMBs) and
startups with limited security
budgets.

5. BENEFITS OF USING OPEN
SOURCE WAF
ENHANCED SECURITY
REAL-TIME MONITORING
AND LOGGING
SCALABILITY
Open-source WAFs provide robust
protection against a wide range of
web application threats. By filtering
and monitoring HTTP/HTTPS traffic,
they can detect and block common
attack vectors such as SQL injection,
XSS, CSRF, and more.
Open-source WAFs typically provide
real-time monitoring and logging
capabilities, allowing security teams
to track and analyze traffic patterns,
identify potential threats, and respond
to incidents quickly.
Many open-source WAFs are designed to scale with
the growth of an organization. As web traffic
increases, the WAF can be configured to handle
larger volumes of data without compromising
performance. This scalability ensures that web
applications remain protected even as the business
expands.

6. CUSTOMIZABILITY
Element Of Open
Source WAF
Open-source Web Application Firewalls are security
solutions developed and maintained by a community of
developers, and they are typically available for free or at a
lower cost than commercial WAFs.
Open Source Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) offer a cost-
effective, customizable solution for protecting web
applications from common security vulnerabilities.
Unlike proprietary WAFs, open-source options provide
transparency, community-driven support, and flexibility in
implementation, making them an ideal choice for
organizations with specific security needs.
FEATURES
COST-
EFFECTIVE
COMMUNITY
SUPPORT
COLLABORATIVE
INNOVATION

7. While open-source WAFs offer numerous benefits, they are not
without challenges. It’s important to consider these potential
drawbacks when deciding whether to deploy an open-source WAF.
CHALLENGES OF OPEN
SOURCE WAF
COMMUNITY
SUPPORT
COMPLEXITY OF
SETUP AND
CONFIGURATION
LIMITED VENDOR
SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE
AND UPDATES
PERFORMANCE
OVERHEADS

8. POPULAR OPEN SOURCE
WAF SOLUTIONS
MODSECURITY
OWASP CORE RULE SET
(CRS)
NAXSI
IRONBEE

9. MODSECURITY& OWASP CORE RULE SET
ModSecurity is one of the most well-known open-source
WAFs. Originally developed as an Apache module,
ModSecurity has since expanded to support other web
servers, including Nginx and IIS. It offers comprehensive
protection against various web application threats and
provides a powerful rules engine for creating custom security
policies. ModSecurity’s flexibility, coupled with its active
community support, makes it a popular choice for
organizations of all sizes.
The OWASP Core Rule Set (CRS) is a set of generic attack
detection rules designed to protect web applications from a
wide range of threats. While not a WAF itself, CRS can be
used in conjunction with ModSecurity or other WAFs to
enhance their capabilities. CRS is maintained by the Open
Web Application Security Project (OWASP), a respected
organization in the cybersecurity community.

10. NAXSI (Nginx Anti XSS & SQL Injection) is an open-source
WAF designed specifically for Nginx web servers. It is
lightweight, fast, and focuses on preventing XSS and SQL
injection attacks. NAXSI uses a positive security model,
which means it blocks only malicious requests that do
not match predefined rules, reducing the likelihood of
false positives.
IronBee is a relatively newer open-source WAF
framework designed to be highly flexible and
extensible. It provides a modular architecture that
allows organizations to customize the WAF according
to their needs. IronBee is designed to work with a
variety of web servers and can be integrated into
existing security infrastructures.
NAXSI & IRONBEE

11. CONCLUSION
Securing your web applications is a critical
component of any cybersecurity strategy, and an
open-source Web Application Firewall (WAF) can be
an effective and cost-efficient solution. Open-source
WAFs offer flexibility, customization, and community-
driven support, making them a viable option for
organizations of all sizes. While there are challenges
associated with deploying and maintaining an
open-source WAF, the benefits often outweigh the
drawbacks when implemented correctly.Whether
you choose ModSecurity, NAXSI, or another open-
source WAF, the key is to stay vigilant, proactive, and
committed to maintaining a strong security posture
in today’s ever-evolving threat landscape.

12. THANK
YOU!
By understanding the pros and cons of open-
source WAFs, selecting the right solution, and
following best practices for deployment, you can
significantly enhance the security of your web
applications and protect your organization from
cyber threats.
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