Cybersecurity threats have become an unavoidable part of modern software development. No matter how advanced your security measures are, attackers constantly look for loopholes in mobile and web applications. While you cannot guarantee 100% protection, you can minimize risks with regular penetration testing (pentesting), proactive monitoring, and secure coding practices.
These cyber attacks are not limited to basic threats like phishing or malware. In fact, attackers now target deeper levels — including core business logic — that can disrupt entire systems. For example, imagine a FinTech app where a single flaw could allow unauthorized money transfers, damaging customer trust and business reputation.
To defend effectively, it’s essential to understand the most common cyber attacks on mobile and web apps — what they are, how they cause damage, and how to detect, prevent, and correct them.
1. Injection Attacks
What it is: Attackers inject malicious input into queries or commands, manipulating databases or back-end systems.
Example: Entering ‘ OR 1=1-- in a login form to bypass authentication.
Damage: Unauthorized admin access, data exposure, database corruption.
Detection: Fuzz testing, monitoring unusual database errors, WAF alerts.
Prevention: Parameterized queries, input validation, least-privilege DB access.
Correction: Patch vulnerable code, review logs, restore from secure backups.
2. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
What it is: Attackers inject malicious scripts that run in users’ browsers.
Example: A malicious comment steals cookies of users viewing it.
Damage: Account hijacking, data theft, reputational loss.
Detection: Automated scans, suspicious script activity monitoring.
Prevention: Input sanitization, output escaping, Content Security Policy (CSP).
Correction: Remove injected scripts, reset sessions, secure inputs.
3. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
What it is: Trick users into performing unauthorized actions while logged in.
Example: A hidden link transfers money from a banking app without consent.
Damage: Unauthorized fund transfers, data manipulation.
Detection: Suspicious POST requests, activity log analysis.
Prevention: Anti-CSRF tokens, SameSite cookies, re-authentication.
Correction: Invalidate sessions, reverse actions, strengthen CSRF controls.
4. Broken Authentication & Session Management
What it is: Weak login and session handling allows attackers to hijack accounts.
Example: Stolen plaintext tokens grant full access.
Damage: Account takeover, impersonation, data breaches.
Detection: Multiple IP logins, unusual login activity.
Prevention: Multi-factor authentication, token encryption, session timeouts.
Correction: Rotate tokens, force logouts, reset credentials.
5. Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR)
What it is: Attackers manipulate exposed references like IDs to access other users’ data.
Example: Changing /order?id=101 to /order?id=102 exposes another user’s order.
Damage: Unauthorized data access, privacy breaches.
Detection: API monitoring, parameter manipulation testing.
Prevention: Access control checks, permission validation.
Correction: Patch endpoints, audit logs, notify affected users.
6. Insecure API Endpoints
What it is: Poorly secured APIs allow attackers to abuse functionality.
Example: No rate limit lets attackers brute force promo codes.
Damage: Financial fraud, large-scale data scraping.
Detection: Monitor unusual API traffic, excessive requests.
Prevention: OAuth 2.0, input validation, rate-limiting.
Correction: Block abusive IPs, revoke keys, patch endpoints.
7. Denial of Service (DoS/DDoS)
What it is: Attackers flood apps with traffic, making them unavailable.
Example: Fake traffic crashes an eCommerce app during a sale.
Damage: Downtime, revenue loss, frustrated customers.
Detection: Abnormal spikes in traffic, IDS alerts.
Prevention: DDoS protection services, scalable infrastructure.
Correction: Block malicious IPs, filter traffic, restore servers.
8. Business Logic Attacks
What it is: Attackers exploit flaws in workflows rather than technical bugs.
Example: Applying negative discounts to get free products.
Damage: Fraud, revenue loss, customer distrust.
Detection: Manual pentesting, transaction pattern monitoring.
Prevention: Validate workflows, apply transaction sanity checks.
Correction: Patch workflows, reverse fraudulent transactions.
9. Zero-Day Exploits
What it is: Attacks on vulnerabilities unknown to developers.
Example: Exploiting an unpatched flaw in file uploads to install spyware.
Damage: Device compromise, data theft.
Detection: Anomaly detection, threat intelligence monitoring.
Prevention: Frequent patching, defense-in-depth strategy.
Correction: Apply vendor patches, isolate systems, notify users.
10. Sensitive Data Exposure
What it is: Poor handling of sensitive data like passwords or credit card details.
Example: Sending payment data over HTTP instead of HTTPS.
Damage: Identity theft, financial fraud, compliance violations.
Detection: Data audits, penetration testing, DLP monitoring.
Prevention: Encrypt data at rest and in transit, enforce HTTPS/TLS.
Correction: Rotate keys, enforce encryption policies, notify users.
Conclusion
Cyber attacks targeting web and mobile apps are no longer hypothetical — they’re a daily reality. From injection flaws and XSS attacks to insecure APIs and business logic abuse, attackers keep evolving their techniques. The consequences range from financial loss and legal penalties to long-term reputational damage.
The solution lies in adopting a proactive cybersecurity approach:
- Regular VAPT and pentesting (web, mobile, API).
- Strong detection and prevention mechanisms.
- Continuous patching and monitoring.
Only with a security-first mindset can businesses safeguard apps, customers, and data in today’s threat landscape.
