A magneto security audit is a process of identifying vulnerabilities and weak endpoints as well as highlighting areas that need improvement. Although professional services are available, you can independently conduct an effective security audit.
However, you can do a Magento security audit independently using simple tricks and techniques. Below are a few points you need to remember for a compelling and insightful audit.
1. Update Magento to the Latest Version
Ensure that the Magneto site uses the latest version, as it will give you the latest security fixes and updates and support upcoming security patches. Older versions may have known vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit to access sensitive user information.
They may also not have the support for new security and bug fixes. Updating to the latest version allows you to stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities and gives you access to the new features.
2. Audit Payment Gateway
Payment Gateways are the most crucial part of a security audit as they deal with vast financial transactions and transfer a lot of personal and financial data to and from the application.
You should test the gateway for usage of weak encryption algorithms, unencrypted data transfer, or integrity of the requests sent for payments. Ensure the payment gateway integrated with your Magento application is PCI-DSS compliant, solving half the security concerns.
3. Review User Access
A crucial step in a Magneto security audit is reviewing user access permissions, especially for admin users. Limit access to the admin panel by adding strict rules to allow access using specific IP addresses or through a VPN.
Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC) must be implemented for non-admin users to avoid unauthorized access to sensitive personal and financial information.
4. Audit Database Security
The database of your Magneto site is always the primary target of attackers. To secure your database and protect user data, you must ensure that the database is secured with a strong password, has limited access, and does not have unnecessary permissions to modify it.
Ensure that the application has strict input validation and does not allow users to input code that can modify the database and its entries.
5. Audit for Business Logic Errors
Business logic is how your website generates, handles, and stores data and how it operates. By exploiting logic gaps, attackers can perform unauthorized actions, such as buying products at a lower price than listed on the website.
Since business logic errors are not malware or viruses, they can be hard to detect, as security scanners do not generally scan for such errors. Thus, it would help if you had a tailor-made Magento security audit to detect such logic errors.
6. Perform a Security Audit on Configurations
Misconfigurations in your Magento websites can introduce various vulnerabilities and expose the site to potential threats. Review the site’s settings to align with the best security practices like enabling Multi-Factor authentication for admin access, restrictive file access permissions, and adding CAPTCHA or account lockout mechanisms to avoid Brute Force attacks.
7. Code Review of Third-Party Magento Extensions
With so many third-party extensions and themes available, implementing and managing them carefully is essential, as they can quickly become security hazards. Make sure that you are using the latest versions of all extensions.
Conduct a thorough code review of them to avoid introducing different vulnerabilities or backdoors onto your applications.
Professional Magento Security Audit by Astra
Apart from creating an audit on your own, you can employ Magento security audits with comprehensive coverage by Astra. Apart from the regular tests, Astra also checks for business logic errors, payment manipulation checks, server & infrastructure misconfigurations and more.
Sign up for Astra’s Magento VAPT program and get it all done for you. Have questions to ask? Chat with us!
Hello Astra, so we have been using Magento 2 based website for a quite long time now. Recently we heard that Magento websites are getting hacked very easily. Can you tell us how we can prevent it from happening?
Thanks for responding to our article. Magento 2, one of the largest open-source e-commerce platforms in the world, has often been an eye candy for people with malicious intent. No matter the amount of work gone into securing this platform, hackers tend to come up with new ways to circumvent security measures. As its reputation grows, so does the notoriety surrounding the diverse forms of malpractices possible with it. For more information visit here: https://www.getastra.com/blog/cms/magento-security/how-to-prevent-your-magento-2-store-from-being-hacked/
Hi there, how can I do a security audit for my wordpress site? is there any guide that I can follow?
Thanks for responding to our article. The users of open source CMS like WordPress, especially, are amongst the soft targets. With the rise in cyber attacks, WordPress security audit has become more important than ever. For more information visit here: https://www.getastra.com/blog/security-audit/wordpress-penetration-testing/ or if you want professional help visit: https://www.getastra.com/wordpress-vapt
Great article, I do also own a prestashop based website. can you tell me how I can protect it in realtime?
Thanks for responding to our article and glad you liked it. PrestaShop, no doubt, is a lucrative target for hackers. Hackers are continuously on the hunt for an overlooked vulnerability in popular CMS(s). They are always on the lookout for new methods to deliver their payload like injecting malware in the traffic of open Wi-Fi via ARP poisoning. Further, PrestaShop Malware is any kind of malicious code deployed by the hackers via a vulnerability in order to exploit a Prestashop store. For more information click here: https://www.getastra.com/blog/911/prestashop-malware-infection/
I have a website which i am running for a quite a long time. I am not using any WAF. How important is it as of now? Btw I’m using opencart tech stack.
Thanks for responding to our article. A WAF (Web Application Firewall) is like a gatekeeper that filters all traffic coming to your portal. It protects you from hackers, bots, malware etc. A business can set up online rules for users by having a Web Application Firewall. Large amounts of confidential online information owned by most companies include trade secrets, product development plans, marketing strategies, financial analyses, etc. are at risk. For more information visit here: https://www.getastra.com/blog/astra-product/ecommerce-firewall/
This is really a great article. I am using magento and It helped me in understanding more about the security audit. If professional help is required I’ll definitely get in touch with you,