ModSecurity version 2.0 released
Breach Security announced the release of the ModSecurity version 2.0 open source Web application firewall. ModSecurity version 2.0 provides greater flexibility, enhanced attack detection, and support for XML and Web Services. At the same time, Breach Security is releasing the ModSecurity Console for monitoring multiple sensors and ModSecurity Core Rules that together provide easy-to-deploy baseline Web application security.
“ModSecurity version 2.0 is the next generation code – it is a complete rewrite,” said Ivan Ristic, chief evangelist, Breach Security. “I am pleased that the original architecture lasted for several years, but it is now time to move on. The new architecture builds on everything we have learned and paves the way for serving a broader range of organisations with advanced Web application security.”
ModSecurity is a highly flexible Web application firewall that can be used for a wide range of functions including Web application monitoring, Web intrusion detection and prevention, as well as “just in time” patching of known vulnerabilities. It can be used embedded into the Apache Web server, or standalone, with the ability to protect multiple Web servers of any type. New capabilities include:
– Session management: ModSecurity version 2.0 can track and monitor user sessions providing protection against session hijacking and support for session-based anomaly detection.
– Events correlation: enables detection of attacks spanning multiple requests such as brute force and denial of service attacks, as well as attack reconnaissance. This enables ModSecurity version 2.0 to block hackers before they can launch a significant attack.
– Enhanced analysis engine: more granular rules facilities provide focused analysis of specific HTTP components, such as only searching for a signature in response headers.
– XML content analysis: ModSecurity now supports analysing XML and can be configured to protect Web Services.
In addition to releasing ModSecurity version 2.0, Breach Security also introduced the ModSecurity Core Rules and the ModSecurity Console. With the Core Rules, ModSecurity version 2.0 is easier to deploy and delivers immediate protection for Web applications. The Core Rules detect common Web application security issues such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS) and OS command execution. Breach Security has certified the rules set to be effective and efficiently written.
The ModSecurity Console is a network-based tool designed to collect logs and alerts from remote ModSecurity sensors in real-time, providing security analysts with a single interface for monitoring the security of their Web applications. The ModSecurity Console manages up to three sensors. It is offered free-of-charge for a limited time.
Going forward, Breach Security will continue to leverage the ModSecurity version 2.0 code base to introduce low cost, in-line Web application firewall appliances to serve the small-to-medium business community. Early next year, the company will deliver enterprise data centre appliances for large organisations managing high-volume business critical Web applications.