.Understand the difference between runtime application self-protection (RASP) for mobile apps and RASP for web apps.
Whether you have a web app or a mobile app, the security goal is the same—to protect it.
It stands to reason that both mobile app developers and web app developers rely on runtime application self-protection (RASP). But RASP for mobile and web apps is different. Find out more about these differences, how they impact your apps, and 10 RASP best practices in this blog.
The term runtime application self-protection (RASP) emerged when traditional security measures (firewalls and intrusion detection systems) could no longer protect apps from attacks.
It was coined by Gartner, who defines it as “a security technology built or linked into an app or app runtime environment and is capable of controlling application execution and detecting and preventing real-time attacks.”
Simply put, RASP protects your apps from malicious data and behavior by analyzing how the program behaves in real time. If the app's behavior indicates something’s wrong, RASP takes steps to stop the threat.
RASP wraps itself around the app code to create a shield against foreign code injection and acts as an intermediary between the app and the system. It intercepts all calls and makes them secure whenever it detects anomalous behavior during runtime.
Because web applications operate in a controlled environment, the administrator can control the server's setup and the functionalities users can access.
Take any banking app. When you log in, a combination of server-side controls and authentication processes ensures that you see only what you're supposed to see—your account details and nobody else’s. But this control makes web servers targets for malicious actors.
This is where Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) come in. They monitor HTTP traffic and act as the first line of defense against network-based attacks like DoS and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. WAFs are an app’s gatekeepers, inspecting traffic between clients and servers.
But sometimes, threats sneak past the gatekeepers. That is why you need time runtime protection. RASP is like having a security guard on constant patrol within the grounds (your app). It offers an additional layer of security, protecting your web app against known and unknown threats and making it harder for malicious actors to exploit the system.
|
Feature |
WAF |
RASP |
| Purpose | Protects web apps by filtering and monitoring HTTP traffic between the app and the internet. | Protects apps by detecting and mitigating real-time threats from within the app. |
| Function | Predefined rules and patterns. | Monitors real-time app behavior. |
| Deployed at | Network-level, before traffic reaches the app. | Embedded within the app. |
| Protects against | Known external attack vectors. | Targeted threats like zero-day attacks. |
| Pros | Can be updated with new rules for new threats. | Visibility into app behavior, precise threat detection. |
| Use case | To secure multiple web apps with a central solution. | To get a detailed insight and threat detection at the app level. |
The major benefit of RASP is app-level attack prevention that helps protect you against:
In contrast, after a mobile app is downloaded, the admin loses significant control over how the app is used. Users can interact with the app and the server in unexpected ways. For example, users may disable certain security protections to remove ads.
Threats also come from the user's device itself if it’s compromised or from malicious apps on their device. A compromised app could try to access the user’s banking app or view their credentials.
Spoofing and hooking protection: Identifies attempts by malicious apps to disguise themselves as legitimate apps or to intercept data.
Spyware detection: Looks for signs of apps that are spying on user activity.
Transaction security: Helps prevent other apps from capturing sensitive information during transactions, such as screen recording.
|
Threat |
RASP web apps |
RASP mobile apps |
| Malicious code injection | Blocks attempts to inject harmful code into web forms. | Prevents suspicious code within the mobile app itself. |
| Data breaches | Monitors data handling within the web application to prevent unauthorized access. | Prevents signs of data leakage from the mobile app or other apps on the device. |
| Zero-day attacks | Can identify unusual behavior that might indicate a new, unknown attack. | Can prevent suspicious activity from the mobile app or device that might be part of a new attack. |