The Rising Threat of Sophisticated Bots
With the rapid advancement of technology, particularly in artificial intelligence, bots have evolved at an unprecedented pace. Modern bots, including AI-powered ones, are no longer limited to basic automated tasks; they now possess the ability to mimic human behaviour with remarkable precision. These advanced bots leverage machine learning, natural language processing, and deep learning to adapt, learn from interactions, and refine their attack strategies over time. This level of sophistication enables them to bypass traditional security mechanisms making it increasingly difficult to differentiate between legitimate users and automated threats.
Radware’s Bot Management Solution acts as a strong defensive barrier, protecting systems from sophisticated and evolving bot attacks, ensuring comprehensive protection for web and mobile platforms.
Strengthening Security with Attestation Services
In 2023, Radware introduced unique attestation service as part of our Bot Management Solution for mobile platforms, covering both Google (Android) and Apple (iOS) devices. Google's and Apple's attestation services verify the integrity of mobile applications and the devices they run on. These services detect fraudulent, tampered devices and applications before granting access to sensitive systems. This enhancement ensured that only legitimate requests from genuine devices and authentic applications can access organizational resources.
By integrating robust signing capabilities into device identities, Radware fortifies its defenses, this approach ensures that every device interacting with an application or system can be uniquely identified and verified, making it exceedingly difficult for malicious actors to spoof legitimate users or manipulate device fingerprints, effectively preventing unauthorized access and combating advanced bot activities. This strategic layer of protection is pivotal in addressing the dynamic nature of modern bot treats.
Introducing the Mobile Attestation Challenge
Recognizing the continuous evolution of bot tactics, we have further enhanced our attestation capabilities into what is now known as the ‘Mobile Attestation Challenge'. This advanced layer of verification mandates end-user authentication before granting access to organizational resources. This enhancement is specifically designed to detect and block advanced bots, including those that attempt to rotate identities to bypass detection.
How the Mobile Attestation Challenge Works
The Mobile Attestation Challenge is a robust, multi-step process designed to rigorously validate the authenticity and integrity of devices making API requests. While attestation is a widely recognized industry-standard security measure, our bot management solution sets itself apart as the only one among competitors to integrate both Google's and Apple's attestation services. By extending beyond standard implementations, we deliver enhanced protection capabilities. This process unfolds as follows:
When a mobile application, embedded with Radware Bot Manager Mobile SDK, attempts to access a server’s API without carrying a verification token, the Radware Bot Manager engine intercepts the request and responds by demanding a valid token. Simultaneously, it engages the user with an interactive verification step. In the background, the mobile application seamlessly communicates with platform-specific security services, such as Google Play Integrity API or Apple’s Attestation Service, to validate the device’s authenticity and security status. Upon successful attestation, the Radware validation service issues a unique, time-sensitive token to the device. This token acts as a certified proof of integrity. The mobile app then makes the API request, this time incorporating the freshly issued token. If the token remains valid and unmodified, the request is approved, granting access to the requested resources. Any sign of tampering or inconsistency triggers immediate security countermeasures.
The Technology Behind the Process
- Cryptographic Signatures: Ensure that Tokens are securely issued and cannot be forged or misused.
- Dynamic Risk Assessment: Continuously evaluates device behavior, learning from each interaction to enhance accuracy.
Blocking Unauthorized Access
Throughout this process, bots attempting unauthorized access are effectively stalled at the verifying stage, preventing them from accessing protected resources.
Ensuring Authenticity and Preventing Exploitation
The Mobile Attestation Challenge guarantees that all requests originate from unaltered, authentic app binaries running on genuine devices. This robust verification process ensures that attackers cannot exploit legitimate identities to gain unauthorized access, safeguarding organizational assets from malicious activities.
Additionally, this process:
- Prevents Token Reuse: Each Token is device-specific and time-bound, minimizing the risk of exploitation.
- Thwarts Identity Rotation: Detects and blocks bots attempting to rotate identities to bypass security layers.
Flexible Implementation for Optimal Security
One of the significant advantages of the Mobile Attestation Challenge is its flexibility. Organizations can choose to enable this challenge for specific endpoints (critical paths) or extend it across the entire application. This adaptable approach allows for tailored security configurations based on unique organizational needs.
Key benefits include:
- Granular Control: Choose which APIs require stringent verification.
- Scalability: Adjust the level of security as organizational needs evolve.
- Seamless User Experience: Minimal disruption to legitimate users while maximizing protection.
Conclusion
At Radware, our commitment to safeguarding customer resources drives us to continuously refine and strengthen our security solutions. Our Bot Manager Solution is designed to identify and mitigate sophisticated bots across both web and mobile platforms. By leveraging advanced detection techniques such as behavioral modeling, device fingerprinting, and machine learning algorithms, we stay ahead of the evolving threats.
By integrating the Mobile Attestation Challenge, Radware fortifies the protection of organizational resources, ensuring the security and integrity of customer operations. This strategic enhancement underscores our dedication to providing advanced, adaptive security solutions against evolving cyber threats. Prepare to leverage this feature and create a secure, trusted environment for your users. Partner with Radware to stay ahead in the cybersecurity landscape, ensuring robust protection against the next generation of bot attacks.