Analysis of Web Application Security: Integrating WAF and SSL/TLS for Enhanced CMS Protection

Salman Shakeel; Arbab Masood Ahmad; Yasir Saleem Afridi; Rehmat Ullah

Authors

Salman Shakeel Department of Computer Systems Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar
Arbab Masood Ahmad Department of Computer Systems Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar
Yasir Saleem Afridi Department of Computer Systems Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar
Rehmat Ullah Department of Computer Systems Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar

Keywords:

WordPress Security, CMS Security, Brute Force Attack, SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), DDoS Attacks, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), Firewall Protection, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Security Plugins, Content Delivery Networks (CDN), Secure HTTP Headers

Abstract

Content Management Systems (CMS) such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal power a significant portion of the web, making them prime targets for cyber threats, including TLS downgrade attacks, SQL injection (SQLi), cross-site scripting (XSS), and brute force attempts. Traditional security mechanisms often fail to mitigate these sophisticated attacks, leading to data breaches and unauthorized access. This research implements a multi-layered security framework integrating Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), TLS 1.3 enforcement, AI-driven vulnerability detection, and enhanced security headers on a WordPress test environment. Security audits using OWASP ZAP, Nessus, and Burp Suite validated the effectiveness of each component. Results demonstrate an 80% reduction in brute force attacks, a 93% decrease in SQL injection attempts, and a 100% elimination of XSS vulnerabilities. The implementation of WAF filtering, real-time monitoring, and strict access controls significantly reduced the attack surface. This study provides a scalable, adaptive security model capable of evolving with emerging cybersecurity challenges, offering a vital contribution to web application security.

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