The Unique Security Landscape of Web Applications

Web applications face a distinctive threat environment shaped by their accessibility, architecture, and technology stack. Unlike traditional applications that run within controlled environments, web applications are exposed to the entire internet, facing constant automated attacks alongside targeted threats. This exposure, combined with the complexity of modern web architectures, creates a rich attack surface that threat modeling must comprehensively address.

The stateless nature of HTTP introduces fundamental security challenges. Each request must be independently authenticated and authorized, creating numerous opportunities for session management vulnerabilities. Client-side code execution in browsers means critical security controls must be implemented server-side, as anything running in the browser can be manipulated by attackers. The separation between client and server creates trust boundaries that are often misunderstood or improperly secured.

Modern web applications compound these challenges through increased complexity. Single-page applications (SPAs) move significant logic to the client side. Microservices architectures multiply the number of components and inter-service communications. Third-party integrations introduce external dependencies and trust relationships. Cloud hosting adds shared responsibility considerations. Each architectural decision expands the threat landscape that must be modeled.