Top PHP vulnerabilities to watch out for, and how observability can help

PHP is a widely-used programming language for server-side applications, supporting projects like WordPress and Laravel, and accounting for over 77% of web applications. However, its widespread use also makes it a target for various security vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, cross-site request forgery (CSRF), session hijacking, buffer overflows, and denial of service (DoS) attacks. To mitigate these threats, developers should implement input validation, parameterized queries, session management, and secure communication protocols such as HTTPS. Tools like New Relic Security RX provide a comprehensive view of security vulnerabilities across PHP applications, offering insights into third-party dependencies and enabling proactive monitoring and alerts for potential threats. Security strategies should also include regular audits, secure hosting, fault-tolerant designs, and adherence to best practices such as the principle of least privilege to minimize the impact of potential breaches. By leveraging observability tools and adhering to secure coding practices, developers can better protect PHP applications from attacks and ensure robust application performance.