A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security platform that sits in front of web applications to inspect and filter HTTP/HTTPS traffic, blocking malicious requests while permitting legitimate traffic.
Overview
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security platform that sits in front of web applications to inspect and filter HTTP/HTTPS traffic, blocking malicious requests while permitting legitimate traffic. WAFs rely on signatures, rulesets, and behavior-based protections to mitigate common web exploits (e.g., SQLi, XSS) and are deployed as cloud, on-premises, or hybrid solutions, making them a key first line of defense for web apps. Their significance lies in reducing attack surface, preventing data loss, and limiting downtime from web-based attacks.
Related Threat Clusters
-
Cloudflare Patches Critical WAF Bypass Vulnerability
Cloudflare addressed a critical zero-day vulnerability in its Web Application Firewall (WAF) that allowed attackers to bypass security rules and access protected origin servers. Discovered by FearsOff security…
5 articles · Updated January 20, 2026
Recent Intelligence Reports
- Cloudflare whacks WAF bypass bug that opened side door for attackers — Theregister · January 20, 2026