WebRTC Security

Understanding WebRTC Security: Best Practices and Considerations

9 min read

June 20, 2023

Today, businesses use different communication mechanisms to modernise their digital communications. According to a Forbes Advisor Survey, 16% of workers spend 21 to 25 hours weekly on digital communication platforms. The growing need for advanced digital communication solutions has led businesses to embrace various technologies, including WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication).

WebRTC is an open-source technology that enables real-time communication and data exchange between web browsers and devices through APIs. By enabling peer-to-peer interaction, WebRTC facilitates bidirectional video, audio, and text communication directly within web pages without native app downloads or plugin installations.

Table of Contents

Understanding WebRTC security
WebRTC security concerns
The role of WebRTC encryption in WebRTC security
Why is application-level security necessary for WebRTC?
WebRTC security best practices to secure WebRTC communications
Enable secure real-time communications with Digital Samba

However, as WebRTC gains popularity, the capability of facilitating embedded audio or video communication within a web browser has given rise to security concerns surrounding this technology.

Nearly 40 % of organisations using Microsoft Teams were targeted by at least one unauthorised login attempt in 2022.

According to a Proofpoint report

Therefore, Implementing robust security measures becomes crucial with the growing threat landscape.

This article explores WebRTC security, associated security concerns, and how WebRTC encryption can enhance communications.

Understanding WebRTC security

WebRTC provides JavaScript APIs for developers to create P2P communication between web browsers and mobile apps. It enables real-time audio and video communication through web pages without plugins or custom software.

WebRTC security refers to the set of measures and protocols to ensure the privacy, confidentiality, and integrity of communications conducted through the WebRTC protocol. WebRTC communications leverage various security protocols, including end-to-end encryption (E2EE), to secure user connections.

In the case of unencrypted WebRTC communications, the entire session can become vulnerable, leading to compromised user identity and data theft. Therefore, it is essential to recognise the risks of unauthorised access and data breaches and the significance of encryption, authentication, and access control in WebRTC security.

Understanding WebRTC Security - Digital Samba

Security considerations that may influence WebRTC security are:

Browser security: Your choice of web browser plays a crucial role in WebRTC security. Ensure your browser is up to date with the most recent security patches and upgrades. To defend against harmful actions, browsers employ security techniques like sandboxing and secure origin policies.

While browser security doesn't directly secure the WebRTC connection, it contributes to securing the supporting connections and overall user experience. Moreover, DTLS, a standardised protocol embedded in WebRTC-supported browsers, encrypts information across web browsers, email, and VoIP platforms, ensuring secure communication channels.

Operating system security: The security of your operating system is another important aspect of WebRTC security. Both desktop and mobile operating systems provide built-in controls to protect end users. Many security protocols in web browsers are also present in operating systems. However, additional security measures may be required when using mobile devices.

Upgrade your operating system frequently to guarantee you have the most recent security fixes. Protect yourself against malware and illegal access by putting strong security measures in place, such as firewalls and antivirus software.

WebRTC community security: WebRTC is an open-source tool, which might initially raise concerns regarding its security, as the source code is accessible to the public. However, the open nature of WebRTC enhances its security since professionals worldwide continuously try to test and improve all aspects of WebRTC, including security.

This leads to rapid discovery and correction of bugs and security flaws, ensuring security issues are swiftly addressed and feedback is provided to improve poorly developed WebRTC applications.

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WebRTC Security Concerns

WebRTC leaks are a major security concern in using WebRTC to communicate. They occur when unintentional disclosure of IP addresses happens through web browsers, potentially revealing personally identifiable information such as IP addresses, DNS requests, and IP-based geolocations.

These leaks can compromise user privacy and sometimes expose identities even when anonymisation services are used.

A heap-buffer overflow bug in WebRTC

In 2022, Google discovered a heap-buffer overflow bug in WebRTC, which could be exploited for Denial-of-Service (DoS), remote code execution, and other high-severity risks.

Therefore, discussing potential risks and weaknesses that could jeopardise your sensitive information is important. Let's discuss some of the WebRTC security issues you need to be aware of:

Javascript injection

WebRTC apps are susceptible to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, enabling hackers to inject JavaScript and HTML into the application context. Threat actors can send malicious code through text messages, threatening users by appearing as a name or attachment file name. It is crucial to perform input validation on all user-supplied data, including HTML components.

Malware facilitation

Due to its open architecture, WebRTC may unintentionally promote the spread of malware. Threat actors may use holes in the WebRTC stack to send malicious payloads or modify signals. Malware intrusion risk can be reduced by using strong security measures like endpoint protection solutions and upgrading software.

Moreover, establish a location for content sanitisation and validation to verify file types and digital signatures, either by the server or the clients receiving them.

Network traffic tampering via browser plugins and Android proxy

WebRTC applications use DTLS-SRTP to protect conversations. However, the transmission of client credentials over an unencrypted channel poses a risk, enabling attackers to intercept and reuse the session. Attackers can exploit browser plugins to steal WebRTC application credentials.

Information disclosure during signalling phase on local & remote clients

In WebRTC, client-to-client communication requires the exchange of communication addresses, potentially exposing internal IP addresses. Attackers can leverage this information to establish a communication channel and gather client details.

One solution is implementing an application architecture where a virtual client acts as a proxy for all communications, limiting the attacker's view to only the virtual client's IP address. Moreover, configure the signalling server to share IP addresses only upon mutual acceptance to enhance security and minimise vulnerabilities.

Server crashing using Malformed JSON

Attackers can attempt to crash WebRTC servers by sending malformed or malicious JSON data. Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks may result from this, interfering with the availability of your services. You can reduce this risk by implementing appropriate input validation and error-handling procedures on the server side.

The role of WebRTC encryption in WebRTC security

WebRTC encryption enables secure data transfer between browsers and apps using WebRTC-enabled connections. Since WebRTC sessions can't be secured using only standard security, incorporating encryption is necessary to tackle the security challenges WebRTC poses. Several data protection standards, such as the GDPR, also mandate the use of encryption for secure data transmission.

It consists of three necessary WebRTC encryption specifications: Secure Real Time Protocol (SRTP), secure encryption key exchange, and secure WebRTC signalling. Every WebRTC session necessitates the implementation of these encryption protocols, which ensure the encryption of transmitted data, safeguard the encryption keys, and secure the connection to the web server.

These include the following:

Media encryption

This real-time protocol ensures security by encrypting all types of data transmitted through the channel, thereby protecting against potential malicious attacks. Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) is essential in WebRTC for encrypting communication between peers, ensuring confidentiality and preventing unauthorised decoding.

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) specifications strictly forbid using unencrypted RTP, underscoring the commitment to security and privacy in WebRTC

Mandatory secure encryption key exchange

In addition to message encryption, WebRTC goes beyond establishing secure encryption channels by utilising key exchange mechanisms such as Multimedia Internet KEYing (MIKEY), Zimmermann Real-time Transport Protocol (ZRTP), Simplified Data Encryption Standard (SDES), and DTLS-SRTP. The DTLS-SRTP protocol is employed to mandate the use of keys for transmitting data between peers.

Secure signalling

WebRTC also ensures the security of web servers responsible for handling signalling and client systems by employing the HTTPS protocol, which is widely used by most websites. This precautionary measure effectively defends against any potential man-in-the-middle attacks.

WebRTC encryption makes up the protocol layer security of WebRTC-enabled connections.

Why is application-level security necessary for WebRTC?

Application-level security measures are necessary for WebRTC security to address the unique security requirements of individual applications, provide customised protection against risks, and enforce access control. This requires a comprehensive understanding of how security is managed in WebRTC and a commitment to developing applications that adhere to the same high standards.

Key considerations include securing the signalling channel. By safeguarding the signalling channel, the integrity and confidentiality of communication can be maintained, preventing unauthorised access or tampering.

Additionally, it is crucial to ensure that media servers, TURN servers, and application servers are protected against WebRTC vulnerabilities that may compromise their security. Regular security assessments, application of patches and updates, and adherence to industry best practices are essential to reduce the risk of threats.

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WebRTC security best practices to secure WebRTC communications

WebRTC has become one of the most popular real-time communication protocols due to its high scalability and low latency. However, implementing security measures to protect sensitive information and ensure the integrity of communications is necessary.

There are various best practices you should adhere to as a company aiming to guarantee the security of your WebRTC communications. Let’s explore them below.

Enable secure signalling

Secure signalling protocols like HTTPS or WebSocket Secure (WSS) should be installed to safeguard the signalling messages sent between peers. This helps prevent unauthorised interception or tampering of data.

Implement end-to-end encryption

End-to-end encryption is a fundamental aspect of WebRTC security. Enterprises should ensure that all media streams transmitted over WebRTC are encrypted using Secure Real-Time Protocol (SRTP).

Moreover, end-to-end encryption guarantees that the content of the communication remains confidential and can only be accessed by authorised participants. This minimises the risk of data breaches and provides access to only verified parties.

Use strong authentication mechanisms

Authentication is critical for verifying participants' identities and preventing unauthorised access to WebRTC communications. Enterprises should implement robust authentication mechanisms, such as token authentication, Multi-Factor authentication (MFA), and OAuth, to ensure authorised users can join their WebRTC sessions.

Employ access controls

Implement access controls to restrict participation in your WebRTC communications to authorised individuals. Access controls can include appropriate user permissions, role-based access control (RBAC), and access tokens. By implementing access controls, you can prevent threat actors from joining or intercepting WebRTC sessions.

Regularly update & patch software

Keep your WebRTC infrastructure, including WebRTC libraries and frameworks, browsers, and operating systems, up to date with the most recent security fixes by regularly updating and patching your software.

Regular updates improve the overall security posture of your communications by addressing vulnerabilities. This ensures that known vulnerabilities are mitigated and the application runs on the most secure and stable version.

Perform security testing & audits

Regular security testing and audits are essential to identify potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses in WebRTC implementations. Conduct security audits and testing regularly to find potential vulnerabilities in your WebRTC environment.

Penetration testing and code reviews can discover and address security problems before they can be exploited. By proactively identifying and addressing security issues, you can reduce the risk of exploitation and enhance overall security.

Avoid using public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks can be insecure, as they are often unencrypted, making your WebRTC communications vulnerable to eavesdropping and unauthorised access. Use a secure and reliable network connection to secure your data.

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Digital Samba Video Communication API helps you integrate live WebRTC video into your products. Our GDPR-compliant EU infrastructure is end-to-end encrypted, ensuring higher security for your WebRTC-based applications.

Our cloud infrastructure guarantees 99.99% uptime, enabling you to enjoy lag-free real-time communications. Digital Samba WebRTC video API is designed to provide low latency, high availability, and security. Additionally, our platform offers various advanced features, including seamless integration with existing hardware and software, robust user authentication mechanisms, and much more.

FAQs

WebRTC is generally secure, using encryption and secure protocols for communication.

Like any technology, WebRTC can be vulnerable to hacking if not properly secured.

Yes, WebRTC data is encrypted, ensuring secure peer-to-peer communication.

WebRTC uses DTLS, a derivative of TLS, for encryption and security.

Vulnerabilities in WebRTC include potential IP address leaks, especially for VPN users, and the possibility of man-in-the-middle attacks if certificate pinning is not properly implemented.

SRTP (Secure Real-time Transport Protocol) is a protocol used in cyber security to provide encryption, message authentication, and integrity for real-time communications, such as VoIP and video conferencing.

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