Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) are crucial for safeguarding web applications from various attacks. Traditionally, WAFs relied on signature-based detection methods, which can struggle to keep pace with evolving threats and sophisticated attack techniques. Semantic analysis offers a more advanced approach by understanding the context and meaning of data passing through them.

This technology analyzes intent behind HTTP requests and responses, differentiating between legitimate and malicious activities. It also considers contextual factors like user roles, historical behavior, and typical data flow within an application. Additionally, semantic analysis uses natural language processing to analyze request and response content for suspicious keywords, phrases, and communication patterns that indicate threats.

WAFs like SafeLine integrate semantic analysis to provide robust threat detection capabilities. These include automated threat detection, enhanced accuracy, proactive defense mechanisms, reduced false positives, adaptive threat detection, comprehensive coverage, and proactive defense.

Source: https://dev.to/magickong123/how-semantic-analysis-works-in-safeline-waf-11ap