This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Sharon
Modern websites face a growing number of threats, from SQL injection to automated brute force attacks. SafeLine WAF is a free and open-source Web Application Firewall designed to defend your site at the HTTP layer — with minimal setup and powerful protections out of the box.
Here’s a breakdown of how SafeLine secures your site — and how it specifically defends against brute force login attempts.
Core Features of SafeLine WAF
SafeLine monitors and filters HTTP traffic between your web applications and the internet, helping block malicious requests before they reach your backend. Key protections include:
SQL Injection Prevention
Blocks attempts to inject malicious SQL commands, keeping your database safe.Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Protection
Prevents attackers from executing scripts in users’ browsers.Brute Force Protection
Limits failed login attempts to prevent attackers from rapidly guessing user credentials.Command & Code Injection Defense
Stops attacks that try to execute unauthorized commands or code on your server.Advanced Injection Protections
Blocks CRLF, LDAP, XPath, and XML External Entity (XXE) injections.Remote Code Execution (RCE) Defense
Prevents hackers from executing arbitrary code and taking over the server.Path Traversal Mitigation
Stops unauthorized access to sensitive files through crafted URLs.CC Attack Mitigation
Protects against high-frequency fake requests that degrade service availability.Malicious Bot Detection
Identifies and blocks unwanted crawlers trying to scrape or overload your site.
How SafeLine Defends Against Brute Force Attacks
Brute force attacks aim to gain unauthorized access by rapidly guessing passwords. SafeLine’s layered defense mechanisms are designed to slow down and block these attempts effectively.
1. Login Attempt Rate Limiting
If a user repeatedly enters the wrong password, SafeLine automatically locks the account for a period of time. This drastically reduces the chances of successful brute-force attempts.
2. Real-Time Monitoring & Alerts
SafeLine actively monitors login behavior. When abnormal patterns are detected (e.g., dozens of rapid login failures), it raises alerts — giving your team a chance to react fast.
3. IP Blacklisting
Suspicious IPs can be blacklisted manually or automatically. Once blacklisted, these addresses are blocked from accessing the site — instantly cutting off further brute force attempts from that source.
Final Thoughts
SafeLine WAF offers a robust set of protections that cover the full spectrum of modern web threats — including brute force, injection attacks, RCE, and more.
Whether you’re self-hosting a small website or managing production environments, deploying SafeLine helps harden your surface and gives you greater control over who gets access to your services.
Join SafeLine Community
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Sharon