Announcing Java SSRF protection in Dynatrace Application Security

Dynatrace is excited to introduce Java Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) protection, a new capability that empowers organizations to proactively identify SSRF vulnerabilities and block their exploitation in Java applications at runtime. With this update, Dynatrace enables security teams to defend against one of the most dangerous attack vectors in modern cloud environments, with no required code changes.

A critical security threat for cloud-native architectures

SSRF is a web security vulnerability that allows an attacker to make a server-side application send requests to unintended locations. This can include internal services within an organization’s infrastructure or external systems. SSRF can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, such as cloud metadata, internal databases, and other protected resources. Attackers can exploit SSRF to bypass firewalls, steal credentials, and execute arbitrary commands.

SSRF attacks remain a critical security threat, with real-world breaches exposing sensitive internal resources and cloud metadata services. As more organizations adopt cloud-native architectures, the risk of SSRF grows. Due to its dynamic nature, static analysis (SAST) tools are often less accurate in correctly detecting SSRF, and Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) struggle to block sophisticated attacks that exploit legitimate application behavior. Notable breaches, such as the Capital One data breach, have demonstrated the severe impact of SSRF, where attackers exploited an SSRF vulnerability to access AWS metadata and gain privileged access.

Security teams need a runtime-aware, contextual solution that detects SSRF in real time and provides actionable remediation without introducing false positives or developer friction.

Real-time, runtime-aware security for Java applications

Dynatrace Java SSRF protection brings real-time, runtime-aware security to Java applications, preventing unauthorized outbound requests before they reach internal systems or third-party services. Unlike traditional solutions, the Dynatrace approach leverages deep application insight, identifies tainted data flows leading to SSRF risks, and stops them before they can be exploited. This runtime-aware, contextual solution understands the application’s behavior and data flows in real time, allowing for precise detection and immediate response to SSRF attempts. This reduces the risk of false positives and ensures that legitimate application functionality is not disrupted.

Java remains one of the most popular programming languages globally, and it is used by major companies worldwide for everything from web and Android apps to server-side programming and large-scale enterprise systems. A strong ecosystem and community support the ongoing popularity of Java. Protecting Java applications is crucial due to their widespread use and the significant impact SSRF vulnerabilities can have on these systems.

The new Dynatrace capability integrates seamlessly into existing Java applications, providing continuous monitoring, detection, and protection—without requiring custom rules, code modifications, or additional network filtering.

Start protecting your critical applications

If you’re already a Dynatrace Application Security customer using Dynatrace Runtime Vulnerability Analytics (RVA) or Runtime Application Protection (RAP), visit Dynatrace Documentation to get started detecting SSRF vulnerabilities in your applications and protecting them against exploitation.

If you’re not a Dynatrace Application Security customer, contact us for a demo or check it out at Dynatrace Playground.

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