Although the Peqi WAF plays a crucial role in preventing attacks, it's important to recognize its limitations. One of the main ones is that it's not designed to "clean up" sites that have already been compromised or contain malicious code.
The WAF cannot
Remove existing malware: If a site has already been compromised and contains malware, the WAF does not have the capability to remove this malicious code. Malware removal requires a detailed investigation of the site, identification of the malicious code, and its safe elimination.
Fix vulnerabilities in the application code: The WAF can protect against the exploitation of vulnerabilities, but it does not correct the underlying flaws in the application code. It is essential to fix vulnerabilities at the code level to ensure long-term security.
Prevent automatic reinfections: Without resolving the vulnerability that allowed the initial attack, a site remains susceptible to reinfections. The WAF can help block future attacks, but it does not replace the need to fix the root cause.