The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) identified the OWASP Top 10 as one of the top ten most critical security risks for web applications. It serves as a guide to help developers, security professionals, and organizations understand and address the most common and impactful vulnerabilities in web applications.
The OWASP Top 10 list is periodically updated to reflect the changing threat landscape and emerging security risks. The list includes brief descriptions of each vulnerability alongside examples and mitigation techniques. Organizations can prioritize their security efforts and allocate resources effectively to protect their web applications by focusing on the Top 10.
The OWASP Top 10 is a widely recognized and respected list of the most critical web application security risks. It advises developers, security professionals, and organizations on the most common and significant web application vulnerabilities. The OWASP Top 10 is updated regularly to reflect the changing threat landscape and technological advancements.
The list is regularly updated to reflect the changing threat landscape and emerging security risks. The OWASP Top 10 is the most recent version, as of our knowledge, as of September 2021.
Here is a brief overview of OWASP Top 10 and Its Relation to Web Security
Injection in OWASP Top 10 –
SQL, NoSQL, OS, or LDAP injection are vulnerabilities that allow an attacker to inject malicious code into a web application. Attackers can manipulate the application’s data or execute unauthorized commands by exploiting these flaws.
Broken Authentication
This category includes authentication and session management vulnerabilities such as weak passwords, session hijacking, and improper authentication credential handling. Attackers can use these flaws to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
Sensitive Data Exposure
It refers to flaws in which sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal information, is not adequately secure. Attackers can use these flaws to gain access to and steal sensitive data.
Security Misconfiguration
It refers to flaws caused by insecure configuration settings such as default passwords, error messages that reveal sensitive information, or unused and exposed files or APIs. Attackers can misuse these misconfigurations to gain unauthorized access or data for future attacks access to and steal sensitive data.
XML External Entities (XXE)
This category involves vulnerabilities that allow attackers to exploit XML parsers and gain unauthorized access to files or internal resources. XXE attacks can lead to information disclosure, server-side request forgery, or a denial of service.
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Broken Access Control in OWASP Top 10
It refers to vulnerabilities that allow users to access unauthorized functionalities or data. It can occur due to inadequate enforcement of user permissions, direct object references, or insecure direct object references.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Vulnerabilities in this category allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. XSS attacks can result in the theft of user information, session hijacking, or website defacement.
Insecure Deserialization
It refers to flaws arising when an application deserializes untrusted data without performing proper validation. Attackers can use this to execute arbitrary code, launch denial-of-service attacks, or tamper with data.
Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities
This category refers to using outdated or vulnerable software components within web applications, such as libraries or frameworks. Attackers can compromise the application’s security by exploiting known vulnerabilities in these components.
Logging and Monitoring Insufficient in OWASP Top 10
It involves flaws caused by a lack of proper logging and monitoring mechanisms. It’s getting challenging to detect and react to security incidents, such as attacks or illegal access, without adequate logging and monitoring.
Moreover, The OWASP Top 10 list prioritizes common web application security risks, assisting organizations in identifying and addressing the most critical vulnerabilities. Developers and security professionals can build more secure web applications and reduce the risk of exploitation by attackers by following OWASP’s recommendations and best practices.