OWASP
The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) maintains a list of the top security risks for web applications, known as the OWASP Top Ten. This list is widely recognized in the industry and serves as a guide for organizations to enhance their web application security practices.
OWASP Top Ten security risks
| OWASP Top Ten Risks | Description | Mitigation Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Broken Access Control | Improperly configured access controls that allow unauthorized users to access restricted resources. | Use secure access control measures; implement role-based access control (RBAC/ABAC). |
| 2. Cryptographic Failures | Inadequate protection of sensitive data due to poor encryption practices or use of obsolete algorithms. | Use strong encryption protocols; manage cryptographic keys securely. |
| 3. Injection | Flaws that allow attackers to send untrusted data (e.g., SQL, NoSQL, command injections) to interpreters. | Use parameterized queries; validate and sanitize user inputs. |
| 4. Insecure Design | Lack of security design principles leading to vulnerabilities. | Apply security by design principles; threat modeling during development. |
| 5. Security Misconfiguration | Misconfigured security settings or unnecessary default options in applications/web servers. | Regularly review configurations; automate security configuration checks. |
| 6. Vulnerable and Outdated Components | Use of components (libraries, frameworks) that are outdated or known to have vulnerabilities. | Regularly update and patch components; use automated tools for dependency checking. |
| 7. Identification and Authentication(IAM) Failures | Issues with the identification and authentication processes, leading to unauthorized access. | Implement strong password policies; use multi-factor authentication (MFA). |
| 8. Software and Data Integrity Failures | Inadequate measures to protect the integrity of software and data from unauthorized modification or corruption. | Use code signing; implement integrity checks for data. |
| 9. Security Logging and Monitoring Failures | Lack of proper logging and monitoring that allows attackers to cover their tracks or misuse a system. | Implement comprehensive logging and alerting mechanisms; regularly review logs. |
| 10. Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) | Vulnerability that allows an attacker to send unauthorized requests from the server to internal resources. | Validate and sanitize all server-side requests; implement strict whitelisting. |
The OWASP Top Ten serves as an essential resource for understanding the most critical security risks to web applications, helping organizations prioritize their security efforts and implement effective mitigation strategies.