What is the OWASP Top Ten?
The OWASP Top Ten is a widely recognized list that outlines the most critical security risks to web applications. Managed by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), this list serves as a guideline for developers and security professionals to improve application security.
1. Injection Flaws
Injection attacks occur when untrusted data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query.
2. Broken Authentication
This risk involves poorly implemented authentication mechanisms leading to unauthorized access.
3. Sensitive Data Exposure
Web applications can unintentionally expose sensitive data if proper protection measures aren’t in place.
4. XML External Entities (XXE)
XXE vulnerabilities arise from poorly configured XML parsers, which can lead to sensitive information exposure.
5. Broken Access Control
Inadequate enforcement of user permissions allows attackers to bypass restrictions.
6. Security Misconfiguration
This category stems from default configurations and incomplete setups, which can leave applications vulnerable.
7. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
XSS vulnerabilities enable attackers to inject scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
8. Insecure Deserialization
Insecure deserialization can lead to remote code execution attacks.
9. Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities
Many applications rely on third-party libraries that can have known security vulnerabilities.
10. Insufficient Logging & Monitoring
Failure to log important activities can hinder incident response and post-attack analysis.
Understanding the OWASP Top Ten helps organizations prioritize security measures and enhance their overall security posture against web application threats.