Software development is essential in a world where nearly everything and everyone is connected to the internet, as well as for the success of modern enterprises. In today’s digital age, applications exist for almost every need, and with the swift growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) paired with the constantly advancing app market, companies are eager to be the pioneers in launching innovative software.
In this highly competitive landscape, where new releases happen on a daily basis, companies often emphasize speed. Reports show that in 2019, 38% of developers were rolling out updates on a monthly basis, or even more often.
However, this emphasis on speed can sometimes leave security as an afterthought. In the software release cycle, security is often considered the final step. With security teams brought in at the last minute, they have limited time to review the app and conduct security tests. If vulnerabilities are found, there is little time to fix them without delaying the strict release deadlines.
Fortunately, while security used to be an afterthought in the development process, it is now becoming more of a priority as apps become more widely accessible and, consequently, more prone to various types of cyber threats. Many organizations are recognizing the importance of application security and are adopting programs specifically designed for it, known as AppSec.
That said, AppSec is often misunderstood. Companies may either be unsure where to begin or lack the right technology to implement an effective security program.
Given that many AppSec programs are not yet mature enough to identify and address security risks properly, having a reliable resource to assist with this is invaluable. One such resource is OWASP.
What is OWASP Cyber Security?
The Open Web Application Security Project, or OWASP, is a non-profit, open-source initiative and community committed to supporting businesses, developers, and anyone seeking to advance application security (AppSec) in order to improve the safety of their software and build more secure applications.
Founded in 2001, OWASP is a recognized leader in the AppSec field and the developer community. The organization operates a global network of 275 local chapters, offers numerous open-source projects, and hosts educational and training events. With over 10,000 members worldwide, OWASP encourages active participation from individuals and organizations alike.
OWASP’s credibility and usefulness to both novice and seasoned developers stem from its commitment to its foundational principles. These principles ensure that all of OWASP’s projects, resources, tools, and documentation are freely available to anyone wanting to learn about securing applications.
Engaging with OWASP’s initiatives and local chapters not only provides valuable educational opportunities but also offers a chance to connect with others in the field and enhance your professional reputation. For example, we had the opportunity to speak with Tanya Janca, who led an OWASP chapter in Ottawa, and we recommend listening to her firsthand account of her experience.
Although OWASP is perhaps best known for its OWASP Top 10 project, which highlights the most common web application security vulnerabilities, this is just a fraction of what OWASP offers. Let’s dive deeper into their various projects and take a closer look at the key web application security risks they address.
Understanding the OWASP Top 10: Key Web Application Security Risks
At the heart of OWASP’s initiatives lies its most recognized project: the OWASP Top 10. This resource offers organizations, developers, and consumers an overview of the most significant vulnerabilities affecting web applications, detailing their potential risks, impacts, and strategies for mitigation.
The list is revised every three to four years by a global team of cybersecurity experts. The OWASP Top 10 serves as an invaluable tool to help organizations identify and reduce cyber risks, ensuring they are better equipped to handle potential threats. The latest version, published in 2021, introduces several updates: three new categories, four categories with altered names and broader scopes, and some consolidation of existing categories compared to the 2017 edition.
So, what exactly are these ten critical web application security risks? Let’s explore them in detail.
A Critical Vulnerability
Broken access control has risen to the top of the list, moving from its previous position at number five. OWASP research revealed that the 34 common weakness enumerations (CWEs) related to broken access control were more frequently found in applications than any other vulnerability type.
Access control is a system designed to determine which tasks and actions users are permitted to perform and restricts what they can view. When this system is improperly implemented, attackers can bypass authentication protocols, enabling them to carry out unauthorized actions or access sensitive information from other users.
The vulnerability of broken access control typically arises from the absence of automated detection methods and mechanisms that ensure users’ rights and privileges are appropriately isolated.
To prevent broken access control, it’s crucial to implement robust access control mechanisms throughout the application, disable directory listing on web servers, log all access control failures, enforce two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) at every access point, deactivate inactive user accounts, and remove unnecessary services from your server.
Risks and Mitigation Strategies
Previously referred to as Sensitive Data Exposure—a symptom rather than the fundamental issue—Cryptographic Failures addresses the vulnerabilities linked to cryptographic techniques that frequently result in the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and the compromise of systems.
Confidential data in applications—like user login details, personal identification information (PII), financial records, health-related information, and others—must be properly secured and encrypted. Yet, numerous web applications fail to sufficiently protect this data, leaving it vulnerable in an unencrypted format. Without proper encryption, attackers can access, alter, steal, or sell this information, often executing a man-in-the-middle attack.
The primary cause of cryptographic breakdowns is the failure to adequately safeguard and encode confidential data. At a minimum, this risk can be reduced by identifying sensitive data, categorizing all data the application manages (whether it’s stored, processed, or transferred), ensuring that data is encrypted both when stored and while in transit, employing effective key management practices, restricting the storage of sensitive data to only what’s essential, and preventing the caching of such data.
Common OWASP Top 10 Example
Injection vulnerabilities have dropped from the top spot to third place, and notably, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), which was previously categorized separately, is now included under the broader Injection category.
Injection flaws occur when an attacker sends malicious or untrusted data to a program, which then gets processed by a code interpreter as part of a command or query. This allows the attacker to execute unintended commands, altering the normal function of the program. Injection attacks happen when an application takes input from a user and directly passes it to a database or server without properly validating it, enabling harmful execution. SQL injection is the most common form of this vulnerability, though NoSQL, OS, and LDAP injections are also prevalent.
Injection vulnerabilities are particularly perilous due to the vast attack surface—essentially, any form of data input can be exploited. The potential impact includes severe consequences such as data loss, theft, denial of service, corruption of data integrity, or even total system compromise.
To prevent injection attacks, it is essential to conduct input validation, reject suspicious data, ensure commands and queries are separated from data, and restrict and control the permissions granted to database accounts used by applications.
However, it may be that somewhere on your site there is already a vulnerability that you have not noticed. Or you are a bug bounty hunter and want to find injections as part of your work. In order to passively detect input forms and potentially vulnerable pages, you can use IoT search engines. For example, Netlas. This is what a request designed to find one of the possible types of input forms would look like:
uri:*home.php\?*By combining different requests and creating your own, you can detect either injections themselves or product pages that are already vulnerable to them.
A Major Security Flaw
Insecure Design is a recently added category in the 2021 update, emphasizing risks linked to design and architectural weaknesses. This change mirrors the increasing demand within the community to move past the “shift-left” mentality in software development and prioritize secure design principles early in the development process, even before the coding stage.
This category covers a wide range of issues related to ineffective or absent design controls. While it has sparked some debate within the information security community due to its broad nature, with some questioning whether it should be grouped with other Top 10 risks rather than standing as a separate category, OWASP maintains that insecure design is not the root cause of other vulnerabilities.
A key contributor to insecure design is the failure to assess the business risks associated with the software being developed. To ensure security, software must be built with a secure development lifecycle, a well-defined design pattern, a protected component library, and effective threat modeling.
To mitigate this risk, it’s essential to involve AppSec teams early in the process to evaluate and implement security controls. This includes the use of threat modeling, strong access control mechanisms, business logic validation, limiting resource consumption by users or services, conducting integration tests to assess critical workflows, and continuously validating their resistance to identified threats.
Preventing Common Mistakes
Security Misconfiguration retains its name but has moved up in ranking. In the 2021 update, the previously separate category “XML External Entities” is now integrated into security misconfiguration.
Security misconfiguration is one of the most prevalent vulnerabilities listed by OWASP. It occurs when an application has unresolved flaws, lacks sufficient security hardening across its entire stack, or has improperly configured permissions. This can also involve enabling unnecessary features (like unused ports), leaving default accounts with unchanged credentials, or displaying overly detailed error messages that expose vulnerabilities in the application.
Misconfigurations can arise at any level of the application stack, including network services, platforms, web servers, application servers, databases, frameworks, custom code, pre-installed virtual machines, containers, and storage systems.
Attackers commonly exploit these misconfigurations by targeting unpatched vulnerabilities, attempting to access default accounts, or gathering information from error messages to gain unauthorized entry. This can ultimately lead to a full system compromise.
To avoid security misconfigurations, it’s essential to disable unnecessary features and frameworks, regularly update configurations, incorporate patch management practices, and implement automated verification to ensure that configurations are effective. Additionally, ensure that error messages provide only generic information, avoiding exposure of sensitive details.
Risks to Avoid
In the previous OWASP version, this category was labeled “Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities,” but it has risen notably from its former ninth position.
This security risk pertains to the use of components, such as libraries, frameworks, and other software modules, that hold the same privileges as the core application. When these components contain known vulnerabilities, attackers can exploit them to carry out an attack. Many developers rely on third-party components, which are frequently updated with security patches. However, developers often neglect to apply these updates, leaving applications exposed. As a result, attackers can exploit a single flaw in one component, affecting potentially hundreds or thousands of websites using that same component. A common example of this is seen in WordPress, where website hacks are frequently traced back to outdated themes or plugins, which were not updated after security patches were issued, rendering the entire site vulnerable.
To mitigate this risk, it’s critical to implement a robust patch management system, remove unnecessary features, components, files, and documentation, and regularly audit the components in use. It is equally important to apply updates and patches promptly, and to ensure that only components from trusted, reliable sources are incorporated into the application.
Addressing OWASP Recommendations
Previously referred to as “Broken Authentication,” this risk category has dropped significantly in the rankings, moving down from second place, due to the wider adoption of standardized frameworks.
Flaws and improper configurations in authentication systems can allow malicious actors to impersonate authorized users by exploiting compromised credentials, cryptographic keys, or session tokens.With access to just a few accounts, or even a single administrator account, an attacker could take control of the entire system.
Common attack methods include brute-force attacks, credential stuffing, dictionary tools, and session management exploits. These threats present considerable dangers to organizations, resulting in outcomes like data leaks, identity theft, financial crimes, illicit use of accounts, and other serious repercussions.
To mitigate this risk, businesses should implement two-factor (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA), avoid using default credentials for administrator accounts, enforce a robust password policy (which should include complexity requirements, password change frequency, and restrictions on failed login attempts), and adopt a secure session management system that generates a new, random session ID for each session.
Protecting Critical Assets
Software and Data Integrity Failures is a newly introduced category in the 2021 OWASP Top 10. This risk area focuses on issues related to software updates, critical data, and CI/CD pipelines that lack proper integrity verification. It also incorporates the former category of “Insecure Deserialization.”
One example of risks in this category is the reliance of applications on plugins, libraries, and modules from untrusted or insecure sources. Additionally, insecure CI/CD pipelines can lead to unauthorized access and the injection of malicious code.
To mitigate these risks, it is essential to use libraries and dependencies only from reliable, secure sources, and to regularly check for known vulnerabilities in any components used. Ensuring that CI/CD pipelines are properly segmented, configured, and protected with access controls is another critical measure. Furthermore, unencrypted data should never be transmitted to untrusted clients without implementing integrity checks, such as digital signatures, to confirm that the data has not been tampered with.
How to Avoid Oversights
Previously known as “Insufficient Logging & Monitoring,” the Security Logging and Monitoring Failures category has risen from the 10th and final position in the OWASP Top 10 list. This category now encompasses a broader range of failures that can negatively impact system visibility, incident tracking, and digital forensics.
Did you know that it takes over 200 days, on average, to detect a data breach? This lengthy detection window means attackers can stay hidden within a system for an extended period, causing significant damage. Such breaches occur when security events are not adequately logged or monitored. Without proper tracking and communication to the incident response team, security alerts go unaddressed, leaving attackers the freedom to alter, steal, or even erase critical data. A lack of effective logging and monitoring also facilitates data breaches and advanced persistent threats, which are among the most severe forms of cyber attacks.
To safeguard against these vulnerabilities, it’s essential to implement comprehensive logging and monitoring systems. Ensuring that all logs are contextualized for easier detection of malicious activities, and establishing a dedicated Security Operations Center (SOC) team, are effective measures to prevent this type of security risk.
A Growing Threat
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) is a newly introduced risk in the OWASP Top 10, following its rise to prominence in the community survey, where it was voted the number one concern. SSRF refers to a vulnerability that allows an attacker to manipulate a web server into sending requests to unintended destinations, potentially bypassing security mechanisms like firewalls, VPNs, and other access controls.
To mitigate the risks posed by SSRF, OWASP suggests several preventive measures. These include disabling unnecessary HTTP redirections, thoroughly sanitizing all incoming data from clients, logging both accepted and blocked network traffic, and isolating remote resource access functionality within separate network segments to minimize potential damage.
Top 5 OWASP Projects and Tools to Enhance Security
As we’ve highlighted, the OWASP Top 10 list of web application security risks is their most recognized initiative, but OWASP offers many other valuable projects as well. With so many flagship, lab, and incubator projects to choose from, it was a challenge to narrow it down. However, we’ve selected our top 5 OWASP projects that stand out for their contribution to improving security (apart from the Top 10, of course).
A Powerful Tool for Cybersecurity: Amass
Amass is an open-source tool designed for DNS enumeration, external asset discovery, and attack surface mapping. It assists cybersecurity experts in conducting network mapping and uncovering external assets through various information-gathering techniques, including active reconnaissance.
We’ve recently published an in-depth blog post exploring all the essential features and finer details of Amass. We highly recommend checking it out to gain a comprehensive understanding of why this tool is an indispensable part of your security toolkit.
Best Practices for Security: Cheat Sheet Series
The OWASP Cheat Sheet Series serves as a highly valuable tool for both developers and security experts. It provides clear, actionable advice on top security practices across a wide range of application security concerns. The concise nature of the guide ensures that while it doesn’t delve deeply into complex details, it equips developers with the essential recommendations they need to implement security measures quickly and efficiently.
Some of the core security topics addressed in the Cheat Sheet Series include:
- Evaluating attack surfaces
- Establishing robust content security policies (CSP)
- Mitigating cross-site request forgery (CSRF) risks
- Strengthening database security
- Protecting against denial-of-service (DoS) threats
- Implementing comprehensive logging strategies
- Managing user session security effectively
- Using virtual patching for vulnerable components
- Ensuring proper XML security
- Enhancing authentication mechanisms
- Safeguarding sensitive data storage
By following these practical guidelines, developers and security teams can significantly improve the security posture of their applications.
Protecting User Data: Top 10 Privacy Risks
The OWASP Top 10 Privacy Risks Project offers an essential list of privacy threats and concerns within web applications, coupled with practical countermeasures. This initiative is designed to assist developers in integrating privacy protections during the application design process and provide insights into the broader consequences of mishandling personal data.
By addressing privacy risks early in the development lifecycle, the project encourages organizations to adopt secure design principles and safeguard user privacy effectively. This is increasingly important as privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA gain traction, making data protection a top priority for businesses globally.
Here are the 10 key privacy risks identified by OWASP for web applications, along with additional insights:
- Web Application Vulnerabilities
Web apps that lack proper security controls expose users’ personal data to attacks. These vulnerabilities could result in unauthorized access, leading to data theft or breaches.
- Operator-Sided Data Leakage
When web application operators mishandle or inadvertently leak data, users’ privacy is compromised. This includes failure to properly secure backup data, unintentional sharing of sensitive information, or even storing it in insecure locations.
- Insufficient Data Breach Response
A slow or ineffective response to a data breach can exacerbate the damage. Organizations must have a well-defined breach response plan, including notifying affected users, fixing vulnerabilities, and reporting to authorities promptly.
- Inadequate Deletion of Personal Data
Not properly deleting personal data after it is no longer needed can lead to unauthorized access or exposure. Effective data lifecycle management includes secure deletion of sensitive data when it is no longer required.
- Non-Transparent Policies, Terms, and Conditions
Users must be able to clearly understand how their data is being used, stored, and shared. Ambiguous or overly complex privacy policies can undermine trust and expose organizations to regulatory penalties.
- Collection of Data Not Required for the Primary Purpose
Collecting excessive amounts of personal data without a legitimate business need increases privacy risks. Organizations should minimize data collection to only what is necessary for the intended purpose.
- Sharing of Data with Third Parties
Data shared with third parties should be done with clear user consent and proper safeguards. Any third-party service or vendor must also adhere to privacy standards and protect the data they handle.
- Outdated Personal Data
Storing outdated or incorrect personal information can harm users and lead to regulatory non-compliance. Regular updates and data cleansing are essential to ensure data accuracy.
- Missing or Insufficient Session Expiration
Failing to properly expire sessions can allow unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive information. It’s crucial to implement session timeouts and automatic logout mechanisms to minimize this risk.
- Insecure Data Transfer
Transmitting personal data without encryption or over unsecured channels exposes it to interception. All sensitive data should be transmitted over secure, encrypted connections, such as HTTPS or SSL/TLS.
By addressing these privacy risks, organizations can better protect user data, build trust with their customers, and comply with data protection regulations. Regular security audits, user education, and implementing privacy by design principles are key to ensuring robust privacy protection in web applications.
Securing IoT Devices: Top 10 Internet of Things Project
The OWASP Internet of Things (IoT) Project provides another valuable resource in the fight against cyber threats, specifically tailored to the rapidly growing field of IoT. As the proliferation of connected devices accelerates, so does the need for robust security measures to protect against vulnerabilities inherent in these technologies.
Given the unprecedented growth of IoT, which has significantly expanded the attack surface, this project was developed to help manufacturers, developers, and consumers identify the unique security risks associated with IoT devices. The guide offers practical recommendations for designing and deploying more secure IoT technologies and reducing potential threats.
The OWASP IoT project encompasses various sub-projects, with the most notable being the OWASP Top 10 IoT Vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities highlight the most pressing security challenges faced by IoT devices and outline essential areas for improvement.
The following are the top 10 vulnerabilities in IoT devices identified by OWASP:
- Weak, Predictable, or Hardcoded Passwords
Many IoT devices are vulnerable due to weak, easily guessable, or hardcoded passwords. It’s critical to enforce robust password policies and avoid default credentials to enhance security.
- Unprotected Network Services
IoT devices often have open network services that lack proper security measures. Ensuring these services are encrypted and protected with strict access controls is vital to avoid unauthorized entry.
- Insecure Communication Interfaces
The connections between IoT devices, cloud platforms, and mobile applications often lack sufficient security. Securing API endpoints, implementing proper authentication protocols, and input validation are essential to protect these interfaces from exploitation.
- Absence of Secure Update Mechanisms
Devices that lack a secure way to update their software are at greater risk of exploitation. It is crucial to establish secure, authenticated update processes that can address emerging vulnerabilities in a timely manner.
- Use of Outdated or Vulnerable Software and Hardware
Many IoT devices rely on outdated or unsupported components, which can expose them to known security vulnerabilities. Regular patching and the use of up-to-date, supported components are necessary to maintain security.
- Inadequate Privacy Protections
IoT devices often collect vast amounts of personal information but fail to implement adequate privacy safeguards. Ensuring proper encryption, anonymization, and user consent management are essential to protecting user privacy.
- Unsecured Data Transmission and Storage
Data transmitted by IoT devices is frequently sent without encryption, making it susceptible to interception. Securing communication channels (such as TLS) and encrypting stored data are vital to safeguarding sensitive user information.
- Poor Device Management
Ineffective device management practices can leave IoT devices open to security vulnerabilities. A centralized, secure management system should be implemented to monitor, configure, and control devices effectively.
- Insecure Factory Settings
Many IoT devices come with insecure factory settings, such as open ports or weak security configurations. These settings should be modified during the initial setup to reduce the risk of exploitation.
- Lack of Physical Security Measures
IoT devices often miss essential physical protections, making them vulnerable to unauthorized interference or entry. Implementing secure boot mechanisms, tamper-proof hardware, and durable protective housings is crucial to prevent breaches in physical security.
The forthcoming update to the OWASP IoT project was scheduled for 2020. We are eager to discover whether new security vulnerabilities or optimal practices will be introduced, especially as IoT technology continues to advance rapidly.
By addressing these flaws and adhering to the security protocols outlined in the OWASP Top 10 IoT project, manufacturers and developers can significantly reduce the likelihood of their IoT devices being compromised.
Automated Security Testing Tool: ZAP
OWASP Zed Attack Proxy, commonly known as OWASP ZAP, is a widely-used, open-source web application security testing tool. Recognized as one of the top OWASP Projects, ZAP is often referred to as “the most popular free web security tool globally,” making it an essential inclusion in any list of top security resources.
Designed to support users of all experience levels, ZAP is ideal for newcomers to penetration testing as well as seasoned developers and security experts. Essentially, ZAP functions as a “man-in-the-middle proxy,” enabling users to intercept and modify the traffic between a web browser and a web application. This capability allows for detailed inspection and manipulation of data packets before they are forwarded to their destination.
ZAP excels at detecting security flaws in web applications during both development and testing phases, making it a valuable tool for manual and automated security assessments. Its core features include an intercepting proxy server, an automated vulnerability scanner, a passive scanner, a brute force scanner, a fuzzer, a port scanner, web socket support, and a REST API.
Overall, OWASP ZAP is an indispensable tool for anyone looking to enhance their web application security. It enables developers and security experts to pinpoint key weaknesses, strengthen their applications, and guarantee they remain protected from evolving risks.
Honorable Mention: OWASP WebGoat for Learning and Testing
Earlier, we highlighted OWASP WebGoat in our article about the best vulnerable websites for penetration testing and ethical hacking practice. However, due to its value as a powerful educational tool, we felt it deserved an honorable mention in this list.
OWASP WebGoat is an intentionally insecure web application designed to provide a “safe” environment where developers can explore and understand common vulnerabilities in server-side applications, particularly those built with Java. This project serves as a practical, hands-on platform for individuals who want to learn and practice penetration testing techniques while adhering to legal and ethical standards.
WebGoat features a series of guided lessons, each focusing on a particular security vulnerability, allowing users to not only discover the flaw but also learn how to exploit it in a controlled setting. This makes it an ideal tool for anyone seeking to develop their understanding of application security.
Some of the common vulnerabilities you can find and learn about in OWASP WebGoat include:
- Cache Poisoning: Manipulating cached data to deceive or attack a system.
- SQL Injection: Exploiting weak database queries to execute arbitrary SQL commands.
- Trojan Horse Attacks: Introducing malicious software that masquerades as legitimate programs.
- Spyware: Malware that secretly gathers user data.
- Unicode Encoding Issues: Exploiting character encoding vulnerabilities in input validation.
WebGoat is an excellent resource for security professionals looking to enhance their skills and deepen their understanding of real-world vulnerabilities. If you’re looking to explore more platforms with intentionally insecure applications for training purposes, be sure to check out our post on top ethical hacking websites. It’s an invaluable resource for anyone committed to learning and improving their penetration testing abilities.
Summary: Applying OWASP Recommendations for Effective Web Security
OWASP is a highly regarded organization, not only within the Application Security (AppSec) community but also across the broader cybersecurity field. This reputation is well-deserved, as their principles foster an inclusive environment that encourages the sharing of knowledge while ensuring that resources remain free and accessible to all who are committed to building secure software.
While the OWASP Top 10 list of web application security risks is essential for developers and AppSec teams to keep at hand, it’s important not to overlook the organization’s other valuable projects. Many of these were not covered in this post, but we look forward to exploring them in future articles.
One thing is clear: OWASP plays a crucial role in enhancing the security of the internet, making it safer for users and organizations alike, every single day!