OWASP Top 10

Introduction

The OWASP Top 10 for 2024 highlights the most critical web application security risks. Here's a summary of each:

1. Broken Access Control

This remains the top vulnerability, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data through improper access control mechanisms. Effective mitigation includes role-based authentication and least-privilege approaches.

2. Cryptographic Failures:

Previously known as Sensitive Data Exposure, this involves improper cryptography, exposing sensitive data. Proper encryption protocols and key management are essential to mitigate this risk.

3. Injection:

This category includes SQL, NoSQL, and command injections, where malicious data is injected into a web application. Input validation, safe APIs, and intrusion detection systems are key defenses.

4. Insecure Design:

Vulnerabilities arise from inadequate security design in applications. Secure design principles, threat modeling, and secure development lifecycle practices are recommended to prevent such issues.

5. Security Misconfiguration:

This is common due to default settings, unnecessary features, and lack of security updates. Regular configuration reviews and using preconfigured templates can mitigate this risk.

6. Vulnerable and Outdated Components:

Using outdated or vulnerable software components can compromise application security. Regular updates and using trusted sources for components are essential preventive measures.

7. Identification and Authentication Failures:

Weak authentication mechanisms can lead to unauthorized access. Implementing multi-factor authentication and strong password policies can mitigate these vulnerabilities.

8. Software and Data Integrity Failures:

This occurs when software updates or data integrity are not properly verified, potentially allowing malicious updates. Digital signatures and using trusted repositories can help prevent such issues.

9. Security Logging and Monitoring Failures:

Inadequate logging and monitoring can delay breach detection. Implementing comprehensive logging and real-time monitoring is crucial for quick breach detection and response.

10. Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF):

This involves exploiting a web application to access internal resources. Input validation and strict network policies can mitigate SSRF vulnerabilities.