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Security BasicsDecember 28, 2023•15 min read

OWASP Top 10: What Every Developer Should Know

An overview of the OWASP Top 10 security risks and how automated scanning can help identify and mitigate them.

By zdelab Team

OWASP Top 10: What Every Developer Should Know


The OWASP Top 10 is a standard awareness document for developers and web application security. It represents a broad consensus about the most critical security risks to web applications. This guide provides an overview of each risk and how automated security scanning can help identify and mitigate them.


What is OWASP?


The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is a nonprofit foundation that works to improve software security. The OWASP Top 10 is updated periodically to reflect the current threat landscape.


OWASP Top 10 (2021)


1. Broken Access Control


What It Is:

Access control enforces policies preventing users from acting outside their intended permissions. Failures typically lead to unauthorized information disclosure, modification, or destruction.


Common Examples:

  • Bypassing access control checks
  • Privilege escalation
  • Insecure direct object references (IDOR)
  • Missing function-level access control

    • How to Prevent:

  • Implement proper authorization checks
  • Use access control frameworks
  • Deny by default
  • Log access control failures

    • Automated Detection:

    Security scanners can identify:

  • Missing authorization headers
  • Insecure API endpoints
  • Exposed sensitive data

    • 2. Cryptographic Failures


    What It Is:

    Previously called "Sensitive Data Exposure," this category focuses on failures related to cryptography (or lack thereof). This often leads to sensitive data exposure.


    Common Examples:

  • Weak encryption algorithms
  • Missing encryption for sensitive data
  • Insecure key management
  • Weak or default passwords

    • How to Prevent:

  • Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit
  • Use strong encryption algorithms
  • Properly manage encryption keys
  • Never store passwords in plain text

    • Automated Detection:

    Scanners can identify:

  • Missing HTTPS
  • Weak SSL/TLS configurations
  • Exposed sensitive data
  • Insecure password storage

    • 3. Injection


    What It Is:

    Injection flaws occur when untrusted data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query. Attackers can trick the interpreter into executing unintended commands.


    Common Types:

  • SQL Injection
  • NoSQL Injection
  • Command Injection
  • LDAP Injection
  • XPath Injection

    • How to Prevent:

  • Use parameterized queries
  • Input validation and sanitization
  • Use ORMs with built-in protection
  • Implement least privilege

    • Automated Detection:

    Scanners can test for:

  • SQL injection vulnerabilities
  • Command injection points
  • XSS vulnerabilities
  • Template injection

    • 4. Insecure Design


    What It Is:

    This is a new category focusing on risks related to design and architectural flaws. It emphasizes the importance of security in the design phase.


    Common Examples:

  • Missing security controls
  • Insecure default configurations
  • Weak authentication mechanisms
  • Insufficient threat modeling

    • How to Prevent:

  • Threat modeling
  • Secure design patterns
  • Security architecture reviews
  • Security by design principles

    • Automated Detection:

    Scanners can identify:

  • Missing security headers
  • Insecure configurations
  • Weak authentication
  • Design flaws

    • 5. Security Misconfiguration


    What It Is:

    Security misconfiguration is the most common issue. This can happen at any level of the application stack.


    Common Examples:

  • Default accounts and passwords
  • Unnecessary features enabled
  • Missing security headers
  • Insecure default configurations
  • Exposed error messages

    • How to Prevent:

  • Secure installation processes
  • Review security configurations
  • Implement security headers
  • Regular security audits
  • Automated configuration scanning

    • Automated Detection:

    This is where automated scanners excel:

  • Missing security headers
  • Default credentials
  • Exposed directories
  • Debug information leakage
  • Insecure configurations

    • 6. Vulnerable and Outdated Components


    What It Is:

    Using components with known vulnerabilities can compromise your application's security.


    Common Examples:

  • Outdated frameworks
  • Vulnerable libraries
  • Unpatched dependencies
  • Known CVEs in components

    • How to Prevent:

  • Keep dependencies updated
  • Remove unused dependencies
  • Monitor for vulnerabilities
  • Use dependency scanning tools

    • Automated Detection:

    Scanners can identify:

  • Outdated components
  • Known CVEs
  • Vulnerable dependencies
  • Security advisories

    • 7. Identification and Authentication Failures


    What It Is:

    Previously called "Broken Authentication," this category covers failures related to identification and authentication.


    Common Examples:

  • Weak passwords
  • Missing multi-factor authentication
  • Session management flaws
  • Credential stuffing
  • Weak password recovery

    • How to Prevent:

  • Implement strong password policies
  • Use multi-factor authentication
  • Secure session management
  • Implement account lockout
  • Secure password recovery

    • Automated Detection:

    Scanners can test for:

  • Weak authentication mechanisms
  • Session management issues
  • Password policy weaknesses
  • Missing MFA

    • 8. Software and Data Integrity Failures


    What It Is:

    This new category focuses on failures related to software updates, critical data, and CI/CD pipelines without proper integrity verification.


    Common Examples:

  • Insecure CI/CD pipelines
  • Unsigned software updates
  • Insecure deserialization
  • Supply chain attacks

    • How to Prevent:

  • Verify software integrity
  • Secure CI/CD pipelines
  • Use signed updates
  • Implement secure deserialization

    • Automated Detection:

    Scanners can identify:

  • Insecure update mechanisms
  • Missing integrity checks
  • Insecure deserialization
  • Pipeline vulnerabilities

    • 9. Security Logging and Monitoring Failures


    What It Is:

    Insufficient logging and monitoring make it difficult to detect and respond to security incidents.


    Common Examples:

  • Missing security event logging
  • Inadequate log monitoring
  • No alerting for suspicious activities
  • Insufficient log retention

    • How to Prevent:

  • Implement comprehensive logging
  • Monitor security events
  • Set up alerts
  • Retain logs appropriately
  • Use SIEM solutions

    • Automated Detection:

    Scanners can identify:

  • Missing security headers
  • Inadequate logging
  • Exposed log files
  • Monitoring gaps

    • 10. Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)


    What It Is:

    SSRF flaws occur when a web application fetches a remote resource without validating the user-supplied URL.


    Common Examples:

  • Unvalidated URL parameters
  • Internal network access
  • Cloud metadata API access
  • File inclusion vulnerabilities

    • How to Prevent:

  • Validate and sanitize URLs
  • Use allowlists for resources
  • Disable unnecessary URL schemes
  • Implement network segmentation

    • Automated Detection:

    Scanners can test for:

  • SSRF vulnerabilities
  • Internal network access
  • URL validation issues
  • File inclusion flaws

    • How Automated Scanning Helps


    Automated security scanning can help identify many of these risks:


    1. Configuration Issues: Missing headers, insecure settings

    2. Cryptographic Failures: SSL/TLS issues, weak encryption

    3. Security Misconfiguration: Default settings, exposed data

    4. Vulnerable Components: Outdated dependencies, known CVEs

    5. Injection Vulnerabilities: SQL injection, XSS, command injection


    Best Practices


    1. Regular Scanning: Scan your applications regularly

    2. Fix Critical Issues First: Prioritize high-severity findings

    3. Integrate into CI/CD: Automate security testing

    4. Stay Updated: Keep dependencies and frameworks updated

    5. Security Training: Educate your team on OWASP Top 10


    Conclusion


    Understanding the OWASP Top 10 is essential for every developer. By being aware of these risks and using automated security scanning tools, you can significantly improve your application's security posture.


    Remember:

  • Security is everyone's responsibility
  • Prevention is better than remediation
  • Regular scanning helps catch issues early
  • Stay informed about security best practices

    • Stay secure, build better!

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