Last Updated on February 21, 2024 by Arnav Sharma

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is a non-profit organization that focuses on improving the security of web applications. As a part of their mission, they have developed a list of the top 10 most critical web application security risks, known as the OWASP Top 10.

The OWASP Top 10 serves as a comprehensive guide to help organizations identify and mitigate the most prevalent security risks. By understanding these risks, developers, security professionals, and business owners can take proactive measures to protect their web applications and the sensitive data they handle.

Overview of the OWASP Top 10 list

This list serves as a guide for developers, security professionals, and organizations to understand and prioritize the most critical web application security risks. By familiarizing yourself with the OWASP Top 10, you can take proactive steps to mitigate these risks and protect your web applications from potential vulnerabilities.

The OWASP Top 10 list is updated periodically to reflect the evolving threat landscape and emerging security risks. It provides a concise and focused overview of the most prevalent vulnerabilities that attackers commonly exploit. These vulnerabilities include issues such as injection attacks, broken authentication and session management, cross-site scripting (XSS), insecure direct object references, security misconfigurations, and more.

Understanding the OWASP Top 10 list is crucial for anyone involved in the development or management of web applications. By addressing these vulnerabilities in the early stages of the software development lifecycle, you can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and other security incidents.

In the upcoming sections, we will dive into each of the vulnerabilities outlined in the OWASP Top 10 previously, exploring their impact, potential attack vectors, and best practices for mitigation. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of these ten categories of common web application security risks, you will be better equipped to protect your applications and the sensitive data they handle.

A01:2021 – Broken Access Control

• New Description:  This category now has a higher occurrence rate, indicating more frequent issues in applications. Broken Access Control happens when restrictions on what authenticated users are allowed to do are not properly implemented. This can include failures in enforcing policies for access control, allowing users to perform tasks beyond their permissions, such as accessing other users’ data, modifying content, or using privileged functions without proper authorization.
• Old Description: Not directly mentioned, but aspects were possibly covered under other categories like Broken Authentication.
• Impact: Data breaches, unauthorized actions, privilege escalation.

A02:2021 – Cryptographic Failures

• New Description:  Previously focused on sensitive data exposure, the renewed emphasis is on failures related to cryptography. This includes improper implementation of encryption algorithms, failure to encrypt data, and misuse of encryption keys. It also encompasses weak cryptographic practices, such as using outdated or insecure algorithms, and exposes data to risks like eavesdropping or data breaches.
• Old Description: Sensitive Data Exposure – improper handling, storage, or transmission of sensitive information.
• Impact: Exposure of sensitive data like credentials and financial information.

A03:2021 – Injection

• New Description: Injection flaws, now including Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), cover a range of vulnerabilities where untrusted data sent to an interpreter can lead to unauthorized command execution. SQL injection, script injection, and command injection are prominent examples. This flaw arises from an improper input validation form of misconfiguration and can result in data theft, corruption, and loss of integrity when data is sent.
• Old Description: Primarily focused on SQL and Command Injection vulnerabilities.
• Impact: Data theft, loss of data integrity, unauthorized system access.

A04:2021 – Insecure Design

• New Description: A new entry focusing on design-level issues in software. Insecure design encompasses a lack of adequate security controls or considerations during the design phase of software development. It advocates for proactive security measures like threat modeling, use of secure design patterns and principles, and referring to architectures without verifying integrity to mitigate potential risks.
• Old Description: No direct equivalent in the older list.
• Impact: Systemic vulnerabilities in applications, susceptible to various attacks.

A05:2021 – Security Misconfiguration

• New Description: This risk is related to improper implementation of security settings or configurations at various levels in the application stack. It includes issues like misconfigured HTTP headers, incomplete or insecure default configurations, open cloud storage, verbose error messages containing sensitive information, and unnecessary services running on the machine.
• Old Description: Default configurations, outdated software, unnecessary services.
• Impact: Easy access for attackers to private data or functionalities.

A06:2021 – Vulnerable and Outdated Components

• New Description:  This focuses on the risks associated with using outdated or vulnerable third-party components, such as libraries or frameworks. It highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date components, understanding the security posture of third-party dependencies, and removing unused dependencies and unnecessary features.
• Old Description: Using components with known vulnerabilities.
• Impact: Severe data breaches and system takeovers.

A07:2021 – Identification and Authentication Failures

• New Description: This item encompasses failures in the authentication and identification mechanisms of an application. It includes concerns like weak password policies, poorly implemented multi-factor authentication, credential stuffing attacks, and inadequate session management, which can lead to account takeovers and unauthorized access.
• Old Description: Broken Authentication and Session Management, focusing on weak passwords and improper session management.
• Impact: Unauthorized access and impersonation of legitimate users.

A08:2021 – Software and Data Integrity Failures

• New Description: This new category emphasizes the importance of ensuring integrity in software updates, critical data, and CI/CD pipelines. It involves risks like trusting software that has not been properly validated for integrity, assuming the data and software are not tampered with, and failing to check the source and integrity of third-party code, libraries, and data.
• Old Description: No direct equivalent, though aspects of data integrity could have been part of Sensitive Data Exposure.
• Impact: Remote code execution, data corruption, unauthorized actions.

A09:2021 – Security Logging and Monitoring Failures

• New Description: Encompasses a broader range of monitoring and logging failures than its predecessor. It highlights the lack of adequate logging of security events, insufficient monitoring of security logs, and ineffective or non-existent incident response and alerting. These failures can significantly delay the detection and response to a security breach.
• Old Description: Insufficient Logging & Monitoring.
• Impact: Delays in breach detection, increased severity of incidents.

A10:2021 – Server-Side Request Forgery

• New Description:  This category addresses the risk where a web application is manipulated to send forged requests to internal systems or external websites. SSRF can enable attackers to bypass firewalls, access internal services, and perform unauthorized actions by exploiting the trust relationships that the server has with other systems.
• Old Description: No direct equivalent in the older list.
• Impact: Unauthorized access to internal systems, information disclosure, potentially remote code execution, and unauthorized use of remote resource.

Tools and techniques for identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities

One commonly used tool is a web application vulnerability scanner. These scanners automate the process of scanning and identifying potential vulnerabilities in your web application. They can detect common vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and insecure direct object references. By regularly scanning your application using these tools, you can stay ahead of potential threats, identify vulnerabilities, and take appropriate measures to fix them before they can be exploited.

Another technique to identify vulnerabilities is manual code review. This involves a thorough examination of your application’s source code to identify potential security weaknesses. Manual code review allows for a deeper understanding of the application’s architecture and logic, enabling you to identify vulnerabilities that automated tools might miss. It is a time-consuming process but can provide invaluable insights into the security of your application.

In addition to scanning tools and manual code review, penetration testing is another important technique for identifying vulnerabilities. Penetration testing involves simulating real-world attacks on your application to identify security weaknesses. This can be done by hiring professional ethical hackers to test your application’s security or by having your web application fetch a remote resource during internal security assessments. Penetration testing can help uncover vulnerabilities that may not be easily detectable through automated scanning tools or code review alone.

Furthermore, staying updated with security advisories and patches is crucial for addressing vulnerabilities. Organizations like OWASP regularly release security advisories and provide guidance on how to mitigate common web application security risks. By keeping track of these advisories and promptly applying patches or implementing recommended security measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of your web application being compromised.

FAQ: OWASP Top 10 2021

Q: What is the OWASP Top 10?

The OWASP Top 10 is a list of the most critical security risks to web applications as identified by the OWASP Foundation. It includes a variety of vulnerabilities such as injection flaws, authentication vulnerabilities, and design flaws. This list, updated periodically, serves as a guideline for developers and web application security professionals to mitigate security risks.

Q: How does OWASP Top 10 impact web application security?

The OWASP Top 10 impacts web application security significantly by providing a framework and reference point for identifying and addressing the most prevalent and dangerous vulnerabilities in web applications. By adhering to the OWASP Top 10, developers and security professionals can focus on these key areas to enhance the overall security of their applications.

Q: What were the new categories added in the OWASP Top 10 for 2021?

In the OWASP Top 10 for 2021, three new categories were added: risks related to design flaws, naming and scoping, and vulnerabilities related to identification failures. These additions reflect the evolving nature of web application security threats and emphasize the importance of considering design and identification mechanisms in security strategies.

Q: Why is OWASP compliance important for web applications?

OWASP compliance is crucial for web applications as it ensures that the application is tested for some form of the most common and impactful security vulnerabilities. Compliance with OWASP standards means that the application has considered critical security risks, including those related to design flaws and external entities, and has implemented measures to mitigate these risks.

Q: Can you explain the concept of “Security Risk” in the context of web applications?

“Security risk” in web applications refers to the potential threats and vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors. These risks can range from injection attacks, JavaScript vulnerabilities, to design flaws, and pose significant threats to both the application and its users.

Q: What is the role of OWASP in web application security?

The OWASP Foundation plays a crucial role in web application security by providing guidelines, tools, and resources to help developers and security professionals identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities. They offer comprehensive materials, including the OWASP Top 10, to educate and guide in securing web applications.

Q: How have the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities evolved in recent years?

Using the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, which have evolved to include more types of failures and risks related to design and identification. For instance, the 2021 list expanded to include categories like design flaws and identification failures, reflecting the changing landscape of web application security and the increasing complexity of threats.

Q: What considerations should developers have regarding web application security?

Developers must consider a range of factors for web application security, including the potential for malicious attacks through URLs or web browsers. They should be aware of the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, regularly perform application security testing, and ensure their software design includes robust security measures against various forms of injection and misconfiguration.

Q: What is the OWASP Top 10 Web Application Security?

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. Developed by the OWASP Foundation, it lists the top 10 web application security risks, which are identified through a combination of several factors, including the frequency of reported security incidents and the severity of the vulnerabilities.

Q: How Does the OWASP Top 10 Help in Software Development?

In software development, the OWASP Top 10 serves as an essential guide for identifying and addressing the most prevalent security vulnerabilities. By focusing on these top 10 security risks, developers can significantly reduce the likelihood of a security breach in their web applications. The list educates developers about common vulnerabilities and encourages the integration of security measures in the early stages of software development.

Q: What Are Some Key Vulnerabilities Listed in the OWASP Top 10?

Some key vulnerabilities listed in the OWASP Top 10 include issues like injection flaws, broken authentication, sensitive data exposure, and cross-site scripting (XSS). Each vulnerability in the OWASP Top 10 is accompanied by information on how to detect the issue and how to protect against it. This guidance is vital for developers to understand the nature of these risks and implement effective security measures.

Q: How is the OWASP Top Ten Updated and Maintained?

The OWASP Top 10 is updated periodically through a comprehensive process that includes a top 10 community survey and an analysis of data from various sources. For instance, the new category for 2021 was added based on community feedback and the changing landscape of web application security. The list is expanded to include more types of vulnerabilities such as improper use of remote resource as they emerge and become prevalent in the industry.

Q: Can you Explain the Importance of the OWASP Top 10 in Addressing Security Risks?

The OWASP Top 10 is crucial in addressing security risks as it provides a framework for organizations to understand and mitigate the most common and impactful security threats. By highlighting these risks, the OWASP Top 10 enables organizations to prioritize their security efforts. For example, many applications have at least one instance of a vulnerability listed in the OWASP Top 10, underscoring the importance of this resource in safeguarding web applications.

keywords: url design is a new category added from the top 10 number of applications tested part of this category allows an attacker