OWASP Top Ten Overview
The OWASP Top 10 is a list of the most common web application security risks that was created by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). The list is updated every few years, and the latest version (2022) was just released. Here is a summary of each of the OWASP Top 10 risks:
- Injection: This happens when an attacker can send malicious data to a web application, which is then executed by the server. This can allow an attacker to access sensitive information, such as passwords and financial data, or to execute arbitrary code on the server. Read more
- Broken Authentication and Session Management: This risk happens when an application’s authentication and session management mechanisms are improperly implemented, allowing an attacker to gain unauthorized access to the application.
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): This type of attack involves injecting malicious code into a web page, which is then executed by the victim’s browser. This can allow an attacker to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, or to perform other malicious actions. Read more
- Insecure Direct Object References: This risk happens when an application references an internal object, such as a file or database record, using a user-supplied identifier. If an attacker can manipulate the identifier, they may be able to access unauthorized resources. Read more
- Security Misconfiguration: This risk happens when an application’s security settings are misconfigured, allowing an attacker to take advantage of known vulnerabilities. Read more
- Sensitive Data Exposure: This risk happens when an application stores or transmits sensitive data in an insecure manner, allowing an attacker to access the data. Read more
- Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): This type of attack involves tricking a victim into making a request to a web application, which is then executed by the server. This can allow an attacker to perform actions on behalf of the victim, such as transferring funds or changing the victim’s password. Read more
- Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities: This risk happens when an application uses components, such as libraries or frameworks, that have known vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities can be exploited by an attacker to gain access to the application. Read more
- Insufficient Logging and Monitoring: This risk happens when an application does not properly log and monitor access to resources and events, making it difficult to detect and respond to attacks. Read more
- Failure to Restrict URL Access: This risk happens when an application does not properly restrict access to resources, allowing an attacker to access sensitive data or perform unauthorized actions.
To mitigate these risks, it is important for organisations to regularly assess the security of their web applications and to implement appropriate controls. This may include implementing input validation, using secure authentication and session management mechanisms, and regularly updating and patching components with known vulnerabilities. It is also important to properly configure the application’s security settings, store and transmit sensitive data securely, and implement logging and monitoring to detect and respond to potential attacks.
Organise you obligation free OWASP audit of your site.
Injection attack
Injection attacks happen when an attacker can send malicious data to a web application, which is then executed by the server. This can allow the attacker to access sensitive information, such as passwords and financial data, or to execute arbitrary code on the server. Injection attacks are one of the most common types of web application security vulnerabilities, and they can occur in a variety of contexts, including SQL injection, OS command injection, and LDAP injection, among others.
How to test for an injection attack
To test for injection vulnerabilities, a security tester can try to send various types of malicious input to the application and observe how the application responds. For example, the tester might try to send input that includes SQL statements, operating system commands, or LDAP queries, and see if the application is able to execute these statements or queries. If the application can execute the malicious input, then it may be vulnerable to injection attacks.
Other techniques that can be used to test for injection vulnerabilities include fuzzing, which involves sending a large number of random or semi-random inputs to the application in an attempt to cause it to crash or behave unexpectedly, and static code analysis, which involves examining the source code of the application to identify potentially vulnerable areas.
Preventing an injection attack
To prevent injection attacks, it is important for developers to ensure that all user input is properly validated and sanitised before it is used in an application. This can include using input validation techniques to ensure that only expected input is accepted, and using parameterised queries or stored procedures to prevent malicious input from being executed as part of a database query. It is also important to use secure coding practices, such as avoiding the use of dynamically constructed SQL statements and using prepared statements with bind variables instead.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a type of attack that involves injecting malicious code into a web page, which is then executed by the victim’s browser. This can allow an attacker to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, or to perform other malicious actions. XSS attacks can be classified into two types: reflective XSS and stored XSS. Reflective XSS occurs when an attacker injects malicious code into a single web page that is then reflected back to the user, while stored XSS occurs when the malicious code is stored in the application’s database and is executed every time the page is loaded.
How to test for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
To test for XSS vulnerabilities, a security tester can try to inject various types of malicious code into the application and observe how the application responds. This may include attempting to inject HTML, JavaScript, or other types of code into input fields or parameters and observing whether the code is executed by the application or the victim’s browser. The tester can also review the application’s source code to identify areas where user input is not properly sanitized or validated, which may make the application vulnerable to XSS attacks.
How to prevent Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
To prevent XSS vulnerabilities, it is important for developers to properly sanitize and validate all user input, particularly when displaying user-generated content on a web page. This can include using techniques such as HTML encoding or input validation to ensure that only expected input is accepted, and using context-aware output encoding to ensure that user input is properly displayed as intended. It is also important to use secure coding practices and to properly configure the application’s security settings.
Insecure direct object
Insecure direct object references is a web application security risk that occurs when an application references an internal object, such as a file or database record, using a user-supplied identifier. If an attacker can manipulate the identifier, they may be able to access unauthorized resources. This can happen if the application does not properly validate or sanitize user input, or if it allows users to access objects using predictable or sequential identifiers.
How to test for insecure direct object
To test for insecure direct object references, a security tester can try to manipulate the identifiers used to access internal objects and observe how the application responds. This may include attempting to access objects using modified or invalid identifiers, or using identifiers that correspond to unauthorized resources. The tester can also review the application’s source code to identify areas where user input is used to access internal objects without proper validation or sanitization.
How to prevent insecure direct object
To prevent insecure direct object references, it is important for developers to properly validate and sanitize user input when accessing internal objects. This can include using techniques such as input validation and parameterized queries to ensure that only expected input is accepted, and using unique and random identifiers to prevent users from accessing unauthorized resources. It is also important to use secure coding practices and to properly configure the application’s security settings.
Security misconfiguration
Security misconfiguration is a web application security risk that occurs when an application’s security settings are misconfigured, allowing an attacker to take advantage of known vulnerabilities. This can happen if the application is not properly configured, if default settings are not changed, or if the application is running on outdated or unpatched software.
How to test for security misconfiguration
To test for security misconfiguration, a security tester can review the application’s configuration settings and identify any areas that may be misconfigured or insecure. This may include checking for the presence of default accounts or settings, verifying that the application is running on up-to-date software, and reviewing the application’s access controls to ensure that they are properly configured. The tester can also scan the application for known vulnerabilities and check to see if any of these vulnerabilities are exploitable due to misconfiguration.
How to prevent security misconfiguration
To prevent security misconfiguration, it is important for developers to properly configure the application and its security settings, and to regularly update and patch the application’s software. This can include changing default accounts and settings, using secure access controls, and keeping the application’s software up-to-date with the latest patches and updates. It is also important to use secure coding practices and to follow best practices for configuring and securing the application and its environment.
Sensitive data exposure
Sensitive data exposure is a web application security risk that occurs when an application stores or transmits sensitive data in an insecure manner, allowing an attacker to access the data. This can happen if the data is not properly encrypted, if it is transmitted over an insecure connection, or if it is stored in an insecure location. Sensitive data may include financial information, personal identification information, or other types of sensitive information that an attacker could use to gain access to an application or to steal the victim’s identity.
How to test for sensitive data exposure
To test for sensitive data exposure, a security tester can try to identify and access sensitive data that is stored or transmitted by the application. This may include attempting to intercept and view sensitive data in transit, accessing sensitive data stored in an insecure location, or attempting to decrypt encrypted data. The tester can also review the application’s source code or configuration settings to identify any areas where sensitive data is not properly protected.
How to prevent sensitive data exposure
To prevent sensitive data exposure, it is important for developers to properly encrypt and secure sensitive data, both when it is stored and when it is transmitted. This can include using strong encryption algorithms, transmitting data over secure connections, and properly securing data storage locations. It is also important to use secure coding practices and to properly configure the application’s security settings.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is a type of attack that involves tricking a victim into making a request to a web application, which is then executed by the server. This can allow an attacker to perform actions on behalf of the victim, such as transferring funds or changing the victim’s password. CSRF attacks take advantage of the fact that the victim’s browser will automatically include any valid session cookies or other authentication information when making a request to the application.
How to test for Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
To test for CSRF vulnerabilities, a security tester can try to create and send malicious requests to the application and observe how the application responds. This may include creating requests that perform unauthorized actions, such as transferring funds or changing account information, and attempting to trick the victim into making the request by including the request in a maliciously crafted link or webpage. The tester can also review the application’s source code or configuration settings to identify any areas where CSRF protections may be insufficient or absent.
How to prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
To prevent CSRF vulnerabilities, it is important for developers to implement appropriate CSRF protections, such as using unique tokens to verify the authenticity of requests, or requiring additional authentication for sensitive actions. It is also important to use secure coding practices and to properly configure the application’s security settings.
Using components with known vulnerabilities
Using components with known vulnerabilities is a web application security risk that occurs when an application uses components, such as libraries or frameworks, that have known vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities can be exploited by an attacker to gain access to the application. Components with known vulnerabilities may include open source libraries, third-party frameworks, or other types of components that are commonly used in web applications.
How to test if you are using components with known vulnerabilities
To test for the use of components with known vulnerabilities, a security tester can review the application’s dependencies and identify any components that have known vulnerabilities. This may involve reviewing the version numbers of the components being used, searching for known vulnerabilities in those components, and checking to see if the application is using outdated or unpatched versions of the components. The tester can also use tools such as static code analysis or dependency scanners to identify components that are being used by the application.
How to prevent using components with known vulnerabilities
To prevent the use of components with known vulnerabilities, it is important for developers to regularly review and update the components being used in the application. This can include keeping track of the version numbers of the components being used, and updating to newer versions as they become available. It is also important to use secure coding practices and to properly configure the application’s security settings. Using a dependency management tool, such as a package manager, can also help to keep track of and update components being used in the application.
Insufficient logging and monitoring
Insufficient logging and monitoring is a web application security risk that occurs when an application does not properly log and monitor events that could potentially indicate a security breach. This can make it difficult for an organization to detect and respond to security incidents in a timely manner, increasing the risk of a successful attack.
How to test for insufficient logging and monitoring
To test for insufficient logging and monitoring, a security tester can review the application’s logging and monitoring capabilities and identify any areas that may be inadequate. This may involve reviewing the types of events that are being logged, the level of detail included in the logs, and the processes in place for reviewing and responding to logged events. The tester can also attempt to simulate various types of security incidents and observe how the application responds, in order to determine whether the logging and monitoring systems are able to detect and alert on these incidents.
How to prevent insufficient logging and monitoring
To prevent insufficient logging and monitoring, it is important for developers to implement robust logging and monitoring systems that are able to detect and alert on potential security incidents. This can include logging a wide range of events, including both successful and unsuccessful access attempts, and including sufficient detail in the logs to allow for investigation of security incidents. It is also important to have processes in place for regularly reviewing and responding to logged events, and to have appropriate controls in place to prevent unauthorized access to or tampering with the logs.
Unvalidated redirects and forwards
Unvalidated redirects and forwards is a web application security risk that occurs when an application allows the use of unvalidated user input to redirect or forward users to other pages or websites. This can allow an attacker to redirect victims to malicious websites or to perform phishing attacks.
How to test for unvalidated redirects and forwards
To test for unvalidated redirects and forwards, a security tester can try to inject malicious URLs into the application and observe how the application responds. This may involve attempting to redirect users to malicious websites, or attempting to use the application to perform phishing attacks. The tester can also review the application’s source code to identify any areas where user input is used to redirect or forward users without proper validation or sanitization.
How to prevent unvalidated redirects and forwards
To prevent unvalidated redirects and forwards, it is important for developers to properly validate and sanitize user input when using it to redirect or forward users. This can include using techniques such as input validation and whitelisting to ensure that only expected input is accepted, and properly encoding and escaping user input to prevent the injection of malicious URLs. It is also important to use secure coding practices and to properly configure the application’s security settings.
