Top 10 web application security risks

Web applications are ubiquitous in today’s digital age, and with that comes an increasing need to secure them against various security threats. The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is a community-driven organization that provides guidelines and tools for web application security. They have identified the top ten web application security risks, known as the OWASP Top 10, which organizations can use to evaluate and improve their security posture.

1. Injection Attacks: Injection attacks refer to a situation where an attacker can inject malicious code or input into an application that is then executed, often leading to data theft, data corruption, or even complete system compromise. Injection attacks can target various application components, such as SQL or NoSQL databases or even operating system-level commands.
2. Broken Authentication and Session Management: This risk is associated with authentication and session management vulnerabilities that allow attackers to compromise user credentials, impersonate legitimate users, and gain access to sensitive data or functionality. This can occur when authentication and session management are not appropriately implemented, leaving vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.
3. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): XSS is a vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, enabling the attacker to steal user data and session tokens or even take control of the user’s browser. This can occur when an application does not correctly validate user input and fails to sanitize it before rendering it on a web page.
4. Broken Access Control: Access control vulnerabilities refer to situations where an attacker can bypass authorization mechanisms and gain access to sensitive data or functionality that should be restricted to specific users. This can occur when an application needs to properly enforce access controls, such as authentication or role-based access.
5. Security Misconfiguration: Security misconfiguration refers to situations where an application is configured in a way that leaves it vulnerable to attacks, such as going to default accounts and passwords, having open ports, or using outdated software. This can occur due to human error or the need for proper security controls.
6. Insecure Cryptographic Storage: This risk refers to situations where an application stores sensitive data in an insecure manner, such as storing passwords in plaintext or using weak or broken encryption algorithms. This can lead to data theft or even complete system compromise.
7. Insufficient Logging and Monitoring: Insufficient logging and monitoring can prevent an organization from promptly detecting and responding to security incidents. This can occur when an application needs to log more information about user actions or security events or when logs need to be adequately monitored and analyzed.
8. Insecure Communications: Insecure communications refer to situations where an application transmits sensitive data in an unencrypted or insecure manner, such as using HTTP instead of HTTPS. This can lead to data interception, tampering, or even man-in-the-middle attacks.
9. Broken Function Level Authorization: Function level authorization vulnerabilities refer to situations where an attacker can bypass access controls and gain access to functionality that should be restricted to certain users or roles. This can occur when an application does not correctly enforce authorization checks for different functions or operations.
10. Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF): SSRF vulnerabilities refer to situations where an attacker can make a web application send unauthorized requests to other internal or external systems. This can lead to data theft or even complete system compromise. This can occur when an application does not validate or restrict user-supplied input to outgoing requests.

In summary, web application security risks are a significant concern for organizations today. The OWASP Top 10 provides a valuable framework for organizations to evaluate and improve their security posture. By understanding these risks and taking proactive measures, organizations can reduce their exposure to web application security threats and protect their users and sensitive data.

Follow me on Medium and LinkedIn. Let’s connect!

I am looking forward to hearing from you!

All the best,

Luis Soares

CTO | Head of Engineering | Blockchain & Fintech SME | Cyber Security | Board Member

#security #cyberintelligence #cybersecurity #networks #networksecurity #appsec #enterprisetech #softwareengineering #softwaredevelopment #coding #software