OWASP Top Ten

Updated Jan 30, 2024 ·

Web Security Vulnerabilities

Web security vulnerabilities pose significant risks to the integrity of web services. Cybersecurity professionals must be vigilant in identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities.

• OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) maintains a list of the top 10 web security risks
• The current list was developed in 2013, with a revision expected soon
• These risks are crucial for maintaining secure web services

OWASP Top 10

Reference: https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/

Rank	Vulnerability	Description
1	Injection Attacks	Attackers insert malicious code into a request executed by the server Common example: SQL injection targeting databases
2	Broken Authentication and Session Management	Flaws in authentication mechanisms lead to unauthorized access Example: Session hijacking
3	Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)	Attackers embed scripts in third-party websites that execute in victims’ browsers More info: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
4	Insecure Direct Object References	Developers expose internal functions without proper security checks Attackers may alter URLs to access unauthorized resources
5	Security Misconfigurations	Incorrect settings in complex systems like web servers, databases, and firewalls Any misconfiguration can compromise the entire system
6	Sensitive Data Exposure	Insecure applications may expose sensitive data such as customer information Lack of HTTPS encryption increases this risk
7	Missing Function Level Access Control	Developers fail to verify back-end access control for certain functions Attackers can exploit this by sending unauthorized requests directly
8	Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF/XSRF)	Attackers exploit the fact that users often have multiple websites open Detailed coverage in upcoming sections More info: CSRF/XSRF
9	Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities	Web applications using insecure components may be compromised by attackers Regular security patching is essential
10	Unvalidated Redirects and Forwards	External links through a trusted site can redirect users to malicious sites Developers must ensure only approved redirects are allowed