The OWASP Top 20 is a list of the most critical web application security risks that organizations should be aware of. This list is maintained by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), a global non-profit organization dedicated to improving software security. The OWASP Top 20 serves as a guide for developers and security professionals to help them identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in their web applications. It is important to understand these risks to protect your applications from potential attacks and prevent sensitive information from being compromised.
| Control | Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Injection | Injection occurs when an attacker sends malicious code as input to the web application, which can then execute unintended actions or reveal sensitive information. | Use prepared statements and input validation to sanitize user input and prevent code injection attacks. |
| 2. Broken Authentication and Session Management | Broken authentication and session management occurs when a web application has vulnerabilities in its authentication and session management mechanisms, allowing attackers to compromise user accounts and steal sensitive information. | Implement strong authentication mechanisms and enforce proper session management to protect against attacks such as session hijacking and brute-force password cracking. |
| 3. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) | Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) occurs when an attacker injects malicious code into a web page viewed by other users, allowing them to execute unauthorized actions or steal sensitive information. | Use input validation and output encoding to sanitize user input and prevent XSS attacks. |
| 4. Broken Access Control | Broken access control occurs when a web application does not properly restrict user access to sensitive functionality or data, allowing unauthorized users to view or modify sensitive information. | Implement proper access controls and restrict user access based on the principle of least privilege. |
| 5. Security Misconfiguration | Security misconfiguration occurs when a web application is not configured properly, making it vulnerable to attack. | Follow security best practices and properly configure all components of the application, including web servers, databases, and application frameworks. |
| 6. Insecure Cryptographic Storage | Insecure cryptographic storage occurs when a web application stores sensitive information such as passwords in an insecure manner, making it vulnerable to attack. | Use strong encryption algorithms and secure storage mechanisms to protect sensitive information. |
| 7. Insufficient Transport Layer Protection | Insufficient transport layer protection occurs when a web application does not properly encrypt sensitive information in transit, making it vulnerable to interception and eavesdropping. | Use secure transport layer protocols such as HTTPS to protect sensitive information in transit. |
| 8. Unvalidated Redirects and Forwards | Unvalidated redirects and forwards occur when a web application uses user-supplied data to redirect or forward users to other pages, which can be used by attackers to redirect users to malicious websites or steal sensitive information. | Use proper input validation and do not use user-supplied data to construct URLs for redirects or forwards. |
| 9. Components with Known Vulnerabilities | Components with known vulnerabilities occur when a web application uses outdated or vulnerable software components, making it vulnerable to attack. | Regularly update software components and use tools to identify and remediate vulnerabilities. |
| 10. Insufficient Authentication and Authorization | Insufficient authentication and authorization occur when a web application does not properly authenticate users or enforce proper authorization controls, allowing unauthorized users to access sensitive information or functionality. | Implement strong authentication mechanisms and enforce proper authorization controls based on the principle of least privilege. |
| 11. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) | Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) occurs when an attacker exploits a user's session to execute unauthorized actions on a web application, such as changing passwords or making unauthorized transactions. | Use anti-CSRF tokens and validate all user input to prevent CSRF attacks. |
| 12. Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities | Using components with known vulnerabilities occurs when a web application uses outdated or vulnerable software components, making it vulnerable to attack. | Regularly update software components and use tools to identify and remediate vulnerabilities. |
| 13. Improper Error Handling | Improper error handling occurs when a web application reveals sensitive information or allows attackers to exploit vulnerabilities by displaying error messages or stack traces. | Implement proper error handling mechanisms that do not reveal sensitive information and |
| 13. Improper Error Handling | Improper error handling occurs when a web application reveals sensitive information or allows attackers to exploit vulnerabilities by displaying error messages or stack traces. | Implement proper error handling mechanisms that do not reveal sensitive information and provide useful information to developers for debugging purposes. |
| 14. Broken Function Level Authorization | Broken function level authorization occurs when a web application does not properly restrict user access to specific functions or features, allowing unauthorized users to perform actions they should not be able to. | Implement proper authorization controls at the function level and restrict user access based on the principle of least privilege. |
| 15. Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities | Using components with known vulnerabilities occurs when a web application uses outdated or vulnerable software components, making it vulnerable to attack. | Regularly update software components and use tools to identify and remediate vulnerabilities. |
| 16. Insufficient Logging and Monitoring | Insufficient logging and monitoring occurs when a web application does not properly log security-related events or monitor for potential security threats, making it difficult to detect and respond to attacks. | Implement proper logging and monitoring mechanisms that allow for timely detection and response to security incidents. |
| 17. Insecure Communication | Insecure communication occurs when a web application sends sensitive information over unsecured or improperly secured channels, making it vulnerable to interception and eavesdropping. | Use secure communication channels such as HTTPS to protect sensitive information in transit. |
| 18. Improper Input Validation | Improper input validation occurs when a web application does not properly validate user input, allowing attackers to send malicious data that can exploit vulnerabilities or reveal sensitive information. | Implement proper input validation mechanisms that sanitize user input and prevent attacks such as code injection and XSS. |
| 19. Broken Authentication and Session Management | Broken authentication and session management occurs when a web application has vulnerabilities in its authentication and session management mechanisms, allowing attackers to compromise user accounts and steal sensitive information. | Implement strong authentication mechanisms and enforce proper session management to protect against attacks such as session hijacking and brute-force password cracking. |
| 20. Insufficient Security Configurability | Insufficient security configurability occurs when a web application does not provide sufficient options for configuring security settings, making it difficult to customize security controls to meet specific requirements. | Provide users with sufficient options for configuring security settings and allow for customization of security controls to meet specific requirements. |
