Explain OWASP Top 10. Full Details

OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) Top 10 is a list of the ten most critical web application security risks. It is compiled by the OWASP community, which is a non-profit organization focused on improving web application security. The list is regularly updated to reflect the evolving threat landscape.

The OWASP Top 10 provides guidance to developers, security professionals, and organizations on the most prevalent and impactful vulnerabilities that attackers commonly exploit. By addressing these vulnerabilities, web applications can be better protected against common attack vectors. Here is a brief explanation of the current version, OWASP Top 10 2021:

1. Injection:

• Injection vulnerabilities occur when untrusted data is sent to an interpreter (e.g., SQL, OS command) and executed as part of a command or query.
• Attackers can manipulate the input to inject malicious code, leading to data breaches, unauthorized access, or even complete system compromise.

1. Broken Authentication:

• This vulnerability relates to issues in the authentication and session management mechanisms.
• Weaknesses in authentication can allow attackers to bypass authentication controls, impersonate users, or hijack sessions, leading to unauthorized access and account compromise.

1. Sensitive Data Exposure:

• Sensitive data, such as passwords, credit card information, or personal data, should be protected with strong encryption.
• If data is exposed through inadequate protection, weak cryptography, or improper configurations, attackers can steal or manipulate it.

1. XML External Entities (XXE):

• XXE vulnerabilities occur when an application processes XML input insecurely, allowing attackers to access or manipulate internal files and systems.
• Exploiting XXE vulnerabilities can lead to disclosure of sensitive data, denial of service, or server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks.

1. Broken Access Control:

• Broken access controls refer to flaws in enforcing authorization rules that dictate what actions a user is allowed to perform.
• If access controls are not properly implemented, attackers can gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, perform administrative actions, or elevate privileges.

1. Security Misconfiguration:

• Security misconfigurations occur when security settings are improperly configured.
• Examples include default passwords, misconfigured permissions, unpatched software, or exposed debug information.
• Such misconfigurations provide opportunities for attackers to exploit weaknesses and gain unauthorized access.

1. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS):

• XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
• When users interact with the compromised page, the scripts execute in their browsers, enabling attackers to steal information, perform phishing attacks, or hijack user sessions.

1. Insecure Deserialization:

• Insecure deserialization refers to the exploitation of vulnerabilities in the deserialization process of serialized objects.
• Attackers can manipulate serialized data to execute arbitrary code, perform remote code execution, or launch denial-of-service attacks.

1. Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF):

• SSRF vulnerabilities allow attackers to make requests from the server to other internal or external resources.
• By abusing this capability, attackers can access unauthorized resources, perform port scanning, or exploit internal systems.

1. Insecure Logging and Monitoring:

• Insufficient or ineffective logging and monitoring can hinder the detection and response to security incidents.
• Proper logging and monitoring are essential to identify and investigate attacks, and to ensure timely incident response.

The OWASP Top 10 serves as a valuable resource for developers, security professionals, and organizations to prioritize their security efforts and mitigate common web application vulnerabilities. It provides awareness about the risks and encourages best practices to build more secure and resilient web applications.