OWASP top 10 vulnerabilities 2021

OWASP?

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is an open-source initiative that derives a set of rules or protocols, articles, methodologies in the field of cyber security. It works on an open-source model where various users contribute tools, forums, and projects. OWASP is the repository of web application security modules.

ModSecurity?

ModSecurity is an open-source, cross-platform, Web Application firewall designed primarily for Apache HTTP servers. It provides an event-based programming language that offers protection from a wide range of attacks and offers protection to web applications.

What are the OWASP top 10 vulnerabilities?

Based on the level of damages the vulnerabilities have caused, OWASP has derived a list of top 10 threats. Listed from A1 to A10, A1 being the most severe and A10 being the least.

OWASP’s top 10 vulnerabilities are as follows.

A1:2021 – Broken Access Control
A2:2021 – Cryptographic failures (sensitive data exposure)
A3:2021 – Injection
A4:2021 – Insecure Design
A5:2021 – Security Misconfiguration
A6:2021 – Vulnerable and outdated components
A7:2021 – Identification and Authentication Failures
A8:2021 – Software and Data Integrity Failures
A9:2021 – Security Logging and Monitoring Failures
A10:2021 – Server-side request forgery

A1:2021 – Broken Access Control: The failure of the system to validate the user even after the user authentication is called Broken Access Control. This may allow the user to bypass the basic access controls without proper validation. It leads to admin-level data exposure, which in turn may lead to several other complications.

A2:2021 – Cryptographic failures (sensitive data exposure): Sensitive data is important information or an asset to be protected. It includes personally identifiable information (PII), banking information, login credentials, etc. Cryptographic failures occur when the data is unencrypted in the database or server and can be easily accessed by everyone. It is the consequence of inadequate protection of the database.

A3:2021 – Injection: An injection is a broad class of attack vectors. This flaw allows the malefactors to execute a discrete code on the host operating system through a vulnerable application. The attacker provides an altered input to a program. As this input gets executed as a part of a command or a query, the result gets altered. It could lead to data loss, data corruption, and loss of credibility.

A4:2021 – Insecure Design: Insecure Design is a flaw in the design of the system. In other words, insecure or missing design is where control is absent. It may be on the server side or the application side, the user side. By using this flaw, the malefactors can get hold of system assets.

A5:2021 – Security Misconfiguration: Misconfiguration occurs whenever the system fails to meet the security framework standards. It can occur at the application server-side, web server-side, application stack level, or on the network side. Non-identification of these flaws may sabotage and compromise the entire system.

A6:2021 – Vulnerable and Outdated Components: Usage of third-party software components in the development process may lead to this type of attack. Third-party application frameworks, libraries, technologies may have exposure to vulnerabilities. Using outdated components in nested dependencies, client-side and server-side failing to check the compatibility of updated library patches, may help the threat vectors to breach the system.

A7:2021 – Identification and Authentication Failures: Identification and authentication failures are the thieving of user credentials, session tokens, keys, etc.., for gaining unauthorized access. These threats are inherent in online platforms and applications that enable the hacker to bypass the authentication. Attackers make use of authentication failures and try to sneak into the system by brute-forcing the passwords. It paves the way for data theft, sensitive information disclosure, loss of credibility, etc…

A8:2021 – Software and Data Integrity Failures: Software and data integrity failures relate to code and infrastructure that does not protect against integrity violations. Usage of critical data and their applications without validating might lead the system to open to these types of threats.

A9:2021 – Security Logging and Monitoring Failures: Lack of logging and monitoring the threats to the application from time to time causes these types of attacks. It may lead to compromising the entire system and an untraceable attack.

A10:2021 – Server Side Forgery Request (SSRF): Web applications can trigger requests in between HTTP servers. These are typically used to fetch remote resources such as software updates or import metadata from a URL or another web application. The attacker induces the server to make a connection to internal-only services within the organization’s infrastructure. It disrupts the request process, exposing the system to vulnerability.

OWASP Top 10 is a standard awareness document for developers and web application security. It represents a broad consensus about the most critical security risks to web applications. Globally recognized by developers as the first step towards more secure coding. Performing security assessments and VAPT by following OWASP Top 10 standards will help organisations minimize security risks.

Any product company handling personally identifiable information should have their applications and production infrastructure tested for security at least once a year, by a third-party security company.

StrongBox IT is a cybersecurity provider offering Enterprise-level application security testing services by OSCP, CREST, and CEH(Master) certified security analysts, and the entire security testing process is done following international compliances such as HIPPA, GDPR, PCI DSS, ISO27001. The testing is done completely based on OWASP Top 10 standards.

In addition to that StrongBoxIT also offers an enterprise-grade Web Application Firewall (WAF) – Modshield SB. Modshield SB is built with 2021 OWASP Standards and helps meet global compliant standards like PCI DSS, GDPR, ISO27001.

Highlights of Modshield SB:

● Inbuilt Load balancer

● Data Leakage Protection

● Unlimited domain support with zero additional costs

● Unlimited custom ruleset.

We would be delighted to get on a call and discuss how StrongBox IT can add value to your organisation in the cybersecurity environment.