OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities | Craw Cyber Security

The Open Web Application Security Project, widely known as OWASP, is a group on the internet that creates openly downloadable tools, technologies, techniques, and writings in the area of web application security.  In addition, its prime objective is to make software security transparent so that people and businesses all over the globe can decide with knowledge about the actual dangers of software security.

Moreover, this highly decorated organization has evolved with each passing year, and it conducts detailed research on the Top 10 Vulnerabilities related to web applications security protocols, as well as updates the same list annually.  So far, every organization dealing in catering client data on the varied web apps can benefit from it by securing and handling the datasets without the fear of getting them hijacked into the hands of an illicit hacking professional.

Furthermore, we at Craw Security, the best cybersecurity training institute in India, propose a detailed summary of the OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities so that everyone can understand it better than ever before.  In this regard, you can refer to the below paragraphs:

• Injection
• Broken Authentication and Session Management
• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
• Broken Access Control
• Security Misconfiguration
• Insecure Cryptographic Storage
• Insufficient Transport Layer Protection
• Failure to Restrict URL Access
• Insufficient Authentication/Authorization
• Insufficient Security Monitoring and Logging

Now, to know more about the above-mentioned OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities, you can go through the below-mentioned paragraphs:

1. Injection

Whenever an attacker may insert some malicious script into a web application, this is known as an injection vulnerability.  Usually, this happens when the attacker takes advantage of flaws in input fields from the user or terribly written code.  In addition,  SQL injection, NoSQL injection, and command injection are a few kinds of injection attacks that are frequently used.

Moreover, an injection vulnerability could allow a potential attacker to access confidential data, alter data, or even take over the system, which could have disastrous results.  Using secure coding techniques and validating all input data, especially user input, to make absolutely sure it is free of harmful code is crucial for preventing injection attacks.   Web application frameworks and libraries must also be kept up to date in order to tackle any known vulnerabilities that attackers may use.

2. Broken Authentication and Session Management

While session management entails controlling a user’s session throughout their engagement with the program, authentication is the method of confirming the user’s identity to the program or application.  Ahead, whenever a hacker is capable of defeating authentication or hijacking a user’s session, they are able to obtain unauthorized access to the system or assume the identities of other users.  In addition, this results in compromised authentication as well as session management vulnerabilities.

Weak passwords, password reuse, session fixation attacks, and cross-site scripting (XSS) assaults are frequent instances of authentication and session management vulnerabilities.

3. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

XSS flaws happen when a hacker can insert malicious script, usually in the shape of JavaScript or Python programming language, into a web application, which is then performed by unwary users that visit the impacted page.  Henceforth, when user input is not properly sanitized or validated, this can happen, giving an attacker a chance to insert malicious code that other users viewing the website can then execute.

Several different types of XSS attacks exist, such as stored XSS, in which the malicious script is saved on the server and implemented when the impacted page is seen by other users, and reflected XSS, in which the malicious code is contained in the web address or other input field and implemented when the user loads the impacted site.

4. Broken Access Control

Access control is the procedure of making sure users are able to utilize resources and capabilities to which they have been granted access.  When an attacker has the capacity to get over or get around access control measures, they are capable of getting access to resources or doing activities that they shouldn’t be capable of.  In addition, this is known as having broken access control vulnerabilities.

Moreover, insecure direct object references, which allow a threat actor to access resources directly by changing a variable or URL, and privilege escalation attacks, which allow an adversary to obtain elevated rights and access resources they shouldn’t be able to access, are examples of access control flaws.

5. Security Misconfiguration

When a system is improperly built to impose secure settings and policies, it becomes vulnerable to attack.  This is known as a security misconfiguration vulnerability.  Standard usernames and passwords, out-of-date software, unused or superfluous services, and open ports or protocols are typical illustrations of security misconfiguration risks.

In this regard, a threat actor may have the ability to acquire confidential data or seize control of the system as a result of a security misconfiguration vulnerability, which could have dire repercussions.  Utilizing secure configuration management procedures is crucial to preventing security misconfiguration vulnerabilities.  Subsequently, these practices include turning down unused services and ports, using strong passwords and usernames, and updating software and frameworks.

6. Insecure Cryptographic Storage

When sensitive information is not adequately encrypted or when secret encryption keys or passwords are not maintained securely, insecure cryptographic storage vulnerabilities occur.  Because an attacker might be able to decode the data using a number of methods, this could result in unwanted access to sensitive information.

The classic example of inadequate or obsolete encryption methods, keeping encryption keys or credentials in plain text or other easily obtainable formats, and maintaining credentials or other confidential material in plain text are all instances of insecure cryptographic storage issues.

7. Insufficient Transport Layer Protection

Encryption, as well as some other security measures, are used in transport layer protection to safeguard info during network transmission.  Whenever information travels across an unprotected or inadequately protected connection, there are weaknesses in the transport layer protection that allow for its interception or alteration by attackers.

Utilizing HTTP instead of HTTPS to transfer sensitive information, employing rudimentary or outdated encryption techniques, and neglecting to authenticate server credentials during SSL/TLS connections are common instances of flaws in inadequate transport layer protection.

8. Failure to Restrict URL Access

This vulnerability happens when a program improperly limits the usage of specific URLs or online resources, potentially exposing sensitive info to unapproved users.

Moreover, permitting unauthenticated individuals to enter sensitive pages or resources, like administrative interfaces, configuration files, and databases, as well as failing to safeguard APIs and other online services adequately, are frequent instances of failure to limit URL access vulnerabilities.

9. Insufficient Authentication/Authorization

Insufficient Authentication/Authorization vulnerability occurs whenever an application fails to correctly authenticate or authorize users, and sensitive data or functionality can be accessed by unauthorized users.

Moreover, weak passwords, password reuse, a lack of multi-factor authentication, inadequate session timeouts, and evading authorization checks are classic examples of authentication and authorization issues.

10. Insufficient Security Monitoring and Logging

This particular Insufficient Security Monitoring and Logging flaw appears when an application has sufficient logging and remote monitoring to identify and address security concerns.

In this regard, lack of real-time tracking, inadequate event logging, and a lack of connectivity with response to security incident systems are typical instances of security monitoring and logging weaknesses.