What is OWASP Top10 and How It Works.

The OWASP Top Ten is a widely recognized and regularly updated document that lists the top ten most critical web application security risks. OWASP, which stands for the Open Web Application Security Project, is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the security of software.

The OWASP Top Ten provides guidance to developers, security professionals, and organizations to help them prioritize and address security vulnerabilities and risks in web applications.

Here is an overview of the OWASP Top Ten and how it works:

1. Injection:

• Risk: Injection flaws, such as SQL injection or OS command injection, occur when untrusted data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query.
• How it works: Attackers inject malicious code into user inputs, which is then executed by the application’s interpreter.

2. Broken Authentication:

• Risk: Weak authentication and session management can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and functionality.
• How it works: Attackers exploit flaws in authentication and session management to impersonate users or gain unauthorized access.

3. Sensitive Data Exposure:

• Risk: Inadequate protection of sensitive data (e.g., passwords, credit card numbers) can lead to data breaches.
• How it works: Attackers can exploit poor encryption, weak data storage, or insecure transmission to access sensitive data.

4. XML External Entities (XXE):

• Risk: XML processors that process external entities can be exploited to disclose internal files, execute remote code, or launch Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.
• How it works: Attackers inject malicious XML data with references to external entities, which are then processed by the application.

5. Broken Access Control:

• Risk: Improperly enforced access controls can allow unauthorized users to view or modify data.
• How it works: Attackers manipulate URLs, session tokens, or other parameters to gain unauthorized access to resources.

6. Security Misconfigurations:

• Risk: Poorly configured security settings and misconfigured systems can lead to vulnerabilities.
• How it works: Attackers look for exposed sensitive information, open ports, and other misconfigurations that can be exploited.

7. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS):

• Risk: XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
• How it works: Attackers inject malicious scripts that are executed in the context of other users’ browsers, potentially stealing session cookies or redirecting users to malicious sites.

8. Insecure Deserialization:

• Risk: Insecure deserialization vulnerabilities can lead to remote code execution or other attacks.
• How it works: Attackers manipulate serialized data to execute malicious code during the deserialization process.

9. Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities:

• Risk: Using outdated or vulnerable components (e.g., libraries, frameworks) can expose applications to known security flaws.
• How it works: Attackers exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated components to compromise applications.

10. Insufficient Logging and Monitoring: – Risk: Inadequate logging and monitoring can prevent timely detection and response to security incidents. – How it works: Attackers can go undetected because of insufficient logging and monitoring, allowing them to maintain access and control.

Real-life Examples of the OWASP Top 10 security risks:

1. Injection:

• Real-life example: The Equifax data breach in 2017 occurred due to an unpatched Apache Struts vulnerability that allowed attackers to inject malicious code. This breach exposed sensitive data of 143 million individuals.

2. Broken Authentication:

• Real-life example: In 2020, the Twitter hack involved attackers gaining access to high-profile accounts, including those of Barack Obama and Elon Musk, through social engineering and weak authentication controls.

3. Sensitive Data Exposure:

• Real-life example: The Target data breach in 2013 exposed credit card and personal data of around 40 million customers due to inadequate encryption and data protection.

4. XML External Entities (XXE):

• Real-life example: The Experian breach in 2015 involved attackers exploiting XXE vulnerabilities in a web application to access personal data of millions of T-Mobile customers.

5. Broken Access Control:

• Real-life example: In 2018, a flaw in Facebook’s access control mechanisms allowed attackers to steal private data of around 30 million users.

6. Security Misconfigurations:

• Real-life example: The Capital One data breach in 2019 was the result of a misconfigured firewall, exposing sensitive data of over 100 million customers.

7. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS):

• Real-life example: In 2018, British Airways suffered a breach due to an XSS attack that targeted payment information, compromising the data of around 500,000 customers.

8. Insecure Deserialization:

• Real-life example: In 2017, a vulnerability in Apache Struts was exploited by attackers to execute code on Equifax servers, leading to the massive data breach mentioned earlier.

9. Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities:

• Real-life example: The Heartbleed vulnerability in the OpenSSL library in 2014 allowed attackers to access sensitive data on websites and services across the internet.

10. Insufficient Logging and Monitoring: – Real-life example: The 2014 Sony Pictures hack went undetected for weeks due to insufficient logging and monitoring, allowing attackers to steal and leak sensitive data.