Enhancing Web App Security with OWASP Top 10 (Part 2)

In my role as a web developer, my concerns extend beyond just ensuring stability and optimal performance.

I also prioritize the security of my web application. Nonetheless, as a developer, identifying the prevalent security vulnerabilities that demand attention can be quite daunting. This is where the Open Web App Security Project (OWASP) comes to the rescue. At its core, the OWASP Top 10 serves as a definitive resource that enhances developer consciousness regarding web app security.

This list encapsulates a widely agreed-upon compendium of the most critical security threats pertaining to web applications.

In this article we dive into the second half of the OWASP Top 10 list.

Missed the first part? Dive into it here.

Vulnerable and Outdated Components

Vulnerable and Outdated Components tops the OWASP Top 10 list for web application security risks.

This vulnerability refers to the use of outdated or insecure third-party components, such as libraries, frameworks, or plugins, in an application. Such deprecated components may have known vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers to perform unauthorized access, data leakage, or other attacks on the application. To mitigate this risk, it is critical to conduct a regular review of the components in use for known vulnerabilities and update them regularly.

A robust update strategy for third-party components helps reduce the application’s vulnerability to potential attacks and ensures long-term security.

For example, the vulnerability affects the use of an outdated version of the Apache HTTP Server in a web application. If known vulnerabilities in older versions are not fixed, attackers could exploit them to take control or inject malicious code.

Identification and Authentication Failures

Identification and Authentication Failures are a significant security risk, indicating inadequate identification and authentication of users in web applications.

Weaknesses in this area can allow attackers to impersonate legitimate users or gain unauthorized access to protected areas. This can lead to data leaks, unauthorized data access, and misuse of user accounts. Secure implementation of identification and authentication mechanisms, such as the use of strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and secure session management, is critical to mitigate these risks and ensure application integrity.

An example in WordPress would be when a site has no limits on failed login attempts and attackers could gain access to the admin area by trying usernames and passwords.

Software and Data Integrity Failures

Software and Data Integrity Failures represent a significant risk and refer to vulnerabilities that compromise the integrity of software and data in web applications.

If insufficient protections are implemented, attackers could make malicious changes to the software or stored data, resulting in malfunction, data loss, or compromise of the application. Implementing integrity checks, secure encryption methods, and monitoring mechanisms can reduce this risk, ensuring the integrity of the application and its data.

When an attacker injects malicious code into the automated build process undetected, resulting in compromised software that enters the production environment.

Security Logging and Monitoring Failures

Security Logging and Monitoring Failures refer to weaknesses in the logging and monitoring of security events in web applications.

If adequate logging and monitoring mechanisms are not in place, potential attacks or unusual activity could go unnoticed, affecting the ability to detect and respond to security incidents in a timely manner. By implementing comprehensive logging policies, automated monitoring systems, and proactive alerting, organizations can more effectively respond to security threats and ensure the integrity of their web applications.

An example of this could be when a web application does not centrally log user activity and access attempts, resulting in suspicious login attempts or unusual activity not being detected and potential attacks going undetected.

Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) is a major threat, indicating vulnerabilities in web applications that could allow attackers to make requests to other internal resources or external systems on behalf of the application.

By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can retrieve sensitive data, scan network infrastructure or even attack services from other systems. Prevention of SSRF requires careful validation and verification of user input used to make requests to external resources, as well as limiting permissions for internal requests to prevent unauthorized access.

A more in depth view on how SSRF works and how it’s practically done can be found in this well explained video from TCM Academy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVI0Ny5cZ2c

Final Words

For developers, managing new tools, frameworks, and updates is already challenging.

Expecting them to simultaneously dedicate significant attention to testing the security of web applications is impractical. The OWASP Top 10 serves as a guide for developers to recognize prevalent security weaknesses in web applications and where to concentrate their efforts. Hopefully, this article has provided valuable insights, preparing you to assess your software for these mentioned concerns.

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