What is OWASP?

OWASP stands for Open Web Application Security Project. It is a non-profit organization focused on improving software security. OWASP provides resources, tools, and guidelines to help organizations develop, deploy, and maintain secure web applications and APIs. Here are some key aspects of OWASP:

Objectives of OWASP

1. Awareness: Raise awareness about common security risks and vulnerabilities in web applications.

2. Education: Provide educational resources and materials to developers, security professionals, and organizations to improve their understanding of web application security.

3. Tools and Resources: Develop and maintain tools, documentation, and best practices that promote secure coding and application development practices.

4. Community Collaboration: Foster a collaborative community where security experts, developers, and organizations can share knowledge and best practices related to web application security.

OWASP Top 10

One of OWASP's most well-known projects is the OWASP Top 10. This is a regularly updated document that lists the top 10 most critical web application security risks. The OWASP Top 10 serves as a guide for organizations to prioritize their efforts in addressing these common vulnerabilities. The categories typically include:

• Injection: SQL, NoSQL, OS Command Injection.
• Broken Authentication: Improper implementation of authentication and session management.
• Sensitive Data Exposure: Inadequate protection of sensitive data like passwords, credit card numbers.
• XML External Entities (XXE): Lack of protection against XML-based attacks.
• Broken Access Control: Improper restrictions on what authenticated users can do.
• Security Misconfiguration: Insecure default configurations, incomplete or ad-hoc configurations.
• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Injection of malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
• Insecure Deserialization: Insecure or flawed implementation of object deserialization.
• Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities: Using outdated or vulnerable software components.
• Insufficient Logging & Monitoring: Lack of proper logging and monitoring, making it difficult to detect and respond to security incidents.

OWASP Projects and Resources

• OWASP WebGoat: A deliberately insecure web application used for learning and testing security vulnerabilities.

• OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy): An open-source web application security scanner used to find security vulnerabilities in web applications.

• OWASP Juice Shop: A modern web application intentionally built with vulnerabilities to teach web security.

• OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS): A framework of security requirements for designing, building, and testing modern web applications.