The 2021 OWASP Top 10 introduces "Broken Access Control" as the number one vulnerability, highlighting its prevalence in web applications where users can access unauthorized functionality or data.
"Cryptographic Failures," previously known as "Sensitive Data Exposure," ranks higher on the list due to significant incidents where flawed encryption practices have led to massive data breaches.
"Injection" attacks, such as SQL injection, have historically been a primary concern.
However, it slipped to the third position in 2021, indicating progress in mitigating these types of vulnerabilities.
The 2021 OWASP update reflects a trend where failures in access control are seen as critical, partly driven by a shift toward more decentralized applications and APIs that require strict user validation.
The new category of "Insecure Design" emphasizes the need for security to be part of the architecture from the outset of software development, rather than being an afterthought.
The list's creation involved data from over 515,000 applications, showcasing a broad spectrum of vulnerabilities based on real-world exploitation and attack data, significantly improving its reliability.
"Software and Data Integrity Failures" emerged as a new category that draws attention to risks associated with supply chain attacks, such as the SolarWinds incident, indicating the influence of third-party components.
The OWASP Top 10 is not just a list but rather a standard awareness document that facilitates discussions around application security and helps prioritize remediation efforts based on risk.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) does not appear as a separate category in the 2021 list, reflecting advancements in security practices as frameworks and libraries implement better default defenses.
The 2021 list emphasizes real-time data collection and analysis, showing how vulnerability contexts can shift as data sources, attack patterns, and technology landscapes evolve.
The ranking process utilized Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) and Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) information to map specific vulnerabilities to broader categories, adding rigor to the findings.
Keeping Open Source Software components updated is critical, as many vulnerabilities stem from outdated packages that suppliers may not regularly patch, presenting a challenge in software maintenance.
The OWASP community aims for the next update by 2024 or 2025, urging developers and organizations to focus on risk management proactively rather than reactively.
The inclusion of "Insufficient Logging & Monitoring" highlights the importance of detection mechanisms within applications, as inadequate logs can exacerbate the impact of breaches.
The emphasis on "Security Misconfiguration" draws attention to settings and permissions that are often lax, making it easier for attackers to exploit exposure and access unprotected systems.
The OWASP Top 10 serves as a reference point for regulatory compliance, guiding organizations in demonstrating due diligence in addressing key vulnerabilities.
The 2021 OWASP Top 10 is a living document, meaning it may evolve as new technologies and practices, such as cloud-native applications and microservices, alter the security landscape.
The methodology of the OWASP Top 10 has been analyzed and critiqued to adapt to emerging trends in cybersecurity, ensuring it remains relevant and actionable for practitioners in securing applications.
The OWASP organization encourages all stakeholders in software development, from designers to testers, to familiarize themselves with the Top 10, creating a security culture.
Innovations in AI and machine learning are beginning to be factored into security practices, leading to new categories and responses to previously unanticipated vulnerabilities, emphasizing the dynamic nature of web security.