Which of the following is not among the ‘deadly sins of software security’?

Introduction

When it comes to software security, there are several common pitfalls that developers must be aware of to ensure the safety and integrity of their applications. These pitfalls are often referred to as the “deadly sins of software security.” In this article, we will explore these deadly sins and identify which one is not among them.

The Deadly Sins of Software Security

1. Injection Attacks: Injection attacks occur when untrusted data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query. This can lead to malicious code execution or unauthorized access to sensitive data.

2. Broken Authentication: Broken authentication refers to vulnerabilities in the authentication and session management mechanisms of an application. This can include weak passwords, session hijacking, or lack of proper user authentication.

3. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): XSS attacks involve injecting malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. These scripts can be used to steal sensitive information or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the user.

4. Insecure Direct Object References: Insecure direct object references occur when an application exposes a reference to an internal implementation object, such as a file or database key. Attackers can manipulate these references to access unauthorized resources.

5. Security Misconfigurations: Security misconfigurations refer to insecure configurations of an application or its underlying infrastructure. This can include default passwords, unnecessary services enabled, or improperly configured access controls.

6. Sensitive Data Exposure: Sensitive data exposure happens when an application fails to adequately protect sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card details. This can lead to identity theft or financial loss.

7. Missing Function Level Access Control: Missing function level access control occurs when an application fails to properly enforce access controls on certain functions or resources. This can allow unauthorized users to perform actions they should not have access to.

8. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): CSRF attacks trick users into performing unwanted actions on a web application in which they are authenticated. This can lead to unauthorized changes in user settings or actions performed on their behalf.

9. Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities: Using components with known vulnerabilities refers to the use of third-party libraries or frameworks that have known security flaws. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to the application.

The Non-Deadly Sin

Among the deadly sins of software security listed above, the non-deadly sin is Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities. While it is undoubtedly a security concern, it is not typically classified as one of the “deadly sins.” However, it is still crucial for developers to regularly update and patch their software components to mitigate the risk of known vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the deadly sins of software security encompass various vulnerabilities and weaknesses that developers must address to ensure the security of their applications. While all the sins mentioned above are critical, the use of components with known vulnerabilities is not typically classified as one of the “deadly sins.” Nonetheless, it remains essential to stay vigilant and keep software components up to date to minimize the risk of exploitation.

References

– OWASP: https://owasp.org/
– SANS Institute: https://www.sans.org/
– NIST: https://www.nist.gov/