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In the age of digitalization and online consumerism, it is getting increasingly important to provide safe and secure online retail experiences.

In the digital era, web applications are susceptible to cyber-attacks, web security risks and data leakage at all times.

Cybercrime is at an all-time high, and it is estimated to cost companies an astonishing amount of $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.

Here are the types of apps that are at the risk of sensitive data leakage:

What is data leakage?

Data leakage is an unauthorized transmission of sensitive or confidential data used for malicious purposes by hackers.

An insecure app can lead to a loss of credibility and brand loyalty for a company as the consumer can no longer trust the company’s app to make a purchase or any kind of transaction.

It is crucial for companies and developers to be aware of the security risks to successfully prevent cybercrime and deliver safe user experiences.

This is where OWASP Top 10 comes into play!

Let’s start by discussing what is OWASP…

What is OWASP?

Founded in 2001 by Mark Curphey, OWASP is a non-profit international organization dedicated to improving the security of web application software all over the world.

What does OWASP stand for?

Open Web Application Security Project

OWASP meaning is simple: Through numerous open-source projects, thousands of community members and educational training conferences, the OWASP organization is the main source of software security for developers.

They offer a plethora of software security materials like videos, tools, forums and documentation, and all of their content is freely available for everyone on OWASP’s website.

The best content that they’ve released as of yet is the OWASP top 10 for tackling software and mobile vulnerability from issues like data leakage and cyber-attacks.

Now you may be wondering what is OWASP top 10, let’s clarify.

What is OWASP Top 10?

The OWASP Top 10 represents a list of the most threatening security risks to web applications and web development, and the list is updated and optimized every few years. It is a standard report for spreading awareness among developers and technologists.

This ranked list is created by security experts around the world, and the web security risks are ranked according to the frequency of the vulnerabilities, the impact of the security risk and the severity of the security flaws.

Its main objective is to help developers produce a better and more secure codebase for companies, minimizing security risks and building a robust software development culture.

Here’s a list of the OWASP top 10 of 2013 compared to the updated OWASP top 10 of 2017:

Without further ado, let’s discuss each of the latest OWASP Top 10 in detail.

Injection

Broken Authentication

Sensitive Data Exposure

XML External Entities (XXE)

Broken Access Control

Security Misconfiguration

Cross-Site Scripting

Insecure Deserialization

Using Components With Known Vulnerabilities

Insufficient Logging & Monitoring

1. Injection

All the data in a website or web application is stored in databases in form of queries, which is written in a Structure Query Language (SQL) most often than not. Web application retrieves, adds, removes and modifies data through SQL, like when a consumer fills up a questionnaire with personal information and data.

The users’ sensitive data in the questionnaire can be easily hacked for malicious intent by changing the web application’s code specifically for the SQL query.

With this insecure cryptography, a hacker can gain access, steal, view, delete and tamper confidential data for personal gain.This web app vulnerability is the result of insufficient authentication of user information, allowing intruders to input special requests that deceive the web application.

The best way to avoid this OWASP top ten security risk is by separating the database from the queries and commands, which means segregating them from the web app logic.

This can be done in multiple ways:

• Remove the use of parameterized queries and interpreters by using a safe & secure API
• Add a whitelist (server-side input authentication)
• Use the escape syntax in the interpreter to avoid special characters in the web application
• Minimize data exposure in case of an SQL injection by using database controls like LIMIT SQL within the queries

2. Broken Authentication

This is one of the most critical security risks in the list of OWASP top 10. Whenever a web application needs to distinguish and identify users, it uses session cookies. After the login is authenticated via username and password, a specific identifying cookie is saved in storage. This is the process of user identification and recognition of a web application.

If the web application’s IT architecture does not implement additional verification of the user’s IP address or multiple access in a single session, a hacker can gain access to the identifier and the web application via the user’s account.

If it’s a bank account or a web application that contains payment gateways, the consequence of this security breach and unverified access can adversely affect the original user.

This OWASP top ten security risk can be avoided by:

• Implement password optimization by checking the strength of the password used by a user
• Implement multi-factor authentication for double-checking login information
• Avoid using URLs for sessions IDs and make sure that the URL in use is terminated after logout
• Block the use of default credentials
• Limit the number of login attempts and monitor failed login attempts. Inform users and admins when an account is under cyber-attack

3. Sensitive Data Exposure

The data or information transmitted through HTTP is not encrypted when it goes through multiple routers. All types of data transfer in a web server from device to user travel between many nodes like office router, home router, provider router, host provider server, data centre router, and many more.

If any of these nodes contain malware, known as “sniffer”, the data is read and transferred to the hacker, which provides access to all types of sensitive and confidential data going through the different routers.

This insecure cryptography in data transfer leads to the vulnerability of sensitive information like bank account details and user passwords.

This OWASP top ten security risk can be avoided by:

• Enforce a Transport Layer Security (TLS) to protect data transfer
• Encrypt the stored data
• Implement HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) for encryption
• User responses with sensitive data should not be saved in the cache
• Implement controls on different data classifications like stored, transmitted or processed
• Use robust and secure keys, protocols and algorithms
• Implement hashing functions like PBKDF2, Argon2, scrypt, brcrypt, etc.

4. XML External Entities (XXE)

XXE can be exploited in a wide variety of ways. It can be implemented in a complicated way or a simple way, if a part of external code reaches an XML document, then the web application has been breached and compromised.

The most famous XXE attack is called the “XML Bomb” or the “Billion Laughs” attack. This type of cyber-attack can overload the web application’s server and its resources quite simply. A hacker can define a tiny and insignificant element like “haha” or “lol” or a collection of other elements to shut down a specific server.

This OWASP top ten security risk can be avoided by:

• Train developers to test, recognize and deal with XXE attacks
• Implement simpler data formats like JSON to avoid serialization of sensitive data
• Implement whitelist server-side input authentication to avoid XML documents with malicious data
• Implement XSD validation to authenticate incoming XML using XML schema
• Ensure regular up-gradation and patching of XML libraries
• Manually review and analyse source code for anticipating XXE attack

5. Broken Access Control

This security risk in OWASP top 10 has resulted from the lack of authentication of accessibility when data or object is requested. Web applications implement permission checks before giving access to data on the user interface. However, if the data request is not carefully authenticated, hackers can trick the web application by using a falsified request to gain unauthorized administrative access to sensitive data and system functionalities without the required permissions. This can allow the hackers to add, tamper or delete important data for personal gain.

This OWASP top ten security risk can be avoided by:

• Provide access control through server-less API or trusted server-side code
• Avoid public resources
• Implement access control functions and use them all over the web application
• Implement record ownership
• Identify and track access control failures and let the admins and users know in case of suspicious login behaviour
• Unauthorize JSON Web Tokens (JWT) after logout
• Ensure that the wen roots don’t contain backup files and metadata
• Introduce integration and access control unit tests
• Remove invalid and inactive user accounts
• Introduce multi-factor authentication during login
• Introduce Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP)
•  

6. Security Misconfiguration

The security of web applications controls the whole infrastructure, framework and all types of servers. Server component default settings are, most often than not, insecure and open to potential data leakage.

A disabled cookie HTTP only setting can easily lead to theft of session cookies through JavaScript in an XSS attack (section 7), and this is caused by the default setting. If the cookie HTTP only setting is enabled, then the session cookie remains secure from malicious hackers. Such a significant and simple setting is overlooked in most web applications with personal accounts and payment gateways.

The database server default settings like Memcached and Redis are also some examples of Security Misconfigurations. This weakness or vulnerability leads to situations where private sessions and services get displayed on public IP, making it easy for hackers to access and tamper data using an XSS attack.

The web application must be regularly updated and optimized to avoid this kind of data leakage because vulnerabilities emerge every day in different components of a web application. Your app may be secure, nicely written and carefully examined, still weaknesses and data leakage may arise in the web or operating server at any time.

This OWASP top ten security risk can be avoided by:

• Use a secure and safe web application installation process
• Automate the process of deploying a secure web application environment
• Eliminate rarely used features and frameworks and deliver a minimal web application
• Segregate the tenants and components by implementing segmented web application architecture
• Examine, review and regularly update the configurations of updates, patches, security notes and cloud storage permissions
• Automate the process of monitoring and authenticating the efficiency of the secure web application environment
• Automate workflows to ameliorate security issues in real-time

7. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Cross-Site Scripting or XSS is another type of authentication error. Like an SQL injection, a hacker can steal session cookies and sensitive data using HTML injection. This type of injection is executed on the user’s browser.

Most web applications are exposed to this kind of HTML injection attack. User information like CVC code, bank account information, debit or credit card details, etc. are vulnerable to hackers. Using malicious scripts, user sessions can be stolen and information can be altered or monitored in real-time by hackers.

This OWASP top ten security risk can be avoided by:

• Distinguish and segregate unauthorized data input from live browner content.
• Using frameworks that prevent XSS attack by default like Ruby on Rails and ReactJS
• Follow OWASP’s cheat sheet for XSS prevention and avoid suspicious HTTP data requests in HTML
• Prevent DOM-based XSS by implementing context-sensitive encoding
• Introduce Content Security Policy (CSP)

8. Insecure Deserialization

When using object-oriented programming frameworks like .Net or Java for building a web application, deserialization and serialization are crucial concepts.

A security breach or data leakage occurs when the web application exhibits insecure or vulnerable deserialization.

In default settings for deserialization, a web application loses all control over what data is serialized or deserialized. This leads to incoming serialized data from unauthorized sources without any authentication or precautions. Other security issues that can occur because of this vulnerability are SQL injection, Application denial of service, Path Traversal and Remote Code Execution.

This OWASP top ten security risk can be avoided by:

• Avoid serialized data from suspicious sources
• Implement serialization methods that allow primitive data types
• Analyse the integrity of serialized data by introducing digital signatures
• Identify unanticipated clauses by implementing strict type constraints while deserializing
• Monitor scenarios where deserialization failed or acted suspiciously
• Run deserialization code by isolating it in low privilege environments to block unverified actions
• Eliminate exchange of network connectivity from deserializing containers and server

9. Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities

On many occasions, developers utilise frameworks or special libraries provided by third parties to build web applications. Most of these libraries, components and frameworks are open-sourced, giving source code access to people all around the world.

Hackers can study the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of the web application components to exploit them for personal gain.

This exposes the web application to different kinds of cyber-attack, leading to server takeover and data leakage.

This OWASP top ten security risk can be avoided by:

• Use frameworks, components and libraries from official sources
• Avoid components and libraries that are not maintained or updated regularly
• Deploy patches to identify and eradicate problems with unpatched frameworks
• Eliminate useless features, components, documentation and files
• Keep an on the sources for vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the components and update server-side and client-side inventory and dependencies regularly
• Frequently monitor, update, modify and optimize configurations of the web application

10. Insufficient Logging & Monitoring

This issue of insufficient logging and monitoring is not just faced by the internet web application, but by the entire Information Technology sector.

The core of this security risk is the number of logs, countless logs are being generated by modern systems. That’s why log management is a widespread issue.

The magnitude of the logged data is too huge to keep track of manually.

This security risk, when linked with inefficient integration with incident response leads to cyber-attacks that can persist for a long time, transfer to other systems and retrieve, modify or delete sensitive data.

The average time to identify a security breach or data leakage is more than 200 days, mostly noticed by external entities instead of internal monitoring.

This OWASP top ten security risk can be avoided by:

• Spot malicious accounts and activity by logging adequate user context during login, server-side input authentication failures, and access control failures
• For high-value transactions, introduce audit trails with integrity controls to prevent attempts of data leakage
• Utilise log formats that are easily handled by log management solutions
• Implement an incident response and recovery plan to prevent and anticipate cyber-attacks efficiently

Now that we’ve discussed the OWASP top ten security risks, here are a few of the other vulnerabilities you may face while maintaining a web or mobile application…

Other NON-OWASP Vulnerabilities

• Compromised passwords from other websites
• Access via malicious insider’s credentials
• Malicious website scraping
• Malware and phishing
• Physical theft
• Attacks via physical equipment (ATMs, POS)
• RDP exploits

Final Thoughts

The above-mentioned list of web application vulnerabilities must be avoided to eliminate the risk of potential data leakage and cyber-attacks.

The OWASP top 10 list of security risks spreads the awareness of web safety for developers and companies. From security breaches to sensitive data leakage, OWASP top 10 provides a detailed explanation of the most dangerous security risks.

We have encapsulated the latest list of top web application security risks and their solutions in this blog, and we hope it will help you in developing secure mobile and web applications for your end-users.

If you require further assistance or need answers to any queries, feel free to contact us.

With 16+ years of hands-on experience, Communication Crafts is a top-tier web development company and mobile application development company dedicated to helping businesses grow and flourish.

Our expert dedicated developers let you get involved in the project with a completely transparent development process to deliver cost-effective and customer-centric web applications.

We understand that this is a complicated subject for many readers, that’s why we’ve included an FAQ section…

FAQS – OWASP Top 10

What does OWASP stand for?

OWASP is the acronym for “Open Web Application Security Project”

WHAT IS AN OWASP VULNERABILITY?

OWASP vulnerabilities are security problems or weaknesses published by the Open Web Application Security Project. These issues are gathered by businesses, organizations, and security experts, which are then ranked by the seriousness of the security risk they pose to web applications.

WHAT ARE THE TOP 10 OWASP VULNERABILITIES?

OWASP’s top ten list is edited, compiled and published every three to four years, highlighting the most noteworthy web app security vulnerabilities. Also, the list includes examples of the weaknesses, how they can be exploited for cybercrimes, and suggested methods that reduce or eliminate application vulnerability.

WHAT IS THE NUMBER 1 APPLICATION SECURITY RISK REPORTED BY OWASP?

Injection is the number 1 flaw reported by OWASP. Injection can send suspicious data through SQL or other paths such as LDAP, allowing the interpreter to access unauthorized data or execute commands not intended by the application.

HOW CAN OWASP TOP 10 VULNERABILITIES BE TESTED?

OWASP provides an in-depth testing guide that offers test cases for a series of test scenarios. Many web app security teams have adopted a more automated solution by utilizing software to scan code for vulnerabilities with automated warnings and consistent application of best practices.

HOW SHOULD THE OWASP TOP 10 BE USED?

OWASP’s top 10 list offers a tool for developers and security teams to evaluate development practices and provide thought related to website application security. It does not make your web application free of vulnerabilities, but it provides a benchmark that encourages visibility of security considerations and concerns.

EdTech is one of the fastest-growing trends in the past decade, and it continues to grow exponentially. Education and new technologies go hand in hand nowadays, ideas that seemed far-fetched and unrealistic are being implemented in recent years. And artificial intelligence is one of those new technologies.

AI in education is making enormous strides in simplifying learning and teaching experiences around the world.

As of 2020, the global market of artificial intelligence in education has already surpassed $1 billion, and it is projected to reach more than $20 billion by 2027.

However, the importance of AI in education is still being overlooked by many organizations. That’s why our EdTech experts have prepared this detailed blog on the impact and benefits of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning.

But first of all, let’s discuss the meaning of artificial intelligence.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

In simple words, artificial intelligence or AI is the simulation of human minds through machines and computer systems.

Alan Turing would describe it as “systems that act like humans”

AI utilises machine learning and deep learning to identify different and recurring patterns in data and behaviour. Then it uses this data for qualitative decision making and automation processes.

It is a system that perceives the environment and acts upon it to maximize the chance of achieving the desired goals. AI has endless applications across all industries, but let’s delve deeper and understand its impact on the education industry.

Significance of AI in education

AI in education sector and AI in EdTech can take learning experiences to a whole new level, reducing human effort, saving time, and producing effective learning experiences all over the world.

Let’s discuss the impact and significance of AI in education:

Personalized Learning Experiences

One of the biggest drawbacks of traditional learning methods is providing the same course structure and learning process for every student. Artificial intelligence in education solves this issue by delivering personalized learning experiences. Students get unique learning experiences according to their individual needs and preferences.

AI based learning platforms can utilise machine learning to understand a student’s pace of learning, knowledge retention capacity, strengths, weaknesses, academic history and gaps in knowledge to form a unique learning process that saves time and delivers effective results simultaneously.

AI and machine learning in education also help educators to better understand their students’ learning patterns and specific needs to restructure the course according to the student’s preferences. This makes it much easier to overcome teaching challenges and deliver impactful learning experiences.

Training artificial intelligence for education is done with the Knowledge Space Theory. This theory is used to identify gaps in knowledge by forming a mathematical knowledge structure of a particular concept and determining the possible states of knowledge of a student.

Here’s a representation of knowledge spaces:

AI-Powered Learning Content

Artificial Intelligence in schools and eLearning courses can enhance learning content remarkably.

• Digital Learning Content: Customizable and engaging digital books, guides, micro-learning content, etc. can be developed with AI. Eliminating the need to carry heavy books and reducing paper waste.
• Content Visualization: Subjectsorconcepts which can’t be perceived in normal circumstances like quantum physics, astronomy, biology, chemistry, etc. can be simulated with augmented reality powered by AI. Concept visualization through AR glasses or cameras can provide an extremely immersive learning environment and a much better understanding of the concept.
• Up-to-date Learning Content: Course materials and content can be regularly updated and customized in accordance with the latest regulations and different learning curves.

AI-Powered Task Automation

AI in the classroom and AI based learning platforms can easily automate mundane, repetitive and time-consuming tasks. Tasks like grading tests, attendance tracking, identifying learning patterns, answering queries and other administrative work can be automated with the help of artificial intelligence in education.

By automating these tasks, educators can save valuable time and focus on their students’ individual concerns and requirements. This process uplifts the quality of courses and training programs by streamlining the teaching and learning experiences.

Additionally, AI-powered automation provides a great opportunity to create more effective student enrolment, shortlisting and admission procedures.

AI-Powered Tutoring

Constant updates and changes in courses ultimately leads to confused students and more gaps in knowledge. Although it is extremely difficult for teachers to provide individual attention to each student at all times, AI-powered tutoring can solve this issue with ease.

AI tutors can be used to solve queries and explain challenging concepts outside the classroom. Yes, AI tutors can’t replace human teachers but they can provide extra information and guidance when needed.

AI in education with AI-powered personal assistants and chatbots can save tremendous amounts of time and help students by solving their doubts at all times. By using machine learning along with the school’s learning content database, AI chatbots and assistants can deliver answers to repetitive and generic questions without the need of any educator or faculty. This automation process lets the teacher focus more on building effective lesson plans for dynamic and stimulating learning experiences.

Moreover, AI-powered tutoring provides mental peace for students and teachers alike. Teachers don’t have time to be pursued with continuous doubts and queries and it is frustrating for students to wait for the answers. Artificial intelligence in schools resolves this issue efficiently.

Access to Education for Differently Abled students

Artificial intelligence in teaching and learning can bring forth innovative and interactive techniques for differently-abled students. Education should be accessible to everyone, and AI can make that happen.

Creatively personalized learning experiences can be generated with AI for students with special needs.

AI in education examples for differently-abled students:

• Easy-to-understand text summarizations for students with learning impairments;
• AI-powered text to audio conversionfor visually impaired students;
• Voice-controlled deviceswith AI-powered voice recognition for visually impaired students;
• Lip-reading AI-powered recognition for students with hearing impairment;
• Captioning in real-time for students with hearing impairment;
• Special classes for students with Autism to learn new skills comfortably.

AI can break all barriers to knowledge and facilitate education for everyone by delivering specially designed learning experiences with unique communicative approaches.

24/7 Global Access to Learning

AI-powered tools like chatbots, tutors and digital assistants can facilitate 24/7 learning opportunities from anywhere. Learning is no longer limited to specific places like classrooms, students can access course materials and enable a comfortable and top-quality learning experience without travelling expenses or the availability of teachers.

With 24/7 access to education, students can enjoy a preferred learning pace at a preferred learning location.

Artificial intelligence can also break the language barrier by providing subtitles or translations for students who speak different languages. Unified global webinars or classrooms can be formed with the help of AI where students from all around the world can gather and learn on an AI-powered digital platform.

A Few Perks of AI for Students

From instantaneous query solving to maximum accessibility, students can gain a lot from AI. Let’s look at a few student-centric AI benefits.

Interactive and Immersive Learning

AI in education can easily uplift learning experiences because it is a technology that learns and understands the students thoroughly.
Custom class schedules, personalized learning experiences, integration of modern technologies like augmented reality, quick responses and individual attention creates a nurturing environment for students. The students tend to stay more attentive, focused, engaged and immersed while learning with AI.

From lower level education to specialized training programs for employees, artificial intelligence works like magic.

Less Performance Pressure

Students always suffer from performance pressure among other students, because they keep comparing themselves to their peers. Asking a question amid an entire class may feel like a daunting task for some students.

This problem can be easily simplified and solved with the help of AI-powered tutors. Students can comfortably type a question or query in a chat box to get precise and instant answers.

AI in EdTech can fuel enthusiasm and make the students feel more relaxed and confident while learning by reducing individual pressure and eliminating unnecessary stress and anxiety among students.

Enhanced Student-Teacher Communication

By analysing and assessing the students’ performances with artificial intelligence, teachers can get a clear picture of the needs and wants of their students. By learning the gaps in knowledge and individual preferences, teachers can better communicate with their students to overcome challenges.

Additionally, AI makes it easy for teachers to identify the reasons behind bad grades or difficult behavioural patterns in the classroom. This helps the educators to anticipate challenges and ameliorate learning experiences for effective and long-lasting results.

Now that we have discussed the impact of AI in education and the benefits of AI for students, let’s discuss the steps for AI implementation.

AI Implementation

If you’re looking to enhance the learning experience in your school, university or training program, the following steps will guide you through the process of AI adoption for education.

1. Identify the purpose of AI in education

The initial stage of AI adoption is recognizing the persisting problems that AI can solve. Identify the pain points and figure out how you can use AI to address the specific issues and bottlenecks in the learning process.

2. Define objectives for AI adoption

Develop a strategic plan for AI adoption that integrates well with your existing education system. Carefully structure a cost-effective AI adoption plan that delivers optimal results.

3. Create a comfortable AI transformation environment
After adequate research and analysis, form a team to support the adoption of AI technology and create the right environment with goal-oriented decision making that affects all departments positively.

4. Oversee and regulate the outcome of AI transformation

Develop a learning environment and teaching process where AI and humans can efficiently work together, learning from each other. A transparent process is recommended during the AI adoption.

5. Take necessary steps to ensure a successful AI transformation

Consider the characteristics of your organization and its employees to gradually introduce the AI transformation. Identify security concerns and decide the features of AI to focus on while creating an efficient technical ecosystem.

Reap the benefits of AI-powered learning methods.

Summary

AI is a boon for the education sector. With endless features and benefits, artificial intelligence and education have proven to be a powerful combination.

From personalized learning experiences to AI-powered tutoring, AI in education can solve many persistent problems for students and teachers.

Students get a more engaging and captivating learning experience, and teachers get a much better easier way to understand the students’ needs and preferences.

Artificial intelligence has endless possibilities in the education sector, and that is the main takeaway from this article.

If you have further queries about AI implementation or EdTech development services, feel free to contact us!

With more than 16 years of experience and a proactive workforce, Communication Crafts offers the best custom EdTech solutions with AI implementations that will help you achieve your desired goals efficiently and cost-effectively.

From bespoke Learning Management Systems to eLearning app development, our expert EdTech developers can handle it all!
Your EdTech development dream team is just one call away.