OWASP Top 10 overview in Cybersecurity - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

📋 Factual

intermediate

What is the primary purpose of the OWASP Top 10?

Choose the best description of the main goal of the OWASP Top 10 list.

A To provide a detailed guide on how to build web applications from scratch.

B To rank the top ten programming languages used in cybersecurity.

C To list the ten most common and critical web application security risks to help developers and organizations improve security.

D To list the top ten companies that provide cybersecurity services.

💡 Hint

Think about what a security risk list aims to do for developers and organizations.

The OWASP Top 10 is a list that highlights the most critical security risks for web applications. It helps developers and organizations focus on fixing the most important vulnerabilities.

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Which of the following is NOT part of the OWASP Top 10 2021 list?

Select the option that is not included in the OWASP Top 10 security risks for 2021.

A Phishing Attacks

B Injection

C Broken Access Control

D Cryptographic Failures

💡 Hint

Consider which option is more about social engineering than a technical web application vulnerability.

Phishing attacks are social engineering attacks and are not listed in the OWASP Top 10, which focuses on technical web application security risks.

🔍 Analysis

advanced

What is the main risk caused by 'Broken Access Control' in web applications?

Analyze the impact of Broken Access Control and select the best description of its risk.

A Attackers can inject malicious code into the database causing data loss.

B Attackers can access data or functions they should not be allowed to, leading to unauthorized actions.

C Attackers can intercept data in transit between client and server.

D Attackers can cause the application to crash by sending malformed requests.

💡 Hint

Think about what 'access control' means in terms of permissions and user rights.

Broken Access Control means users can do things they are not supposed to, like viewing or changing data without permission.

❓ Comparison

advanced

How does 'Injection' differ from 'Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)' in the OWASP Top 10?

Compare Injection and Cross-Site Scripting and select the option that best explains their difference.

A Injection attacks target backend databases by inserting malicious commands, while XSS attacks inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users.

B Injection attacks only affect mobile apps, while XSS only affects desktop browsers.

C Injection attacks are caused by weak passwords, while XSS is caused by outdated software.

D Injection attacks encrypt data, while XSS attacks delete data.

💡 Hint

Consider where the malicious code is executed in each attack type.

Injection attacks send harmful commands to the backend database or system, while XSS injects scripts that run in the user's browser.

❓ Reasoning

expert

Why is 'Security Misconfiguration' considered a critical risk in the OWASP Top 10?

Reason why incorrect or incomplete security settings can lead to serious vulnerabilities in web applications.

A Because it prevents users from logging in to the application.

B Because it causes the application to run slower and use more memory.

C Because it encrypts all data making it inaccessible to users.

D Because it can leave default passwords, unnecessary features, or open cloud storage exposed, allowing attackers easy access.

💡 Hint

Think about what happens if security settings are left at default or not properly set.

Security Misconfiguration means the app or server is not set up securely, which can expose sensitive data or allow attackers to take control easily.