Top 100 Web Vulnerabilities Reference

Core Workflow

Phase 1: Injection Vulnerabilities Assessment

Evaluate injection attack vectors targeting data processing components:

SQL Injection (1)

• Definition: Malicious SQL code inserted into input fields to manipulate database queries
• Root Cause: Lack of input validation, improper use of parameterized queries
• Impact: Unauthorized data access, data manipulation, database compromise
• Mitigation: Use parameterized queries/prepared statements, input validation, least privilege database accounts

Cross-Site Scripting - XSS (2)

• Definition: Injection of malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users
• Root Cause: Insufficient output encoding, lack of input sanitization
• Impact: Session hijacking, credential theft, website defacement
• Mitigation: Output encoding, Content Security Policy (CSP), input sanitization

Command Injection (5, 11)

• Definition: Execution of arbitrary system commands through vulnerable applications
• Root Cause: Unsanitized user input passed to system shells
• Impact: Full system compromise, data exfiltration, lateral movement
• Mitigation: Avoid shell execution, whitelist valid commands, strict input validation

XML Injection (6), LDAP Injection (7), XPath Injection (8)

• Definition: Manipulation of XML/LDAP/XPath queries through malicious input
• Root Cause: Improper input handling in query construction
• Impact: Data exposure, authentication bypass, information disclosure
• Mitigation: Input validation, parameterized queries, escape special characters

Server-Side Template Injection - SSTI (13)

• Definition: Injection of malicious code into template engines
• Root Cause: User input embedded directly in template expressions
• Impact: Remote code execution, server compromise
• Mitigation: Sandbox template engines, avoid user input in templates, strict input validation

Phase 2: Authentication and Session Security

Assess authentication mechanism weaknesses:

Session Fixation (14)

• Definition: Attacker sets victim's session ID before authentication
• Root Cause: Session ID not regenerated after login
• Impact: Session hijacking, unauthorized account access
• Mitigation: Regenerate session ID on authentication, use secure session management

Brute Force Attack (15)

• Definition: Systematic password guessing using automated tools
• Root Cause: Lack of account lockout, rate limiting, or CAPTCHA
• Impact: Unauthorized access, credential compromise
• Mitigation: Account lockout policies, rate limiting, MFA, CAPTCHA

Session Hijacking (16)

• Definition: Attacker steals or predicts valid session tokens
• Root Cause: Weak session token generation, insecure transmission
• Impact: Account takeover, unauthorized access
• Mitigation: Secure random token generation, HTTPS, HttpOnly/Secure cookie flags

Credential Stuffing and Reuse (22)

• Definition: Using leaked credentials to access accounts across services
• Root Cause: Users reusing passwords, no breach detection
• Impact: Mass account compromise, data breaches
• Mitigation: MFA, breach password checks, unique credential requirements

Insecure "Remember Me" Functionality (85)

• Definition: Weak persistent authentication token implementation
• Root Cause: Predictable tokens, inadequate expiration controls
• Impact: Unauthorized persistent access, session compromise
• Mitigation: Strong token generation, proper expiration, secure storage

CAPTCHA Bypass (86)

• Definition: Circumventing bot detection mechanisms
• Root Cause: Weak CAPTCHA algorithms, improper validation
• Impact: Automated attacks, credential stuffing, spam
• Mitigation: reCAPTCHA v3, layered bot detection, rate limiting

Phase 3: Sensitive Data Exposure

Identify data protection failures:

IDOR - Insecure Direct Object References (23, 42)

• Definition: Direct access to internal objects via user-supplied references
• Root Cause: Missing authorization checks on object access
• Impact: Unauthorized data access, privacy breaches
• Mitigation: Access control validation, indirect reference maps, authorization checks

Data Leakage (24)

• Definition: Inadvertent disclosure of sensitive information
• Root Cause: Inadequate data protection, weak access controls
• Impact: Privacy breaches, regulatory penalties, reputation damage
• Mitigation: DLP solutions, encryption, access controls, security training

Unencrypted Data Storage (25)

• Definition: Storing sensitive data without encryption
• Root Cause: Failure to implement encryption at rest
• Impact: Data breaches if storage compromised
• Mitigation: Full-disk encryption, database encryption, secure key management

Information Disclosure (33)

• Definition: Exposure of system details through error messages or responses
• Root Cause: Verbose error handling, debug information in production
• Impact: Reconnaissance for further attacks, credential exposure
• Mitigation: Generic error messages, disable debug mode, secure logging

Phase 4: Security Misconfiguration

Assess configuration weaknesses:

Missing Security Headers (26)

• Definition: Absence of protective HTTP headers (CSP, X-Frame-Options, HSTS)
• Root Cause: Inadequate server configuration
• Impact: XSS attacks, clickjacking, protocol downgrade
• Mitigation: Implement CSP, X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, HSTS

Default Passwords (28)

• Definition: Unchanged default credentials on systems/applications
• Root Cause: Failure to change vendor defaults
• Impact: Unauthorized access, system compromise
• Mitigation: Mandatory password changes, strong password policies

Directory Listing (29)

• Definition: Web server exposes directory contents
• Root Cause: Improper server configuration
• Impact: Information disclosure, sensitive file exposure
• Mitigation: Disable directory indexing, use default index files

Unprotected API Endpoints (30)

• Definition: APIs lacking authentication or authorization
• Root Cause: Missing security controls on API routes
• Impact: Unauthorized data access, API abuse
• Mitigation: OAuth/API keys, access controls, rate limiting

Open Ports and Services (31)

• Definition: Unnecessary network services exposed
• Root Cause: Failure to minimize attack surface
• Impact: Exploitation of vulnerable services
• Mitigation: Port scanning audits, firewall rules, service minimization

Misconfigured CORS (35)

• Definition: Overly permissive Cross-Origin Resource Sharing policies
• Root Cause: Wildcard origins, improper CORS configuration
• Impact: Cross-site request attacks, data theft
• Mitigation: Whitelist trusted origins, validate CORS headers

Unpatched Software (34)

• Definition: Systems running outdated vulnerable software
• Root Cause: Neglected patch management
• Impact: Exploitation of known vulnerabilities
• Mitigation: Patch management program, vulnerability scanning, automated updates

Phase 5: XML-Related Vulnerabilities

Evaluate XML processing security:

XXE - XML External Entity Injection (37)

• Definition: Exploitation of XML parsers to access files or internal systems
• Root Cause: External entity processing enabled
• Impact: File disclosure, SSRF, denial of service
• Mitigation: Disable external entities, use safe XML parsers

XEE - XML Entity Expansion (38)

• Definition: Excessive entity expansion causing resource exhaustion
• Root Cause: Unlimited entity expansion allowed
• Impact: Denial of service, parser crashes
• Mitigation: Limit entity expansion, configure parser restrictions

XML Bomb (Billion Laughs) (39)

• Definition: Crafted XML with nested entities consuming resources
• Root Cause: Recursive entity definitions
• Impact: Memory exhaustion, denial of service
• Mitigation: Entity expansion limits, input size restrictions

XML Denial of Service (65)

• Definition: Specially crafted XML causing excessive processing
• Root Cause: Complex document structures without limits
• Impact: CPU/memory exhaustion, service unavailability
• Mitigation: Schema validation, size limits, processing timeouts

Phase 6: Broken Access Control

Assess authorization enforcement:

Inadequate Authorization (40)

• Definition: Failure to properly enforce access controls
• Root Cause: Weak authorization policies, missing checks
• Impact: Unauthorized access to sensitive resources
• Mitigation: RBAC, centralized IAM, regular access reviews

Privilege Escalation (41)

• Definition: Gaining elevated access beyond intended permissions
• Root Cause: Misconfigured permissions, system vulnerabilities
• Impact: Full system compromise, data manipulation
• Mitigation: Least privilege, regular patching, privilege monitoring

Forceful Browsing (43)

• Definition: Direct URL manipulation to access restricted resources
• Root Cause: Weak access controls, predictable URLs
• Impact: Unauthorized file/directory access
• Mitigation: Server-side access controls, unpredictable resource paths

Missing Function-Level Access Control (44)

• Definition: Unprotected administrative or privileged functions
• Root Cause: Authorization only at UI level
• Impact: Unauthorized function execution
• Mitigation: Server-side authorization for all functions, RBAC

Phase 7: Insecure Deserialization

Evaluate object serialization security:

Remote Code Execution via Deserialization (45)

• Definition: Arbitrary code execution through malicious serialized objects
• Root Cause: Untrusted data deserialized without validation
• Impact: Complete system compromise, code execution
• Mitigation: Avoid deserializing untrusted data, integrity checks, type validation

Data Tampering (46)

• Definition: Unauthorized modification of serialized data
• Root Cause: Missing integrity verification
• Impact: Data corruption, privilege manipulation
• Mitigation: Digital signatures, HMAC validation, encryption

Object Injection (47)

• Definition: Malicious object instantiation during deserialization
• Root Cause: Unsafe deserialization practices
• Impact: Code execution, unauthorized access
• Mitigation: Type restrictions, class whitelisting, secure libraries

Phase 8: API Security Assessment

Evaluate API-specific vulnerabilities:

Insecure API Endpoints (48)

• Definition: APIs without proper security controls
• Root Cause: Poor API design, missing authentication
• Impact: Data breaches, unauthorized access
• Mitigation: OAuth/JWT, HTTPS, input validation, rate limiting

API Key Exposure (49)

• Definition: Leaked or exposed API credentials
• Root Cause: Hardcoded keys, insecure storage
• Impact: Unauthorized API access, abuse
• Mitigation: Secure key storage, rotation, environment variables

Lack of Rate Limiting (50)

• Definition: No controls on API request frequency
• Root Cause: Missing throttling mechanisms
• Impact: DoS, API abuse, resource exhaustion
• Mitigation: Rate limits per user/IP, throttling, DDoS protection

Inadequate Input Validation (51)

• Definition: APIs accepting unvalidated user input
• Root Cause: Missing server-side validation
• Impact: Injection attacks, data corruption
• Mitigation: Strict validation, parameterized queries, WAF

API Abuse (75)

• Definition: Exploiting API functionality for malicious purposes
• Root Cause: Excessive trust in client input
• Impact: Data theft, account takeover, service abuse
• Mitigation: Strong authentication, behavior analysis, anomaly detection

Phase 9: Communication Security

Assess transport layer protections:

Man-in-the-Middle Attack (52)

• Definition: Interception of communication between parties
• Root Cause: Unencrypted channels, compromised networks
• Impact: Data theft, session hijacking, impersonation
• Mitigation: TLS/SSL, certificate pinning, mutual authentication

Insufficient Transport Layer Security (53)

• Definition: Weak or outdated encryption for data in transit
• Root Cause: Outdated protocols (SSLv2/3), weak ciphers
• Impact: Traffic interception, credential theft
• Mitigation: TLS 1.2+, strong cipher suites, HSTS

Insecure SSL/TLS Configuration (54)

• Definition: Improperly configured encryption settings
• Root Cause: Weak ciphers, missing forward secrecy
• Impact: Traffic decryption, MITM attacks
• Mitigation: Modern cipher suites, PFS, certificate validation

Insecure Communication Protocols (55)

• Definition: Use of unencrypted protocols (HTTP, Telnet, FTP)
• Root Cause: Legacy systems, security unawareness
• Impact: Traffic sniffing, credential exposure
• Mitigation: HTTPS, SSH, SFTP, VPN tunnels

Phase 10: Client-Side Vulnerabilities

Evaluate browser-side security:

DOM-based XSS (56)

• Definition: XSS through client-side JavaScript manipulation
• Root Cause: Unsafe DOM manipulation with user input
• Impact: Session theft, credential harvesting
• Mitigation: Safe DOM APIs, CSP, input sanitization

Insecure Cross-Origin Communication (57)

• Definition: Improper handling of cross-origin requests
• Root Cause: Relaxed CORS/SOP policies
• Impact: Data leakage, CSRF attacks
• Mitigation: Strict CORS, CSRF tokens, origin validation

Browser Cache Poisoning (58)

• Definition: Manipulation of cached content
• Root Cause: Weak cache validation
• Impact: Malicious content delivery
• Mitigation: Cache-Control headers, HTTPS, integrity checks

Clickjacking (59, 71)

• Definition: UI redress attack tricking users into clicking hidden elements
• Root Cause: Missing frame protection
• Impact: Unintended actions, credential theft
• Mitigation: X-Frame-Options, CSP frame-ancestors, frame-busting

HTML5 Security Issues (60)

• Definition: Vulnerabilities in HTML5 APIs (WebSockets, Storage, Geolocation)
• Root Cause: Improper API usage, insufficient validation
• Impact: Data leakage, XSS, privacy violations
• Mitigation: Secure API usage, input validation, sandboxing

Phase 11: Denial of Service Assessment

Evaluate availability threats:

DDoS - Distributed Denial of Service (61)

• Definition: Overwhelming systems with traffic from multiple sources
• Root Cause: Botnets, amplification attacks
• Impact: Service unavailability, revenue loss
• Mitigation: DDoS protection services, rate limiting, CDN

Application Layer DoS (62)

• Definition: Targeting application logic to exhaust resources
• Root Cause: Inefficient code, resource-intensive operations
• Impact: Application unavailability, degraded performance
• Mitigation: Rate limiting, caching, WAF, code optimization

Resource Exhaustion (63)

• Definition: Depleting CPU, memory, disk, or network resources
• Root Cause: Inefficient resource management
• Impact: System crashes, service degradation
• Mitigation: Resource quotas, monitoring, load balancing

Slowloris Attack (64)

• Definition: Keeping connections open with partial HTTP requests
• Root Cause: No connection timeouts
• Impact: Web server resource exhaustion
• Mitigation: Connection timeouts, request limits, reverse proxy

Phase 12: Server-Side Request Forgery

Assess SSRF vulnerabilities:

SSRF - Server-Side Request Forgery (66)

• Definition: Manipulating server to make requests to internal resources
• Root Cause: Unvalidated user-controlled URLs
• Impact: Internal network access, data theft, cloud metadata access
• Mitigation: URL whitelisting, network segmentation, egress filtering

Blind SSRF (87)

• Definition: SSRF without direct response visibility
• Root Cause: Similar to SSRF, harder to detect
• Impact: Data exfiltration, internal reconnaissance
• Mitigation: Allowlists, WAF, network restrictions

Time-Based Blind SSRF (88)

• Definition: Inferring SSRF success through response timing
• Root Cause: Processing delays indicating request outcomes
• Impact: Prolonged exploitation, detection evasion
• Mitigation: Request timeouts, anomaly detection, timing monitoring

Phase 13: Additional Web Vulnerabilities

Phase 14: Mobile and IoT Security

Phase 15: Advanced and Zero-Day Threats

Quick Reference

Vulnerability Categories Summary

Critical Security Headers

Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'
X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff
X-Frame-Options: DENY
X-XSS-Protection: 1; mode=block
Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains
Referrer-Policy: strict-origin-when-cross-origin
Permissions-Policy: geolocation=(), microphone=()

OWASP Top 10 Mapping

Constraints and Limitations

• Vulnerability definitions represent common patterns; specific implementations vary
• Mitigations must be adapted to technology stack and architecture
• New vulnerabilities emerge continuously; reference should be updated
• Some vulnerabilities overlap across categories (e.g., IDOR appears in multiple contexts)
• Effectiveness of mitigations depends on proper implementation
• Automated scanners cannot detect all vulnerability types (especially business logic)

Troubleshooting

Common Assessment Challenges

Vulnerability Verification Techniques

References

• OWASP Top 10 Web Application Security Risks
• CWE/SANS Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Errors
• OWASP Testing Guide
• OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS)
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework
• Source: Kumar MS - Top 100 Web Vulnerabilities