OWASP Top 10 Essentials: Quick Knowledge Test Quiz

Explore essential security concepts with this quiz focused on the OWASP Top 10. Boost your understanding of core web vulnerabilities and best practices in security testing, ideal for beginners seeking to assess and enhance their foundational knowledge.

  1. Injection Attacks

    Which of the following best describes an injection vulnerability, as highlighted in the OWASP Top 10, using the example of a form allowing direct SQL commands from input fields?

    1. User input is executed as code, allowing unwanted commands to run.
    2. Sensitive data is displayed through insufficient encryption.
    3. User session tokens expire too quickly, causing access issues.
    4. Website performance is degraded due to slow server responses.

    Explanation: Injection vulnerabilities occur when untrusted user input is executed as code or queries by the application, which may allow attackers to perform actions like modifying or stealing data. This is seen in forms where SQL or other command injection is possible. Incorrect options such as insufficient encryption and slow server response are unrelated to injection. Token expiration may cause inconvenience but is not an injection vulnerability.

  2. Broken Authentication Example

    If a website stores user credentials in plain text and uses predictable session IDs, which OWASP Top 10 risk does this most closely represent?

    1. Broken Authentication
    2. Security Misconfiguration
    3. Sensitive Data Exposure
    4. Cross-Site Scripting

    Explanation: Broken Authentication covers failures related to identity and session management, which can allow attackers to compromise passwords, keys, or session tokens. Storing credentials in plain text and using weak session IDs both fall under this risk. Security Misconfiguration involves system setup issues, while Sensitive Data Exposure relates specifically to data at rest or in transit, and Cross-Site Scripting is about injecting scripts in web pages.

  3. Sensitive Data Exposure

    When a web application transmits login details over an unencrypted (HTTP) connection, which OWASP Top 10 category of risk is most relevant?

    1. Sensitive Data Exposure
    2. Denial of Service
    3. Broken Access Control
    4. Cross-Site Forgery

    Explanation: Transmitting sensitive information such as login details without encryption can lead to interception and misuse, which is categorized as Sensitive Data Exposure. Denial of Service refers to making the application unavailable, not data leakage. Broken Access Control involves restrictions on what authenticated users can do, and Cross-Site Forgery is related to unauthorized actions performed by users.

  4. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

    A chat application allows users to send messages containing scripts that run in other users' browsers, representing which OWASP Top 10 vulnerability?

    1. Cross-Site Scripting
    2. Cross-Site Request Froggery
    3. Insecure Deserialization
    4. Brute Force Authentication

    Explanation: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) involves injecting malicious scripts into content that is presented to other users, allowing attackers to steal data or hijack sessions. Froggery is a distractor based on the correct Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) term, which involves unauthorized requests but not script injection. Insecure Deserialization deals with object data, and Brute Force Authentication refers to repeatedly guessing passwords.

  5. Security Misconfiguration Risks

    Allowing default administrator accounts and settings to remain unchanged on deployed software is an example of which OWASP Top 10 risk?

    1. Security Misconfiguration
    2. Insufficient Logging
    3. Cryptojacking
    4. Broken Session Managment

    Explanation: Security Misconfiguration includes failing to change default settings, exposing unnecessary features, or improper permissions, making systems more vulnerable. Insufficient Logging refers to a lack of monitoring or alerting, Cryptojacking is the unauthorized use of resources for mining, and Broken Session Management (misspelled as Managment) involves session control issues but not default settings.