Design Security Auditing - OWASP Top 10

1. Introduction

Design security auditing is a critical aspect of the OWASP Top 10, specifically focusing on identifying and mitigating design flaws in software systems. This lesson covers the fundamentals of conducting security audits during the design phase of a software project.

2. Key Concepts

• Security Audit: A systematic evaluation of the security of a software system.
• Design Flaws: Vulnerabilities that arise from poor design choices.
• Threat Modeling: The process of identifying potential threats to a system.

3. Audit Process

The design security auditing process can be summarized in the following steps:

1. Identify Assets: Determine what resources need protection.
2. Threat Modeling: Analyze potential threats to these assets.
3. Review Design Documentation: Evaluate design documents for security considerations.
4. Conduct Interviews: Engage with stakeholders to understand the design rationale.
5. Assess Risks: Identify and prioritize risks based on likelihood and impact.
6. Document Findings: Create a report summarizing vulnerabilities and recommendations.

Flowchart of Audit Process

        graph TD;
            A[Identify Assets] --> B[Threat Modeling];
            B --> C[Review Design Documentation];
            C --> D[Conduct Interviews];
            D --> E[Assess Risks];
            E --> F[Document Findings];
        

4. Best Practices

Following best practices can enhance the effectiveness of design security audits:

• Conduct regular audits throughout the development lifecycle.
• Incorporate security training for design teams.
• Utilize automated tools for threat modeling.
• Engage third-party security experts for an objective review.

5. Code Example

Below is an example of a simple threat model using pseudo-code to illustrate how you might structure your audit data:

            class ThreatModel {
                String asset;
                String threat;
                String impact;
                
                ThreatModel(String asset, String threat, String impact) {
                    this.asset = asset;
                    this.threat = threat;
                    this.impact = impact;
                }
                
                void displayThreat() {
                    System.out.println("Asset: " + asset);
                    System.out.println("Threat: " + threat);
                    System.out.println("Impact: " + impact);
                }
            }

            // Example instantiation
            ThreatModel tm = new ThreatModel("User Data", "SQL Injection", "Data Breach");
            tm.displayThreat();
            

6. FAQ