MITRE Updates the Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Vulnerabilities List

MITRE Corporation has updated its CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Weaknesses list. This list reflects current trends in the cybersecurity threat landscape and serves as a crucial guide for implementing protective measures.

The vulnerabilities included in this list are widely exploited by cybercriminals to take control of systems, steal sensitive information, and cause disruptions. Therefore, this list is a vital resource for software developers and cybersecurity professionals.

Key Changes in the 2024 List

  1. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) has taken the top spot, rising from second place last year.
  2. Out-of-Bounds Write has dropped from first to second place.
  3. SQL Injection retains its position in third place.

Other Changes:

  • Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) moved up by five positions.
  • Path Traversal and Out-of-Bounds Read climbed three and one positions, respectively.
  • OS Command Injection and Use-After-Free dropped in the rankings.
  • Unrestricted File Upload remained in tenth place.
  • Missing Authorization, a new entry, has been identified as a high-risk vulnerability.

New Entries in the 2024 List

  1. Sensitive Information Exposure climbed to 14th place (from 30th last year).
  2. Uncontrolled Resource Consumption rose to 24th place (from 37th last year).

At the same time, Incorrect Default Permissions and Race Condition were removed from the top 25.

Recommendations from CISA and MITRE

MITRE and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) collaborated on this list. CISA recommends that organizations:

  1. Adopt Secure-by-Design and Secure-by-Demand principles.
  2. Use the CWE Top 25 as a guide in software development and procurement processes.
  3. Manage vulnerabilities and ensure application security based on this list.

Secure-by-Design and Secure-by-Default Principles

These principles focus on creating technology that prioritizes security from the outset and reduces the need for additional protective measures.

Secure-by-Design – “Security Built-In from the Start”

Imagine building a house with a strong foundation and robust locks from the very beginning. Secure-by-Design means that software developers design and implement security measures during the initial stages of product development.

  • In simple terms:
    Security is not an afterthought but an integral part of the product from the start.
    For instance, an application is built with pre-installed mechanisms to protect against viruses or attacks.

Secure-by-Default – “Ready-to-Use Security”

This principle ensures that a product or system is secure right out of the box, requiring no additional configuration by users.

  • In simple terms:
    Think of buying a television that is pre-configured and ready to use. Security works the same way—systems are “secure by default.”
    For example, features like strong password enforcement or data protection are enabled automatically.

Conclusion

MITRE’s updated list highlights the importance of identifying and addressing the most dangerous software vulnerabilities. Applying Secure-by-Design and Secure-by-Default principles allows developers to create safer products, enabling users to leverage technology without worrying about cybersecurity threats.

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