Software and data integrity failures refer to vulnerabilities that arise when untrusted or unverified components are introduced into software systems. These failures occur when attackers manipulate software or data to exploit weak points, potentially leading to unauthorised control, data breaches, or malicious activities within applications.
Modern software development depends on a complex ecosystem of third-party components. Frameworks, libraries, and plugins streamline coding tasks, enabling developers to focus on building application-specific features. However, when these components become outdated or contain vulnerabilities, they pose a serious risk to application security, potentially leading to data breaches, service interruptions, or legal liabilities.
Vulnerable and Outdated Components is one of the categories in the OWASP Top 10, a widely recognised standard for the most critical security risks to web applications. Specifically, it relates to the category “A06:2021 – Vulnerable and Outdated Components,” which highlights the risks posed by outdated libraries, frameworks, and software components.
Insecure design refers to flaws or omissions at the design stage of application development that lead to vulnerabilities in the system. Unlike implementation bugs, which result from coding errors, insecure design represents a fundamental failure to consider and incorporate security principles during planning and architecture.
Remote Code Execution (RCE) refers to the ability of an attacker to execute malicious code on a target system from a remote location. This can occur through exploiting vulnerabilities in software applications, web servers, or network protocols. RCE vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can allow attackers to bypass traditional security measures, granting them full control over compromised systems. Once an RCE exploit is successful, attackers can run commands, install malware, steal sensitive data, and even alter business-critical applications.