Insecure Design Patterns in Web Applications

Insecure Design Patterns in Web Applications

Insecure Design represents a fundamental shift in how we think about application security, focusing on flaws in the architecture and design rather than implementation bugs. It's like building a house on a weak foundation—no matter how strong the walls or how secure the locks, the fundamental structure remains vulnerable. This category, new in the 2021 OWASP Top 10, acknowledges that many security failures stem from missing or ineffective security controls in the design phase.

Unlike implementation vulnerabilities that can be patched, insecure design requires rethinking the application's architecture. Imagine designing a bank where the vault is accessible through the gift shop—that's a design flaw that no amount of guards or cameras can fully mitigate. You'd need to rebuild the bank's layout entirely. Similarly, applications designed without security considerations often require substantial rework to address fundamental vulnerabilities.