20 OWASP Interview Questions and Answers

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the security of software. When interviewing for a position in software development or security, you may be asked questions about OWASP and its various projects. Answering these questions correctly can help you demonstrate your knowledge and interest in software security. In this article, we review some common OWASP questions and how you should answer them.

OWASP Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked OWASP interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is OWASP?

OWASP is the Open Web Application Security Project, and it is a worldwide not-for-profit organization focused on improving the security of software. OWASP produces a number of resources on application security, including a list of the Top 10 most critical web application security risks.

2. Can you explain what a cross-site scripting attack is and how it works?

A cross-site scripting attack is a type of attack that injects malicious code into a web page in order to execute a malicious script. This type of attack can be used to steal information from users, redirect them to malicious websites, or even take control of their computers.

3. How can you prevent SQL injections?

There are a few different ways to prevent SQL injections, but the most common is to use parameterized queries. This means that instead of concatenating strings to create your SQL query, you use placeholders and then provide the actual values as parameters. This way, the database will treat the values as data instead of part of the SQL query, and so it will be much more difficult for an attacker to inject malicious SQL code.

4. What is the importance of security in software development life cycle?

Security is important in every stage of the software development life cycle in order to ensure that the final product is secure and free of vulnerabilities. In the planning stage, security should be taken into account in order to ensure that the system being designed is secure. In the development stage, security should be implemented in order to prevent vulnerabilities from being introduced. In the testing stage, security should be tested in order to ensure that the system is secure. Finally, in the deployment stage, security should be monitored in order to ensure that the system remains secure.

5. What are some common errors that lead to application vulnerabilities?

There are many common errors that can lead to application vulnerabilities, but some of the most common include:

-Insecure communications: This can occur when data is transmitted without being properly encrypted, or when encryption keys are not properly managed.

-Insecure authentication and authorization: This can happen when authentication mechanisms are not properly implemented, or when authorization checks are not performed properly.

-Insecure data storage: This can occur when data is stored in an insecure location, or when data is not properly encrypted when stored.

-Insecure coding practices: This can happen when coding practices are not followed that could lead to vulnerabilities, such as not properly handling input data.

6. What is a code review, why is it important, and how do you conduct one effectively?

A code review is a process in which software developers examine each other’s code in order to find and fix errors. Code reviews are important because they help to ensure the quality of the code and can prevent errors from being introduced into the code base. To conduct an effective code review, developers should have a clear understanding of the code and the coding standards that are being used. They should also be familiar with the tools that are available to help them review the code, such as static analysis tools.

7. What’s your understanding of threat modeling? How would you apply threat modeling to an application?

Threat modeling is the process of identifying potential security risks and vulnerabilities in an application. This can be done by looking at the application from the perspective of an attacker and identifying potential entry points and ways to exploit the system. Once potential risks have been identified, they can be mitigated or eliminated through changes in the design or implementation of the application.

8. Does having SSL certificates guarantee complete protection against attacks?

No, SSL certificates only provide encryption for data in transit. They do not guarantee protection against all attacks, but they can help to mitigate some types of attacks.

9. Why is input validation so important?

Input validation is so important because it helps to ensure that the data that is being input into a system is clean and free of any malicious code. This helps to protect the system from being compromised by attackers who may try to inject malicious code into the system through its input channels.

10. Can you give me examples of some commonly used tools for web application penetration testing?

There are a number of tools that can be used for web application penetration testing, but some of the more commonly used ones include Burp Suite, WebScarab, and Zed Attack Proxy.

11. What are the most common types of cyberattacks today?

The most common types of cyberattacks today include phishing, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

12. What are the different ways of protecting data on mobile devices?

There are a few different ways of protecting data on mobile devices. One way is to encrypt the data so that it can only be accessed by authorized users. Another way is to use a mobile device management system to control which users have access to which data. Finally, you can also use application-level security measures to protect data on mobile devices.

13. How would you go about securing social media accounts against cyberattacks?

There are a few key steps you can take to help secure social media accounts against cyberattacks. First, make sure to use strong and unique passwords for each account. Second, enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. Third, be aware of the types of attacks that are common against social media accounts and be on the lookout for suspicious activity. Finally, make sure to keep all software up to date and patch any security vulnerabilities as soon as possible.

14. What does CSRF stand for? What does it mean? Why is it important?

CSRF stands for Cross-Site Request Forgery. It is a type of attack that tricks a user into performing an action on a website that they did not intend to do. This can be done by tricking the user into clicking on a malicious link, or by embedding malicious code into a website that the user visits. CSRF attacks can be used to steal sensitive information, or to perform actions on behalf of the user without their knowledge or consent. CSRF is important because it can be used to exploit vulnerabilities in web applications that could lead to serious security issues.

15. What do you understand about client-side validation?

Client-side validation is a process of validating data inputted by a user on the client side, before it is sent to the server. This is done in order to prevent invalid data from being sent to the server, and to improve the overall user experience by providing feedback to the user on their input.

16. What are session hijacking attacks and how can they be prevented?

Session hijacking attacks occur when an attacker gains access to a user’s session ID, usually through some kind of network sniffing. Once the attacker has the session ID, they can impersonate the user and gain access to sensitive information. To prevent session hijacking attacks, it is important to use strong encryption methods for all communication, and to never send session IDs over unencrypted channels.

17. How should passwords be stored safely in databases?

Passwords should be stored in databases using a technique called hashing. Hashing is a way of encrypting data so that it can only be decrypted by someone with the correct key. When a password is hashed, the original password is turned into a long string of random characters. This string can then be stored in the database without the risk of someone being able to decrypt it and figure out the original password.

18. What is the difference between horizontal and vertical privilege escalation?

Horizontal privilege escalation is when an attacker gains access to additional systems that are at the same level of access as the system they originally compromised. Vertical privilege escalation is when an attacker gains access to a system that has a higher level of access than the system they originally compromised.

19. What are the five pillars of Information Security?

The five pillars of Information Security are confidentiality, integrity, availability, authenticity, and non-repudiation.

20. What is the importance of validating user inputs?

Validating user inputs is important in order to prevent security vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). By ensuring that all user input is valid before it is processed by your application, you can help to protect your application from malicious attacks.