CheatSheetSeries
The OWASP Cheat Sheet Series was created to provide a concise collection of high value information on specific application security topics.
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Quick Overview
The OWASP/CheatSheetSeries is a comprehensive collection of high-value information on specific application security topics. It provides concise and practical guidance for developers, security professionals, and organizations to implement secure coding practices and mitigate common security risks. The project aims to be a go-to resource for quick, actionable security advice.
Pros
- Extensive coverage of various security topics, from authentication to XML security
- Regularly updated with contributions from security experts worldwide
- Easy to understand and implement, with practical examples and best practices
- Free and open-source, making it accessible to everyone
Cons
- Some cheat sheets may become outdated if not regularly maintained
- The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming for beginners
- Lacks interactive elements or tools for hands-on learning
- May not cover every specific use case or technology stack
Getting Started
As this is not a code library but a collection of security cheat sheets, there's no code to install or run. To get started:
- Visit the OWASP Cheat Sheet Series GitHub repository
- Browse the
cheatsheets
folder to find topics of interest - Read the cheat sheets online or download them for offline reference
- Implement the recommended practices in your development projects
- Consider contributing to the project by submitting pull requests or raising issues for improvements
Competitor Comparisons
The Web Security Testing Guide is a comprehensive Open Source guide to testing the security of web applications and web services.
Pros of wstg
- More comprehensive and detailed testing guide
- Structured approach to web application security testing
- Includes practical examples and test cases
Cons of wstg
- May be overwhelming for beginners
- Requires more time to navigate and implement
- Less frequent updates compared to CheatSheetSeries
Code Comparison
wstg:
# Example: Testing for SQL Injection
payload = "' OR '1'='1"
response = send_request(url, payload)
if "error" in response.text:
print("Potential SQL Injection vulnerability found")
CheatSheetSeries:
# Example: SQL Injection Prevention
query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?"
cursor.execute(query, (user_id,))
The wstg example demonstrates a test case for SQL Injection, while the CheatSheetSeries example shows a prevention technique using parameterized queries.
Summary
wstg is a comprehensive testing guide with detailed procedures, while CheatSheetSeries offers concise, easy-to-reference security recommendations. wstg is better suited for in-depth security assessments, whereas CheatSheetSeries is ideal for quick reference and implementation of security best practices. Both repositories complement each other and are valuable resources for web application security.
Application Security Verification Standard
Pros of ASVS
- Provides a comprehensive security standard for web applications
- Offers a structured approach to security requirements with different levels
- Includes detailed verification requirements for each security control
Cons of ASVS
- May be overwhelming for beginners due to its comprehensive nature
- Requires more time and effort to implement fully
- Less practical examples compared to CheatSheetSeries
Code Comparison
While both repositories primarily contain documentation rather than code, ASVS does include some XML files for integration with other tools. Here's a brief example from ASVS:
<requirement>
<reqid>1.1.1</reqid>
<category>Architecture, Design and Threat Modeling</category>
<requirement-description>Verify the use of a secure software development lifecycle that addresses security in all stages of development.</requirement-description>
<level1>✓</level1>
<level2>✓</level2>
<level3>✓</level3>
</requirement>
CheatSheetSeries, on the other hand, primarily consists of Markdown files with security guidelines and best practices.
Both repositories serve different purposes within the OWASP ecosystem. CheatSheetSeries provides quick, practical security guidance, while ASVS offers a comprehensive security standard for web applications. The choice between them depends on the specific needs of the project or organization.
Official OWASP Top 10 Document Repository
Pros of Top10
- Concise and focused on the most critical security risks
- Widely recognized and adopted in the industry
- Updated periodically to reflect current threat landscape
Cons of Top10
- Less detailed guidance compared to CheatSheetSeries
- Limited to only ten security risks, potentially missing other important issues
- May not provide sufficient context for implementation
Code Comparison
While both repositories primarily contain documentation rather than code, CheatSheetSeries occasionally includes code snippets for illustration. Top10 generally does not include code examples. Here's a brief comparison:
CheatSheetSeries (SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet):
String query = "SELECT account_balance FROM user_data WHERE user_name = ? ";
PreparedStatement pstmt = connection.prepareStatement(query);
pstmt.setString(1, userName);
ResultSet results = pstmt.executeQuery();
Top10 does not typically include code snippets, focusing instead on high-level descriptions and risk assessments.
Both repositories serve different purposes within the OWASP ecosystem. Top10 provides a prioritized list of security risks, while CheatSheetSeries offers more comprehensive guidance on various security topics. Organizations may benefit from using both resources in conjunction to improve their overall security posture.
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Welcome to the OWASP Cheat Sheet Series
Welcome to the official repository for the Open Web Application Security Project® (OWASP) Cheat Sheet Series project. The project focuses on providing good security practices for builders in order to secure their applications.
In order to read the cheat sheets and reference them, use the project official website. The project details can be viewed on the OWASP main website without the cheat sheets.
:triangular_flag_on_post: Markdown files are the working sources and aren't intended to be referenced in any external documentation, books or websites.
Cheat Sheet Series Team
Project Leaders
Core Team
Chat With Us
We're easy to find on Slack:
- Join the OWASP Group Slack with this invitation link.
- Join the #cheatsheets channel.
Feel free to ask questions, suggest ideas, or share your best recipes.
Contributions, Feature Requests, and Feedback
We are actively inviting new contributors! To start, please read the contribution guide.
This project is only possible thanks to the work of many dedicated volunteers. Everyone is encouraged to help in ways large and small. Here are a few ways you can help:
- Read the current content and help us fix any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.
- Choose an existing issue on GitHub and submit a pull request to fix it.
- Open a new issue to report an opportunity for improvement.
Automated Build
This link allows you to download a build (ZIP archive) of the offline website.
Local Build
The OWASP Cheat Sheet Series website can be built and tested locally by issuing the following commands:
make install-python-requirements
make generate-site
make serve # Binds port 8000
Container Build
The OWASP Cheat Sheet Series website can be built and tested locally inside a container by issuing the following commands:
Docker
docker build -t cheatsheetseries .
docker run --name cheatsheetseries -p 8000:8000 cheatsheetseries
Podman
podman build -t cheatsheetseries .
podman run --name cheatsheetseries -p 8000:8000 localhost/cheatsheetseries
Contributors
- From 2014 to 2018: V1 - Initial version of the project hosted on the OWASP WIKI.
- From 2019: V2 - Hosted on GitHub.
Special thanks
A special thank you to the following people for their help provided during the migration:
- Dominique Righetto: For his special leadership and guidance.
- Elie Saad: For valuable help in updating the OWASP Wiki links for all the migrated cheat sheets and for years of leadership and other project support.
- Jakub MaÄkowski: For valuable help in updating the OWASP Wiki links for all the migrated cheat sheets.
Open Web Application Security Project and OWASP are registered trademarks of the OWASP Foundation, Inc.
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