OWASP Top Ten Proactive Controls - C2: Use Cryptography to Protect Data

What is cryptography and why is it important for protecting data?

Cryptography is the science of securing information by transforming it into an unreadable format, making it incomprehensible to unauthorized individuals. It is crucial for protecting sensitive data such as passwords, credit card details, health records, personal information, and business secrets. By employing cryptographic techniques, organizations can safeguard data from theft, unauthorized access, and modifications, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity.

How should data be classified and protected based on its sensitivity?

Data classification is essential to determine the appropriate level of protection for different types of information. Data can be categorized based on its sensitivity level: public, internal, confidential, or restricted. Each category should have specific protection rules, including access controls, encryption methods, and storage protocols. For instance, public marketing information may not require encryption, while credit card numbers must be encrypted at all times.

What are the risks associated with improper handling of cryptographic keys?

Improperly stored encryption keys can be compromised, leading to unauthorized data access and decryption of sensitive information. Attackers could exploit weak or outdated encryption algorithms or bypass security measures if keys are not managed correctly. Implementing robust key management practices, such as secure storage, access controls, and key rotation, is crucial to mitigate these risks.

How can data be protected both at rest and in transit?

Data at Rest: Sensitive data stored in databases or file systems should be encrypted using strong encryption algorithms and securely managed keys. Avoid storing sensitive data unnecessarily and employ access controls to restrict unauthorized access.

Data in Transit: When data is transmitted over networks, use secure communication protocols like TLS (Transport Layer Security) to encrypt the data and protect it from eavesdropping. Use the latest versions of TLS (TLSv1.2 or TLSv1.3) and disable older, insecure protocols.

What are some best practices for storing passwords securely?

Never store passwords in plain text. Instead, use robust hashing algorithms with random salts to transform passwords into irreversible hashes. This ensures that even if the database is compromised, the actual passwords cannot be retrieved. Employ strong password policies and consider using multi-factor authentication for enhanced security.

How can application secrets be managed effectively?

Application secrets, such as API keys, database credentials, and encryption keys, should never be stored directly in code or configuration files. Utilize dedicated secrets management solutions like HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, or Azure Key Vault to store and manage secrets securely. These solutions provide centralized control, access logs, and encryption at rest.

Why is it important to support cryptographic agility?

Cryptographic recommendations and algorithms evolve over time. Cryptographic agility refers to the ability to adapt to these changes seamlessly. Design systems with configurable cryptographic choices, such as algorithms and key sizes, to facilitate future upgrades without significant code modifications. Regularly review and update cryptographic implementations to address new vulnerabilities and adopt stronger algorithms as they become available.

What are some tools and resources available for implementing and testing cryptographic controls?

Several tools and resources are available to assist in implementing and testing cryptographic controls:

SSLyze and testssl.sh: For analyzing TLS/SSL configurations.
GitRob and TruffleHog: To detect secrets accidentally committed to code repositories.
OWASP Cheat Sheets: Provide guidance on various security topics, including cryptography.
Cloud-based key management services (AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault, Google Cloud KMS): Offer secure key management solutions.