Alerts: 2024 CWE Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Weaknesses

Source URL: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2024/11/20/2024-cwe-top-25-most-dangerous-software-weaknesses
Source: Alerts
Title: 2024 CWE Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Weaknesses

Feedly Summary: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in collaboration with the Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute (HSSEDI), operated by MITRE, has released the 2024 CWE Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Weaknesses. This annual list identifies the most critical software weaknesses that adversaries frequently exploit to compromise systems, steal sensitive data, or disrupt essential services.Organizations are strongly encouraged to review this list and use it to inform their software security strategies. Prioritizing these weaknesses in development and procurement processes helps prevent vulnerabilities at the core of the software lifecycle.
Addressing these weaknesses is integral to CISA’s Secure by Design and Secure by Demand initiatives, which advocate for building and procuring secure technology solutions:

Secure by Design: Encourages software manufacturers to implement security best practices throughout the design and development phases. By proactively addressing common weaknesses found in the CWE Top 25, manufacturers can deliver inherently secure products that reduce risk to end users. Learn more about Secure by Design here.
Secure by Demand: Provides guidelines for organizations to drive security improvements when procuring software. Leveraging the CWE Top 25, customers can establish security expectations and ensure that their software vendors are committed to mitigating high-risk weaknesses from the outset. Explore how you can integrate Secure by Demand principles here.

Recommendations for Stakeholders:

For Developers and Product Teams: Review the 2024 CWE Top 25 to identify high-priority weaknesses and adopt Secure by Design practices in your development processes.
For Security Teams: Incorporate the CWE Top 25 into your vulnerability management and application security testing practices to assess and mitigate the most critical weaknesses.
For Procurement and Risk Managers: Use the CWE Top 25 as a benchmark when evaluating vendors, and apply Secure by Demand guidelines to ensure that your organization is investing in secure products.

By following CISA’s initiatives, organizations can reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen application and infrastructure security. Incorporating the 2024 CWE Top 25 into cybersecurity and procurement strategies will enhance overall resilience.
For further details, refer to the full 2024 CWE Top 25 list here.

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: The text discusses the 2024 CWE Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Weaknesses released by CISA and highlights its importance in shaping software security strategies for organizations. It promotes the “Secure by Design” and “Secure by Demand” initiatives aimed at improving software manufacturing and procurement processes to enhance security.

Detailed Description:

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has emphasized the significance of addressing software vulnerabilities through the release of the 2024 CWE Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Weaknesses. This annual report serves as a critical resource for organizations aiming to bolster their software security measures.

Key points:

– **CWE Top 25**: Identifies the most critical software weaknesses frequently exploited by adversaries, which can lead to system compromises, data breaches, and service disruptions.

– **Encouraged Actions**:
– Organizations are urged to review the CWE Top 25 to inform their software security strategies.
– Prioritizing these weaknesses during development and procurement can prevent vulnerabilities inherently during the software lifecycle.

– **CISA Initiatives**:
– **Secure by Design**:
– Advocates for embedding security best practices throughout the software’s design and development phases.
– Aims to deliver inherently secure products by addressing common weaknesses from the outset.
– **Secure by Demand**:
– Provides guidelines to organizations regarding security expectations when procuring software.
– Encourages leveraging the CWE Top 25 to ensure that vendors actively mitigate high-risk weaknesses.

– **Recommendations for Stakeholders**:
– **For Developers and Product Teams**: Review the CWE Top 25 to prioritize weaknesses and adopt Secure by Design practices.
– **For Security Teams**: Incorporate the top weaknesses into vulnerability management and application security strategies.
– **For Procurement and Risk Managers**: Utilize the CWE Top 25 as a standard when evaluating software vendors and implementing Secure by Demand guidelines.

By adhering to CISA’s initiatives and incorporating the CWE Top 25 into cybersecurity practices, organizations can bolster their defenses and enhance their overall resilience against emerging threats. The text serves as a vital call to action for professionals engaged in software security, compliance, and risk management.