November 21, 2024 at 06:27PM
The 2024 Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) list revealed significant software flaws, emphasizing persistent threats like cross-site scripting and SQL injection. The new ranking methodology considered both severity and frequency. Organizations are urged to prioritize these weaknesses for better software security and to enhance their software supply chains.
### Meeting Takeaways
1. **CWE List Methodology Changes**:
– The 2024 Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) list has introduced a new ranking methodology that considers both the severity and frequency of software flaws.
– Weaknesses that are common and cause significant harm receive the highest scores, while rare flaws do not score as highly despite potential consequences.
2. **Top Ranked Weaknesses**:
– The top five weaknesses in the 2024 CWE list are:
– Cross-site scripting (CWE-79) – Ranked 1st
– Out-of-bounds write (CWE-125) – Ranked 2nd (last year’s 1st)
– SQL injection (CWE-89) – Ranked 3rd
– Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) – Ranked 4th (last year’s 9th)
– Path traversal – Ranked 5th (last year’s 8th)
3. **Persistent Threats**:
– Classic vulnerabilities remain significant, necessitating sustained investment in secure coding practices.
4. **Trends and Observations**:
– CSRF’s notable rise in the rankings suggests increased researcher focus or better detection methods, though the exact reasons are unclear.
– The prevalence of “usual suspects” in the top rankings indicates ongoing risks.
5. **Recommendations for Organizations**:
– Organizations should actively review and utilize the CWE list to guide their software security strategies.
– Emphasize prioritization of these weaknesses during development and procurement to mitigate risks.
6. **Focus on Software Supply Chain**:
– The importance of encouraging suppliers to adopt root cause mapping of CVEs with CWEs to enhance product security and reduce vulnerabilities post-deployment.
– Establishing a feedback loop into the software development life cycle (SDLC) is critical for improved security and cost efficiency.
7. **Community Collaboration**:
– This year marks the first full contribution from the CVE Numbering Authorities (CNAs) to the CWE Program, with a total of 148 CNAs involved in this year’s efforts.
By focusing on these areas, organizations can bolster their defenses against software vulnerabilities and improve overall cybersecurity posture.