The OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) Project provides a basis for testing web application technical security controls and also provides developers with a list of requirements for secure development. The primary aim of the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) Project is to normalize the range in the coverage and level of rigor available in the market when it comes to performing Web application security verification using a commercially-workable open standard.
The standard provides a basis for testing application technical security controls, as well as any technical security controls in the environment, that are relied on to protect against vulnerabilities such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and SQL injection. This standard can be used to establish a level of confidence in the security of Web applications. The requirements were developed with the following objectives in mind:
- Use as a metric - Provide application developers and application owners with a yardstick with which to assess the degree of trust that can be placed in their Web applications,
- Use as guidance - Provide guidance to security control developers as to what to build into security controls in order to satisfy application security requirements, and
- Use during procurement - Provide a basis for specifying application security verification requirements in contracts.
The OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) provides numerous benefits for organizations
- Comprehensive Security Requirements: The ASVS offers a comprehensive set of security requirements and controls that organizations can use as a baseline for assessing and verifying the security of their applications. It covers a wide range of security areas, including authentication, session management, access control, cryptography, and more.
- Consistency and Standardization: By adopting the ASVS, organizations can establish a consistent and standardized approach to application security across their development projects. This ensures that security requirements are consistently applied, reducing the risk of overlooking critical security measures.
- Risk Reduction: The ASVS helps organizations identify and mitigate security risks by providing a structured framework for verifying application security. By implementing the security controls outlined in the ASVS, organizations can proactively address vulnerabilities and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.
- Compliance and Regulatory Alignment: The ASVS aligns with various regulatory requirements and industry standards. By implementing the ASVS, organizations can demonstrate compliance with security standards and frameworks such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.
- Security-by-Design Approach: The ASVS promotes a security-by-design approach, integrating security considerations throughout the software development lifecycle. By incorporating security requirements from the early stages of development, organizations can minimize the cost and effort associated with retrofitting security measures later.
- Improved Vendor and Third-Party Assessments: The ASVS can be used as a reference for evaluating the security posture of vendor applications or assessing the security capabilities of third-party software. It provides a consistent and objective framework for conducting security assessments and making informed decisions about the security of external applications.
- Training and Education: The ASVS serves as a valuable resource for educating developers, security professionals, and stakeholders about application security best practices. It helps foster a culture of security awareness and provides guidance on secure coding practices and security testing techniques.
- Enhanced Assurance for Customers and Stakeholders: Implementing the ASVS demonstrates an organization's commitment to application security and provides assurance to customers, partners, and stakeholders that adequate security measures are in place. This can enhance trust, strengthen relationships, and support business growth.
Overall, the OWASP ASVS provides a structured and standardized approach to application security verification, enabling organizations to identify and address security risks systematically. By implementing the ASVS, organizations can enhance their security posture, reduce vulnerabilities, comply with regulations, and instill confidence in their applications' security.
It is encourage anyone wanting to adopt an application security standard to use the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS), as it’s designed to be verifiable and tested, and can be used in all parts of a secure development lifecycle.
The ASVS is the only acceptable choice for tool vendors. Tools cannot comprehensively detect, test, or protect against the OWASP Top 10 due to the nature of several of the OWASP Top 10 risks, with reference to A04:2021-Insecure Design.
[ Download ASVS ]
References:
https://github.com/OWASP/ASVS
https://owasp.org/www-project-application-security-verification-standard