A vulnerable software system can be exploited by attackers and the system could be compromised, the attacker might take control of the system to damage it, to launch new attacks or obtain some privileged information that he can use for his own benefit.

Software Security Vulnerabilities:

1. Cryptographic Failures

Sensitive data — such as addresses, passwords, and account numbers — must be properly protected. If it isn’t, untrustworthy agents take advantage of the vulnerabilities to gain access.

2. Injection

Injection flaws occur when untrusted data is sent as part of a command or query. The attack can then trick the targeted system into executing unintended commands. An attack can also provide untrustworthy agents access to protected data.

3. Insecure Design

Insecure design refers to risks related to design flaws, which often includes the lack of at least one of the following:

• Threat modeling
• Secure design patterns
• Secure design principles
• Reference architecture

4. Security Misconfiguration

Security misconfigurations are often the result of:

• Insecure default configurations.
• Incomplete or impromptu configurations.
• Open Cloud storage.
• Misconfigured HTTP headers.
• Wordy error messages that contain sensitive information.

5. Vulnerable and Outdated Components

Components are made up of libraries, frameworks, and other software modules. Often, the components run on the same privileges as your application. If a component is vulnerable, it can be exploited by an untrustworthy agent. This causes serious data loss or server takeover.

Prevent Software Vulnerabilities

1. Test Your Software

It’s a good practice to test your software often as this will help you find and get rid of vulnerabilities quickly. You can test your software using code analysis tools, white box testing, black box testing, and other techniques.

2. Update the Software Regularly

It is important to regularly update software as outdated software is prone to vulnerabilities. By making sure your software uses up to date components and dependencies, you can prevent security issues and software vulnerabilities.

3. Set Up Software Design Requirements

Define a set of principles that need to be followed while developing each software release. These principles will show the developers how to write, inspect, and demonstrate their code to ensure security best practices are followed. Following the latest information from organizations such as CWE, OWASP, and CERT will also help you detect and prevent vulnerabilities.

4. Use a Code Signing Certificate

Digitally signing your code using a code signing certificate will make your code tamper-proof, making it impossible for third parties to tamper with your code. A code signing certificate will make sure your files remain secure and it will also prevent hackers from adding security vulnerabilities to your code.