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Security Misconfiguration

Medium · Configuration

OWASP Top 10:2025 (current)

A02:2025 — Security Misconfiguration

Historical Top 10:2021 (not current)

A05:2021 — kept for older reports; use 2025 above.

CWE

CWE-16

CVE / class examples

  • Search NVD/CVE for product-specific instances of this CWE

All refs

OWASP A02:2025 · OWASP A05:2021 · CWE-16

Definition

Insecure defaults, verbose errors, open storage.

Root cause

Missing hardening and review.

Affected components

  • Cloud storage
  • Default credentials
  • Verbose errors
  • Open admin panels

Impact

Information disclosure to full compromise.

Severity

Medium

Safe lab reproduction

Prowler on your own sandbox cloud account

Detection methodology

Config scanners, CSPM, CIS benchmarks.

Evidence examples

  • Public bucket listing in sandbox

Remediation

Hardening baselines, automated config checks.

Secure coding examples

Infrastructure as code with policy checks.

Related CYNARKS lessons & labs

Tools: prowler · nuclei · lynis

Primary 2025 class: A02:2025 — Security Misconfiguration

Practise related skills in Labs or deepen on Academy library.