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WEB-08: Web Application Input Validation & Sanitization

WEB 9 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to ensure all input handled by a web application is validated and/or sanitized.

Renumbered: Formerly WEB-09 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, WEB-08 was Web Application Framework. That control is now WEB-04.

Control Question: Does the organization ensure all input handled by a web application is validated and/or sanitized?

APAC (2)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-1240 ISM-2016 ISM-2058
APAC India RBI Digital Payments 2021 66.0

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

SCR-CMM Level 2 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude a well-defined and standardized process is required. ▪ At this level of maturity, the “requirements-driven” nature of performing the control is focused on a localized and/or regionalized implementation, not uniform and consistent across the organization. ▪ Requirements are narrowly scoped for applicability and are primarily derived from compliance obligations (e.g., laws, regulations and contracts).

Level 3 — Well Defined

Web Security (WEB) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with WEB domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with WEB domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A web management team, or simiE210:E1635main capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of web management operations (e.g., secure web gateway and Content Management System (CMS) solution). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with WEB domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to ensure all input handled by a web application is validated and/or sanitized.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Assessment Objectives

  1. WEB-08_A01 all input handled by a web application is validated and/or sanitized.

Evidence Requirements

E-WEB-04 Web Application Input Validation & Output Encoding

Documented evidence of web application input validation, sanitization and output encoding controls (e.g., test results, framework configuration).

Website Security

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Validate and sanitize all user inputs in web applications

Small

  • Input validation and output encoding policy for web applications

Medium

  • Formal input validation and sanitization standards
  • OWASP input validation guide

Large

  • Enterprise input validation program
  • SAST/DAST for input validation testing

Enterprise

  • Enterprise input validation and sanitization framework
  • Automated SAST/DAST scanning
  • WAF input filtering

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