Exploring OWASP TaSM: A Comprehensive Framework for Managing Modern Security Threats

In today's dynamic tech world, businesses grapple with a constantly evolving threat landscape. The OWASP Threat and Safeguard Matrix (TaSM) provides a framework for identifying, analyzing, and mitigating threats and risks, from data breaches to operational vulnerabilities. With the rise of AI and LLMs, new challenges like data exposure and misuse demand a refined approach. 

TaSM's adaptable structure empowers organizations to incorporate these emerging threats, allowing for a comprehensive and proactive security strategy that safeguards an organization’s valuable assets in its rapidly changing environment.

What is OWASP TaSM?

At its core, the OWASP Threat and Safeguard Matrix (TaSM) is a security framework that clearly maps threats to safeguards. Unlike other frameworks, TaSM prioritizes visibility, actionability, and adaptability. Whether you’re dealing with conventional vulnerabilities or the emerging risks of AI and LLMs, TaSM provides the tools to stay ahead.

Why TaSM matters

Who Benefits from TaSM?

• Organizations implementing AI/LLM technologies: These tools come with new security challenges that require immediate action.
• Security teams: TaSM streamlines threat identification and response planning.
• Management teams: Its visual simplicity makes it easy for decision-makers to prioritize security efforts.
• Developers and engineers: TaSM bridges the gap between technical vulnerabilities and operational safeguards.

The OWASP TaSM is a versatile tool for any team or individual involved in building, securing, and maintaining software applications, providing a clear, structured approach to managing security risks.

Why TaSM Stands Out

TaSM offers a refreshing approach to cybersecurity, setting it apart from traditional frameworks like STRIDE, MITRE ATT&CK, and NIST CSF.

• Simplicity and clarity: TaSM uses an intuitive matrix to map threats to safeguards, avoiding the complexity of policy-heavy frameworks.
• Actionable and practical: It bridges the gap between high-level strategies and real-world implementation.
• Customizable: Tailor it to fit your organization, industry, or technology stack seamlessly.
• Mitigation-focused: TaSM prioritizes actionable safeguards, making it highly effective for operational teams.

This is helpful for business owners as it offers a visual representation of available tools or controls in case of an incident. This is something that Security teams can present on a whiteboard during InfoSec Tabletop exercises as your arsenal. ‍

Aayush Shrestha
Security Research Analyst

Using TaSM to Strengthen Risk Committees

TaSM’s adaptability makes it an excellent tool for Risk Committees managing diverse organizational threats. By adding a column for departments and having each share their top 3-5 risks, the committee can gain a holistic view of threats across the company.

This approach fosters collaboration, enabling teams to address shared risks — like supply chain vulnerabilities — from multiple angles. It also aligns with the CARE (Consistent, Adequate, Reasonable, Effective) framework, ensuring risks are managed systematically and effectively.

Incorporating TaSM into Risk Committees streamlines communication, enhances decision-making, and drives accountability, making it a valuable asset for broader risk management.

Practical Applications of TaSM

Car dealership’s AI Chatbot Offers Car for $1

In a startling example of AI vulnerability, a popular car dealership’s chatbot was recently duped into offering an $80,000 car for just $1. The culprit? A crafty user who manipulated the chatbot’s responses with cleverly designed prompts.

This incident highlights the challenges businesses face when deploying AI-powered customer-facing tools. While these chatbots can streamline interactions and enhance user experience, they can also be exploited if safeguards aren’t in place.

Here’s how the structured application of OWASP TaSM can not only address the current incident but also strengthen the company’s defenses against future AI-related risks.

Emerging Risks of AI and LLM 

While AI and LLMs are reshaping industries, they bring unique security challenges. Here’s a look at the top risks and how they can impact organizations:

• Sensitive data leaks: AI systems may expose confidential information during processing.
• Malicious AI supply chains: Compromised third-party AI tools can introduce vulnerabilities.
• Hallucinated promises: LLMs generating misleading outputs can cause operational and reputational risks.
• Legal risks: Biased or unethical AI applications may result in lawsuits or regulatory fines.
• Data overexposure: Training on unsanitized data increases vulnerability to breaches.
• AI misuse for personal harm: Threat actors can exploit AI to create deepfakes or harmful content.
• Unethical recommendations: Bias in algorithms could lead to discrimination or financial liabilities.

You need to map your controls, at least with this view board to know your own strength and readiness before you launch your AI program. This gives you a bird’s eye view of your own controls and what’s missing on your incident response cycle.

Samir Gautam
Information Security Compliance Manager | Special Delivery

TaSM’s Visual and Structural Advantages

Visual Simplicity

TaSM’s matrix format clearly maps threats to safeguards, making complex concepts accessible to all stakeholders. For instance, a diagram highlighting the top seven LLM risks and their safeguards offers a quick and effective way to communicate risks.

Structural Clarity

By categorizing threats, safeguards, assets, and attack vectors, TaSM ensures seamless collaboration between technical teams and management.

Gaps and Areas for Improvement in OWASP TASM

While the OWASP Threat and Safeguard Matrix (TASM) is an innovative and structured approach to aligning safeguards with threats, there are areas where it could be enhanced to make it even more effective:

Granularity in Risk Scoring:

TASM provides a solid foundation for mapping threats to safeguards, but it lacks detailed guidance on quantifying risk. Incorporating standardized risk scoring or prioritization mechanisms would allow organizations to better understand and address their highest vulnerabilities.

Improvement in the framework’s approach

Scaling adaptability:

The model isn’t scalable to be used throughout the organization in different risk spaces. As users map their risk approaches for different types of incidents, they end up with bundles of mapping. 

This can be combated by approaching a risk register approach with mapped categories, plotting it on a spreadsheet with filters, and finalizing a risk maturity rating for each observation. This can later be presented on a radar map or a line graph. This is where the platform can be greatly improved upon. 

By addressing these gaps, OWASP TASM could strengthen its position as a leading framework and serve a broader range of users with diverse needs.

Harnessing the Power of TaSM

OWASP TaSM is a game-changer for organizations facing modern security challenges. Its structured approach, visual clarity, and adaptability make it an indispensable tool for addressing both traditional and AI-specific risks.

By aligning technical safeguards with business priorities, TaSM empowers organizations to harness the transformative potential of AI and LLMs while staying secure.

Explore TaSM today and take a step toward a safer, smarter future!