When we are thinking to learn a programming language, we tend to skip the security phase of that particular language. Where in reality, it is as important as all the other phases that make you interested to learn the language in the first place. Now, you must understand one thing – there is no such thing as the most secure programming language. However, there are ways we can determine the security level.
So, in this article, we will first try to enlighten the concept to know how secure a programming language is. Then, we will mention some noteworthy languages that match the parameters. You can also read; what is the importance of programming languages.
Understanding Security Protocol
To measure how secure a programming language is depends on some technical parameters that we will discuss now. According to a recent study, we have found some data that shows how unsafe a programming language can be. We call it the Vulnerability Score. So, the higher the score, the less secure it is.
Now, the Vulnerability Score depends upon tons of factors. What we are going to do is to pinpoint the three most significant factors – Buffer Flow vulnerability, Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE), Heartbleed Bug, etc.
Buffer Flow Vulnerability: In this case, the program reads the allocated memory, which is outside its bounds. Thus, it can access sensitive data to others, start rogue behaviour, or even crash down the entire program.
Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE): This is a weakness of software that we create to work as a common language for explaining its security issues. However, Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) causes ID weakness, mitigation, and many more.
Heartbleed Bug: When you are using an OpenSSL cryptographic software library, Heartbleed Bug can be a severe threat. It can allow someone to steal protected data. So, it would be best if you avoid any such issues.
Most Secure Programming Languages
Down below is the list of programming languages sorted in random order. Usually, the more vulnerable the language, the higher the position it gets on this list. Please note this list displays the languages based on the Vulnerability score that we discussed earlier:
1. C Programming
It may be one of the most popular programming languages of all time. However, you may be disappointed to know that it is the most vulnerable on this list. It has a Vulnerability Score of 50% right now. To add to that, you may also experience some high-level memory corruption issues, as well.
The language C also has high CWE issues and endures Buffer Errors, which may even cause a program to crash entirely. If you consider the overall vulnerabilities, the program has more than 26% of threats, and the current reports suggest it has increased in recent years.
2. Java
The second most insecure programming language on our list is Java. There are constant reports that indicate that Java is dropping its Vulnerability Score since 2016.
As a matter of fact, it has doubled since the year 2018. If you consider the average score of the last five years for this incredible language, it has been around 19%. That is not all, a thorough study tells us that it has been sliding down since 2015.
3. JavaScript
The most lovable front-end development language is in the third place when it comes to its security. Even though people nowadays prefer other languages as well for web development, JavaScript is still one of the most popular ones. However, that didn’t stop the language from dropping its security level.
Some experts believe it has been declining for the last ten years. The research also pointed out that the threat level has increased to almost double since 2018. The Vulnerability Score for JavaScript revolves around 31% in the last five years.
4. PHP
In this language, the weakness volume has been the second most noteworthy of all the other languages with the loftiest increase in vulnerabilities in 2017. It is the primary language with SQL Injection (CWE-89), and it had been ascending in 2017 and 2018.
Also, Cross-Site Scripting (CWE-79) is the most widely recognized weakness in this language. The high gravity threats in the course of recent years are 16%. All things considered, reliable barring a sharp decrease in 2017.
5. Python
This common language hit top insecurity in the year 2015. Yet, it has been declining surely from that point forward. It has felt a fairly little level of high threats until 2017.\
The kind of weaknesses that command Python is Input Validation (CWE-20, Permissions, Privileges, and Access Control (CWE-264), Cross-Site Scripting (CWE-79), and Information Leak or Disclosure (CWE-200). The high-priority vulnerabilities in the previous five years are 15%. So, you can trust Python for sure.
6. C++
C++ is a language that endures a similar CWE to its successor – C language. The level of threats that you will find in C++ is most likely Buffer Errors (CWE-119) and Validation Issues (CWE-20).
The high-importance vulnerabilities in the previous five years are 36% overall, which is the most noteworthy of a large number of languages. Therefore, this is a language which you can say is the most insecure of them all.
7. Ruby
Of all the languages, Ruby has a minimal measure of security threats. As far as CWEs, the most well-known CWE is XSS vulnerabilities; the different CWEs found are CWE-20, CWE-200, CWE-264, and CWE 284.
The high-importance vulnerabilities in the previous five years are 19% all things considered, which can be said as very steady aside from a top in 2017. Therefore, you can say it is the most secure language of all.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, folks! The list of most secure programming languages with their Vulnerability Scores. However, you must know that all the languages that we have mentioned are the most popular in the world.
Thus, millions of computer languages can also be put into perspective here. We, however, pick up those which are common and significant in the current IT industry.
