OWASP Documentation Project

Secure Software Development Contract Annex (Contract Annex)

The Secure Software Development Contract Annex developed by the OWASP Legal Project helps software developers and their clients negotiate and capture important contractual terms and conditions related to the security of the software to be developed or delivered. The goal of the Contract Annex is to ensure, at each stage of the life cycle, that appropriate attention has been paid to security. For more information, please contact us.

How the Contract Annex Works

Here are two examples:

• Implementation. Developer agrees to provide and follow a set of secure coding guidelines and to use a set of common security control programming interfaces (such as the OWASP ESAPI). Guidelines will indicate how code should be formatted, structured, and commented. Common security control programming interfaces will define how security controls must be called and how security controls shall function. All security-relevant code shall be thoroughly commented. Specific guidance on avoiding common security vulnerabilities shall be included. Also, all code shall be reviewed by at least one other Developer against the security requirements and coding guideline before it is considered ready for unit test.
• Security Analysis and Testing. Developer will perform application security analysis and testing (also called "verification") according to the verification requirements of an agreed-upon standard (such as the OWASP ASVS). The Developer shall document verification findings according to the reporting requirements of the standard. The Developer shall provide the verification findings to Client.

Latest News

• OWASP Enterprise Security API (ESAPI) has been integrated into the OWASP Secure Software Development Contract Annex
• OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) has been integrated into the OWASP Secure Software Development Contract Annex
• Request for users/adopters/supporters. Please let us know your stories!
• Legal Project News Archives
• Legal Project Mailing List

Project Leader

• Jeff Williams

Project Contributors

• Mike Boberski

Project Sponsorship

Users and Adopters

Coming soon! Please let us know how your organization is using the OWASP Contract Annex. Include your name, organization's name, and brief description of how you use the annex. The project lead can be reached at Jeff Williams Thanks for supporting OWASP!