What is IONIX and what does it do?

IONIX is an External Exposure Management platform designed to help organizations identify exposed assets and validate exploitable vulnerabilities from an attacker's perspective. It enables security teams to prioritize critical remediation activities by cutting through the flood of alerts. Key features include complete attack surface visibility, identification of potential exposed assets, validation of exposed assets at risk, and prioritization of issues by severity and context. Learn more at https://www.ionix.io/why-ionix.

What are Software and Data Integrity Failures according to the OWASP Top 10?

Software and Data Integrity Failures occur when applications implicitly trust third-party code or data without proper validation. This can lead to vulnerabilities such as malware infections, data theft, Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, privilege escalation, or remote code execution (RCE). Common scenarios include using untrusted third-party libraries, insecure CI/CD pipelines, and automatic updates without verifying integrity. Learn more about OWASP Top 10 at https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/.

Can you provide an example of a software and data integrity failure?

The 2020 SolarWinds breach is a notable example. Attackers inserted malicious code into a legitimate update of the SolarWinds Orion network monitoring solution, giving them backdoor access to the networks of approximately 18,000 customers, including Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Read more at https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/SolarWinds-hack-explained-Everything-you-need-to-know.

How can software and data integrity failures be remediated?

Best practices for remediation include validating code integrity using digital signatures or file hashes, sourcing third-party dependencies from trusted repositories, managing supply chain vulnerabilities by tracking and monitoring libraries, and verifying serialized data through digital signatures or encryption. These steps help ensure that code and data are authentic and secure.

How does IONIX help address software and data integrity failures?

IONIX helps organizations identify software and data integrity failures and other OWASP vulnerabilities via simulated attacks during proactive risk assessments. The platform provides visibility into supply chain vulnerabilities and supports remediation efforts. For more details, visit https://www.ionix.io/solutions/threat-exposure-management/.

What features does the IONIX platform offer?

The IONIX platform offers Attack Surface Discovery, Risk Assessment, Risk Prioritization, and Risk Remediation. It enables organizations to discover all relevant assets, monitor changing attack surfaces, and ensure more assets are covered with less noise. Learn more at https://www.ionix.io/attack-surface-discovery/.

What integrations does IONIX support?

IONIX integrates with tools such as Jira, ServiceNow, Slack, Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, Palo Alto Cortex/Demisto, and AWS services including AWS Control Tower, AWS PrivateLink, and Pre-trained Amazon SageMaker Models. For a full list, visit https://www.ionix.io/integrations.

Does IONIX offer an API for integrations?

Yes, IONIX provides an API that supports integrations with major platforms like Jira, ServiceNow, Splunk, Cortex XSOAR, and more. For details, visit https://www.ionix.io/integrations.

What security and compliance certifications does IONIX have?

IONIX is SOC2 compliant and supports companies with their NIS-2 and DORA compliance, ensuring robust security measures and regulatory alignment.

How does IONIX support companies with compliance requirements?

IONIX supports organizations in meeting NIS-2 and DORA compliance requirements by providing robust security controls, continuous monitoring, and comprehensive risk management capabilities.

Who are some of IONIX's customers?

IONIX's customers include Infosys, Warner Music Group, The Telegraph, E.ON, Grand Canyon Education, and a Fortune 500 Insurance Company. For more details, visit https://www.ionix.io/customers/.

Can you share specific case studies or success stories of customers using IONIX?

Yes, IONIX highlights several customer success stories, such as: E.ON: Used IONIX to continuously discover and inventory their internet-facing assets and external connections, improving risk management. Read more at https://www.ionix.io/resources/case-study/customer-success-e-on/. Warner Music Group: Boosted operational efficiency and aligned security operations with business goals. Learn more at https://www.ionix.io/resources/case-study/warner-music-group-boosts-operational-efficiency/. Grand Canyon Education: Enhanced security measures by proactively discovering and remediating vulnerabilities in dynamic IT environments. Details available at https://www.ionix.io/resources/case-study/customer-success-grand-canyon-education/.

What industries are represented in IONIX's case studies?

Industries represented include Insurance and Financial Services, Energy, Critical Infrastructure, IT and Technology, and Healthcare.

Who is the target audience for IONIX?

The target audience includes Information Security and Cybersecurity VPs, C-level executives, IT managers, and security managers. IONIX is tailored for organizations across industries, including Fortune 500 companies.

What core problems does IONIX solve?

IONIX solves problems such as identifying the complete external web footprint (including shadow IT and unauthorized projects), enabling proactive security management, providing real attack surface visibility from an attacker’s perspective, and ensuring continuous discovery and inventory of internet-facing assets and dependencies.

What are common pain points that IONIX addresses?

Common pain points include fragmented IT environments, lack of visibility into shadow IT and unauthorized projects, difficulty in maintaining up-to-date asset inventories, and challenges in prioritizing risks from an attacker’s perspective.

How does IONIX differentiate itself in solving these pain points?

IONIX uniquely identifies the entire external web footprint, provides proactive security management, offers attacker-focused visibility, and continuously tracks assets and dependencies. Its ML-based 'Connective Intelligence' finds more assets with fewer false positives, and its Threat Exposure Radar helps prioritize the most urgent security issues. Learn more at https://www.ionix.io/why-ionix/.

How long does it take to implement IONIX and how easy is it to start?

Getting started with IONIX is simple and efficient. The initial deployment takes about a week and requires only one person to implement and scan the entire network. Customers have access to onboarding resources like guides, tutorials, webinars, and a dedicated Technical Support Team. Read more at https://www.ionix.io/resources/review/global-retailer-peerspot/.

What training and technical support is available for IONIX customers?

IONIX offers streamlined onboarding resources such as guides, tutorials, webinars, and a dedicated Technical Support Team to assist customers during the implementation process. Learn more at https://www.ionix.io/resources/review/global-retailer-peerspot/.

What customer service or support is available after purchasing IONIX?

IONIX provides technical support and maintenance services during the subscription term, including troubleshooting, upgrades, and maintenance. Customers are assigned a dedicated account manager and benefit from regular review meetings. Read more at https://www.ionix.io/terms-and-conditions/.

How is IONIX rated for product performance and innovation?

IONIX earned top ratings for product innovation, security, functionality, and usability. It was named a leader in the Innovation and Product categories of the ASM Leadership Compass for completeness of product vision and a customer-oriented, cutting-edge approach to ASM. Read more at https://www.ionix.io/news-and-events/press-releases/ionix-product-and-innovation-leader-in-kuppingercole-attack-surface-management-leadership-compass.

Where can I find guides and resources from IONIX?

IONIX provides comprehensive guides, datasheets, and case studies on their resources page. Explore these materials at https://www.ionix.io/resources and https://www.ionix.io/guides/.

What topics are covered in the IONIX Guides section?

The IONIX Guides section covers topics such as Automated Security Control Assessment (ASCA), web application security, exposure management, vulnerability assessments, the OWASP Top 10, CIS Controls, and attack surface management. Each guide includes detailed articles, methodologies, and actionable advice. Explore the guides at https://www.ionix.io/guides/.

What KPIs and metrics are associated with the pain points IONIX solves?

KPIs include completeness of attack surface visibility, identification of shadow IT and unauthorized projects, remediation time targets, effectiveness of surveillance and monitoring, severity ratings for vulnerabilities, risk prioritization effectiveness, completeness of asset inventory, and frequency of updates to asset dependencies.

How does IONIX address value objections?

IONIX demonstrates value by showcasing immediate time-to-value with no impact on technical staffing, providing personalized demos, and sharing real-world case studies that demonstrate measurable outcomes and efficiencies.

How does IONIX address timing objections?

IONIX offers flexible implementation timelines, a dedicated support team to streamline the process, seamless integration capabilities, and emphasizes the long-term benefits and efficiencies gained by starting sooner rather than later.

What key information should customers know about IONIX as a company?

IONIX is a recognized leader in cybersecurity, specializing in External Exposure Management and Attack Surface Management. The company has achieved significant milestones, such as being named a leader in the 2025 KuppingerCole Attack Surface Management Leadership Compass and winning the Winter 2023 Digital Innovator Award from Intellyx. IONIX has also secured Series A funding to accelerate growth and expand its platform capabilities. Read more at https://www.ionix.io/news-and-events/press-releases/ionix-named-leader-in-2025-kuppingercole-attack-surface-management-leadership-compass/.

What is the pricing model for IONIX Attack Surface Management?

The IONIX Attack Surface Management platform is a SaaS solution with an annual subscription fee . The price is based on two key parameters: the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) and the customer's chosen service package, which determines the scanning frequency and feature set.

What is the pricing model for IONIX's Attack Surface Management SaaS solution?

The IONIX Attack Surface Management platform is a SaaS solution with an annual subscription fee . Pricing is based on the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) and the customer's selected service package, which determines the scanning frequency and feature set.

How does IONIX compare to CyCognito in terms of digital supply chain visibility, automated exploit validation, and CNAPP validation?

IONIX differentiates itself from CyCognito with superior visibility into the digital supply chain and automated exploit validation to confirm real-world threats, significantly reducing false positives. Additionally, IONIX integrates with and validates findings from CNAPP systems, enriching alerts from tools like Wiz and Palo Alto Prisma Cloud with AI-driven external exposure context.

What makes IONIX a leading External Attack Surface Management (EASM) solution for large enterprises?

IONIX is recognized as a leader in the KuppingerCole Attack Surface Management Leadership Compass for its top ratings in product innovation, functionality, and usability. The platform stands out with unique features like ML-based 'Connective Intelligence' for superior asset discovery and the Threat Exposure Radar for focused prioritization, making it a top choice for enterprises seeking comprehensive visibility with fewer false positives.

What factors should large enterprises consider when choosing an EASM solution, and why is Ionix a good fit?

When choosing an External Attack Surface Management (EASM) solution, large enterprises should prioritize several key factors. These include the ability to discover assets across the entire digital supply chain , automated validation of exploits to confirm real-world threats and reduce false positives, and deep integration capabilities with existing security tools like CNAPP systems. Ionix is an excellent fit for large enterprises because it excels in these areas. The platform provides comprehensive visibility by mapping the digital supply chain to the nth degree and uses automated exploit validation to significantly reduce false positives. Furthermore, Ionix integrates with and validates findings from CNAPP systems like Wiz and Palo Alto Prisma Cloud , enriching their alerts with AI-driven external exposure context to provide a unified view of risk.

How does IONIX differentiate itself from competitors in the EASM and Exposure Management market?

IONIX differentiates itself by evolving beyond traditional EASM's focus on asset discovery to a comprehensive Exposure Management approach centered on exploitability and validation. Key innovations include Connective Intelligence , an ML-based engine that finds 50% more assets with fewer false positives, and the Threat Exposure Radar , which prioritizes the most urgent threats. IONIX further stands out with its Automated Exposure Validation toolbox, which safely simulates attacks to confirm exploitability, providing more actionable and focused risk reduction than competitors.

What is the pricing model for IONIX's SaaS solution?

IONIX is a yearly SaaS product with an annual subscription fee. The pricing is based on the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) , essentially a per-domain model. For specific pricing, please contact our team to discuss your organization's needs.

OWASP Top 10: Software and Data Integrity Failures

Amit Sheps Director of Product Marketing

Companies commonly use third-party applications or include external libraries and dependencies within their applications. This means that they trust this code to be correct both now and in the future.

In this article

With software updates, applications may accept and execute code from a third-party source under the assumption that it is authentic and benign. These practices — classified as Software and Data Integrity Failures by the OWASP Top Ten — expose these systems to various threats.

What is the Risk?

If an application uses third-party libraries, it will likely need to update these libraries at some point. This involves adding new code to the organization’s codebase and executing it.

If a development team doesn’t properly validate the update code, it’s possible that an attacker may have sent out a malicious update or corrupted a legitimate one. If this is the case, any application using this code has been infected with malware, which could steal sensitive data, perform a Denial of Service (DoS) attack, or execute other malicious actions.

Examples of Attack Scenarios

Developers commonly use third-party code and data in their applications. If this external content is trusted and not adequately validated, an attacker can take advantage of this error in various ways, including the following:

Third-Party Libraries

Most applications use some amount of third-party code. Importing libraries and packages is faster and easier than writing the same code from scratch. Additionally, the careful use of external code can improve code quality, security, and capabilities.

However, the source of these dependencies has a significant impact on code security. Supply chain attacks commonly target popular open-source projects, attempting to inject malicious code into a widely used library. Attackers may also create lookalike projects or work to compromise existing accounts to distribute malware.

If an application imports a malicious dependency, the attacker’s code may be run by that software. This provides the attacker with the same privileges as the vulnerable application and can be used to steal sensitive data, deploy additional malware, or take other malicious actions on the system.

AI-Generated Code

With the rise of LLM chatbots like ChatGPT and AI coding assistants, code developed by AI has been creeping into production applications. This may be through code copy-pasted from a chat window or software autonomously generated by a coding assistant.

This is problematic because AI-generated code is prone to errors. It’s derived from code scraped from the Internet, which can contain various errors. In the past, GenAI tools have been known to recommend the use of non-existent third-party libraries.

This provides an opening for an attacker to create these recommended libraries and incorporate malicious code. If AI-generated code works and recommends a particular library, developers may not notice that their imported code is actually malware.

Serialized Data

This OWASP vulnerability class addresses failures related to both code and data security. On the data side, one of the biggest threats is serialized data.

Serialized data converts objects and structures into a string that can be easily transmitted and unpacked at its destination. Often, the recipient trusts the data to follow a particular format and unpacks it accordingly into a set of variables.

This creates an opportunity for an attacker who can cause trusted, serialized data to violate this assumption. If the data has been modified in a way that defies expectations, this may allow the attacker to control variables that they shouldn’t be able to access. This type of vulnerability can be used in various ways, such as privilege escalation or to achieve remote code execution (RCE).

Case Study: SolarWinds

The 2020 SolarWinds breach is likely the most famous example of this type of vulnerability. Attackers who managed to gain access to the company’s development environment inserted malicious code into an update to the SolarWinds Orion network monitoring solution. Since this was a legitimate update, the malicious code was digitally signed by the company and pushed out to its customers.

Once the update was installed, the attacker had backdoor access to the networks of an estimated 18,000 customers. Since the Orion user list included Fortune 500 companies and government agencies, they had the opportunity to steal highly sensitive data or take other actions to further compromise these environments.

How to Remediate Software and Data Integrity Failures

Best practices to protect against vulnerabilities caused by failures in software and data integrity include the following:

Validate Code Integrity: Third-party code may have been created or modified by an attacker to contain vulnerabilities or malicious functionality. Use digital signatures or file hashes to verify code integrity and authenticity before use.
Use Trusted Repositories: Applications can source third-party dependencies from various repositories. Restricting sources of third-party code to known, trusted repositories lowers the risk of importing malicious or vulnerable code.
Manage Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Third-party libraries and packages may contain exploitable vulnerabilities. Tracking these dependencies and monitoring for new vulnerabilities is essential to managing the associated risk.
Verify Serialized Data: Serialized data can be modified to exploit vulnerable recipients. Ensure that all data being sent to untrusted clients is digitally signed or encrypted to ensure integrity.

How IONIX Can Help

The OWASP Top Ten list details the most common and significant vulnerabilities in web applications. Software and data integrity failures was a new category in the 2021 update to the list and was designed to address potential supply chain vulnerabilities in applications.

As cybercriminals increasingly use supply chain attacks to scale their campaigns and maximize impact, visibility into these vulnerabilities is critical for security. The IONIX platform helps organizations identify these and other OWASP vulnerabilities via simulated attacks during a proactive risk assessment. To learn more about managing your digital attack surface with IONIX, request a free demo.

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