Security labels are useful only when they say what was checked, where a control applies, and what remains uncertain. “Implemented,” “experimental,” and “not claimed” can make those distinctions visible, but the labels alone do not prove that a security control works. The definitions below are a proposed publisher taxonomy, not an OWASP standard. The site-wide statement that every security claim on this site carries one of these labels is publisher-supplied; without a claim inventory and supporting records, it cannot be independently confirmed.
What each security label means
A label should describe the status of a specific, bounded claim—not confer a general seal of security on a product or site. OWASP guidance separates selecting and documenting security requirements from implementing them and confirming their correct implementation. The definitions below apply that principle to the three labels.
| Label | Meaning | What readers should not infer |
|---|---|---|
| Implemented | The described control is present in the stated product or system scope, and the publisher can identify a review or test basis. The claim should state its coverage and known limitations. | It does not mean the entire product is secure, that the control is effective in every circumstance, or that an independent certification has been earned. |
| Experimental | The work is exploratory or is not yet treated as a production commitment. The publisher should identify where it is enabled and what validation, if any, has occurred. | It should not be treated as a production guarantee or relied on for protection unless the claim explicitly says otherwise. |
| Not claimed | The publisher is making no assertion that the control exists or provides the stated protection. The reason should be clarified: a scope boundary, unverified status, or lack of evidence are different situations. | It does not establish that the control is absent or that a protection claim has been disproved. |
These three labels are a practical editorial taxonomy, not classifications defined by OWASP. In particular, “not claimed” means no assurance is being offered; it is not evidence of either presence or absence.
What supports an “implemented” claim
Before marking a claim “implemented,” define the security requirement precisely enough to check. OWASP’s security requirements guidance describes a process that includes discovering or selecting requirements, documenting them, implementing them, and confirming correct implementation. A plan, design description, or feature announcement supports intent, but does not by itself establish that the control is present and working.
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OWASP’s Application Security Verification Standard also frames assurance as an argument supported by claims and evidence. For a public claim, that means readers should be able to understand what was checked and what the evidence can actually establish.
- Test results or an independently reviewable record can support a bounded statement about the tested scope and conditions.
- A design document can explain intended protections and architecture, but does not demonstrate that the design was implemented correctly.
- An unverified description is an assertion, not confirmation.
Evidence should not be stretched beyond its scope. A test of one component does not prove equivalent behavior across every product version, deployment, or configuration. A label is not a certification unless a relevant certification has actually been obtained and its scope is stated.
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What an honest label should disclose
A useful claim record gives enough context for a reader to judge its scope and freshness. OWASP’s Secure Software Contract Annex says that exceptions to certification status should be fully documented with delivery. More broadly, security documentation should communicate design, risk, exceptions, and evidence; documentation itself is not proof that a control is effective.
- The exact security claim and the system, product, or feature it covers.
- The linked security requirement or threat the control addresses.
- The implementation reference and the person or team responsible for the claim.
- How implementation was confirmed, including the scope of any test or review.
- Known limitations, exceptions, and the reason for an experimental or not-claimed status.
- The date of the latest review, so readers can see whether the status may have become stale.
This record is useful only if it stays aligned with the software. Security requirements and threat modeling are part of ongoing development work, so changes to a system can make an earlier status inaccurate. OWASP’s cited guidance does not prescribe a universal review interval; publishers should make review dates and status changes visible rather than imply a fixed schedule.
How to interpret a site-wide promise
The statement that every security claim on a site is labeled is a claim about the site’s publishing practice. To verify it, a reader would need a complete inventory of security claims and dated records connecting each one to its label and supporting evidence. Without that inventory and those records, the site-wide promise should be understood as publisher-supplied rather than independently verified.
Even a complete set of labels would not show, on its own, that the underlying controls are effective. The label tells readers how the publisher classifies a claim; the scope, evidence, limitations, and review date determine how much confidence that classification warrants.
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