OWASP Top 10 Security Vulnerabilities (2025 Guide)

The OWASP top 10 vulnerabilities is considered to be the gold standard when it comes web application security. These are the most important security risks for developers, businesses and security teams to address. Understanding these vulnerabilities will be essential in 2025 as cyberattacks get more sophisticated. This is important for maintaining trust and complying to security standards, protecting data, and maintaining the integrity of your business.

This detailed guide will explain the OWASP top 10 vulnerabilities and why they are important. It also answers the most frequently asked questions about OWASP.

What is OWASP (OWASP)?

OWASP is the Open Web Application Security Project. It is a nonprofit foundation that focuses on improving software security. OWASP’s best-known resources include:

• Top 10 – A list with the top 10 most critical security risks for web applications.

• OWASP Test Guide – A Framework for Penetration Testing

• Cheat Sheets – Best Practices for Developers to Secure Applications

OWASP does not have a regulatory role, but it has a significant impact on global standards, compliance frameworks and security certifications.

Why the OWASP Top 10 is Important in 2025

• Cyber-attacks are on the rise: As more businesses move to cloud services and online services, hackers target web applications in order to steal data.

• Compliance Standards such as PCI DSS (Data Security Standard), ISO 27001 (General Data Protection Regulation) and GDPR encourage organizations in order to comply with OWASP recommendations.

• Developer Awareness: The OWASP Top 10 helps developers understand the most common mistakes which could expose systems to hacker.

By focusing on the vulnerabilities that exist, organizations can reduce most security risks.

The OWASP Top Ten Vulnerabilities explained

Below are the ten categories of vulnerabilities highlighted by OWASP. Each category represents a wide range of risks.

1. Broken Access Control

What is it? Access Control ensures users can only access resources that they have been authorized to. When attackers circumvent restrictions to gain access sensitive data or functionality, they are considered to have broken access control.

An example: An ordinary user manipulating URLs to access admin features.

Impact Data leaks or privilege escalation.

Prevention:

• Apply the principle of least privilege.

• Use strong access controls at the server level.

• Test authorization policies continuously

2. Cryptographic Failures

What is it? Previously known as “Sensitive Data Exposure,” the term refers to incorrect encryption or failures to protect data during transit or storage.

Ex: Storing your passwords in plaintext or using outdated SSL/TLS protocol.

Impact Attackers may steal, modify or misuse sensitive information such as credit cards, login credentials, or personal information.

Prevention:

• Use HTTPS only.

• Use strong encryption algorithms to protect sensitive data (AES-256 or SHA-256).

• Store sensitive data only when necessary.

3. Injection

What is it? An injection flaw occurs when an attacker sends malicious information to an interpreter, such as SQL, NoSQL commands, OS commands or LDAP requests.

Example SQL injection – using OR 1=1 -- in order to bypass login authentication.

Impact: Unauthorized data access, data loss, or remote code execution.

Prevention:

• Use parameterized queries (prepared statements).

• Validate all inputs and clean them up.

• Use ORM frameworks in order to reduce the amount of direct query manipulation.

4. Design Insecure

What is it? Security flaws that are built into an application’s design phase. These are not implementation bugs but architectural flaws.

For example: A program that does not limit the number of failed login attempts. This allows brute force attacks.

Impact Widespread exploitation of systems and high remediation cost.

Prevention:

• Apply threat modeling during development.

• Follow secure design principles.

• Regularly conduct security audits

5. Security Misconfiguration

What is it? It is a vulnerability that is caused by incorrect configuration of security settings.

Example Incorrect HTTP headers, running unnecessary services, or default credentials.

Impact Easy exploitability by attackers leading to unauthorised access or data breaches.

Prevention:

• Disable features that are not being used.

• Update and patch your system regularly.

• Automate configuration management.

6. Components that are vulnerable and outdated

What is it? Use of outdated libraries, frameworks or software that has known vulnerabilities.

Ex: Running a version of WordPress plugins that has unpatched security vulnerabilities.

Impact Attackers compromise applications by exploiting known CVEs.

Prevention:

• Keep track of all the software components.

• Regularly update dependencies.

• Use tools such as OWASP dependency-Check and Snyk.

7. Identification and Authentication Failed

What is it? Weak systems of authentication that do not protect user accounts.

Ex: Allowing passwords that are weak, not using multi-factor authentication or hijacking sessions.

Impact Unauthorized Access to Accounts and Sensitive Data

Prevention:

• Use MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication).

• Implement strong password policies.

• Secure session management using short-lived tokens.

8. Software and data integrity failures

What is it? Failures which occur when software updates or CI/CD pipelines are not properly validated.

Installing malicious updates from an untrusted sources.

Impact: Attacks on the supply chain and data manipulation

Prevention:

• Use digital signatures for code integrity.

• Validate the software sources.

• Monitor CI/CD pipelines for malicious activity.

9. Failures in Security Logging and Monitoring

What is it: When an application fails to record critical events or monitor suspicious activity effectively.

Ex: Do not alert when login fails repeatedly.

Impact Attackers may operate undetected causing a delay in response and increased damage.

Prevention:

• Enable detailed logging for security events.

• Monitor SIEM with tools.

• Audit logs and review them regularly.

10. Server-Side request Forgery

What is it? A malicious attacker tricked a server to send requests to an unintended location.

Example: A hacker exploiting SSRF in order to gain access to internal cloud services.

Impact : Exposed sensitive data and internal system compromise.

Prevention:

• Validate and clean URLs.

• Restriction of server requests to trusted domains

• Use firewall rules and network segmentation.

How the OWASP Top 10 Is Created

The OWASP Top Ten is based on data collected by organizations, security companies, and industry researchers. The factors include:

• Frequency of vulnerability occurrence.

• Exploitability

• Impact

• The prevalence of HTML0 across industries.

Every few years, the list is updated to reflect new threats.

FAQs on OWASP Top 10

1. What are OWASP10 vulnerabilities?

The OWASP Foundation has identified ten of the most critical security risks in web applications, such as injection, cryptographic issues, insecure designs, and others.

2. What is OWASP Top 10?

This document is used by developers, security teams and auditors as a reference to identify, prioritise and fix common web application security issues.

3. How are the OWASP Top Ten ranked?

The calculation is based on data from real-world situations, such as security assessments, industry reports and surveys. It takes into account the impact and prevalence of exploits, in addition to their potential for exploitation.

4. What is OWASP?

Open Web Application Security Project is what OWASP stands as.

5. What is OWASP Top Ten?

This is the Top 10 Most Critical Web Application Security Risks as identified and published OWASP.

6. What is a vulnerability according to OWASP?

OWASP defines a security vulnerability as a weakness within an application which allows an attacker the ability to cause harm such as unauthorized entry, data leakage, or service disruption.

7. What is the OWASP Rule?

There is no single “rule” but OWASP offers best practice, testing guidelines and frameworks to secure software development.

8. What is a CVE?

CVE is a database of public security flaws. CVE entries provide a unique ID as well as details about the vulnerability.

9. Is OWASP a coding standard?

No, OWASP does not constitute a coding standards. It’s a collection of security guidelines and resources designed to help developers adhere to secure coding practices.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, the OWASP top 10 vulnerabilities will remain as the cornerstone for web application security. These categories, while they may change over time, still cover most of the risks that organizations are facing today. Understanding and reducing these vulnerabilities can help developers and business build secure applications and protect sensitive data. They can also strengthen customer trust.

Security is not a one-time task, but a process that must be maintained. The OWASP guidelines will ensure that your applications are ready to withstand the most damaging and common attacks.