In this guide, we explain the OWASP Top 10, its history, and the vulnerabilities included in the latest versions. This will help business leaders like you understand common web application risks and how organizations review them during security testing.
What Is OWASP Top 10?
The OWASP Top 10 is a list of common security vulnerabilities found in web applications. It is published by the OWASP based on data collected from security research and application testing. It helps organizations understand the types of security issues that frequently appear during development and deployment.
The OWASP Top 10 helps organizations identify common weaknesses such as access control problems, injection flaws, and security configuration mistakes. Security teams often use this list as a reference during penetration testing, application security assessments, and security reviews.
Why OWASP Top 10 Important for Web Application Security?
Many organizations use the OWASP Top 10 as a checklist when building or testing web applications. Developers review it during coding and design, while security teams use it when performing application security testing.
By referring to these categories early in the development process, teams can identify common security risks before applications are deployed. This helps reduce the chances of vulnerabilities remaining unnoticed in production systems.
History of the OWASP Top 10
The OWASP Top 10 list has been updated several times since its first release to reflect the types of issues most frequently reported during security research and application testing.
How the OWASP Top 10 Has Changed Over Time?
Each update of the OWASP Top 10 is based on data collected from security assessments, vulnerability reports, and input from the security community. These updates help ensure that the list reflects the vulnerabilities that are most commonly identified in modern web applications.
Why the OWASP Top 10 Categories Change?
The categories change over time because application development practices, technologies, and deployment environments continue to change. As organizations adopt new frameworks, APIs, cloud platforms, and development tools, different types of vulnerabilities become more common. Updating the list helps security teams and developers stay aware of these risks during application development and testing.
Versions of OWASP Top 10
-
- OWASP Top 10 (2003)
-
- OWASP Top 10 (2013)
-
- OWASP Top 10 (2017)
-
- OWASP Top 10 (2021)
-
- OWASP Top 10 (2025)
Overview of OWASP Top 10 (2003)
The OWASP Top 10 2003 was the first list published by the OWASP. It introduced a structured way to identify common security vulnerabilities found in web applications. The goal of this first version was to highlight the most frequent weaknesses developers and security teams should addre ss during application development and testing.
This early list focused heavily on input validation problems, authentication issues, and web application coding mistakes that were common at the time.
Key Vulnerabilities in OWASP Top 10 (2003)
A1: 2003- Unvalidated Input
A2: 2003- Broken Access Control
A3: 2003- Broken Authentication and Session Management
A4: 2003- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
A5: 2003- Buffer Overflows
A6: 2003- Injection Flaws
A7: 2003- Security Misconfiguration
A8: 2003- Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
A9: 2003- SQL Injection
A10: 2003- Insecure Direct Object References
Overview of OWASP Top 10 (2013)
The OWASP Top 10 2013 updated the earlier versions based on vulnerability reports and security testing data. This version placed greater attention on data protection and third-party software risks.
Several vulnerabilities were reorganized. For example, Injection remained a major category, while issues related to access control were separated into Insecure Direct Object References and Missing Function Level Access Control. The 2013 list also introduced Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities, reflecting the growing use of external libraries and frameworks in application development.
Key Vulnerabilities in OWASP Top 10 (2013)
A1: 2013 – Injection
A2: 2013 – Broken Authentication and Session Management
A3: 2013 – Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
A4: 2013 – Insecure Direct Object References
A5: 2013 – Security Misconfiguration
A6: 2013 – Sensitive Data Exposure
A7: 2013 – Missing Function Level Access Control
A8: 2013 – Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
A9: 2013 – Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities
A10: 2013 – Unvalidated Redirects and Forwards
Overview of OWASP Top 10 (2017)
The OWASP Top 10 2017 introduced several structural changes to the categories. Some previously separate issues were merged into broader categories to simplify how vulnerabilities were grouped.
For example, Insecure Direct Object References and Missing Function Level Access Control were combined into Broken Access Control. A new category, XML External Entities (XXE), was added to highlight issues caused by unsafe XML processing. Another new entry, Insecure Deserialization, reflected risks related to object serialization in modern applications.
Key Vulnerabilities in OWASP Top 10 (2017)
A1: 2017 – Injection
A2: 2017 – Broken Authentication
A3: 2017 – Sensitive Data Exposure
A4: 2017 – XML External Entities (XXE)
A5: 2017 – Broken Access Control
A6: 2017 – Security Misconfiguration
A7: 2017 – Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
A8: 2017 – Insecure Deserialization
A9: 2017 – Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities
A10: 2017 – Insufficient Logging and Monitoring
Overview of OWASP Top 10 (2021)
The OWASP Top 10 2021 introduced major structural changes. Some categories were renamed, and several vulnerabilities were merged to better represent modern application security risks.
For example:
-
- Sensitive Data Exposure was renamed to Cryptographic Failures
-
- Broken Authentication became Identification and Authentication Failures
-
- Insecure Deserialization was merged into Software and Data Integrity Failures
Key Vulnerabilities in OWASP Top 10 (2021)
A1: 2021 – Broken Access Control
A2: 2021 – Cryptographic Failures
A3: 2021 – Injection
A4: 2021 – Insecure Design
A5: 2021 – Security Misconfiguration
A6: 2021 – Vulnerable and Outdated Components
A7: 2021 – Identification and Authentication Failures
A8: 2021 – Software and Data Integrity Failures
A9: 2021 – Security Logging and Monitoring Failures
A10: 2021 – Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
Overview of OWASP Top 10 (2025)
The OWASP Top 10 2025 reflects changes in modern software development practices such as cloud platforms, APIs, and dependency-based development.
The 2025 version introduces Software Supply Chain Failures, which focuses on risks related to third-party packages and dependency management. Another new category, Mishandling of Exceptional Conditions, highlights security risks caused by improper error handling and unexpected system states.
The list also simplifies authentication terminology by replacing Identification and Authentication Failures with Authentication Failures and updates monitoring terminology to Security Logging and Alerting Failures.
Key Vulnerabilities in OWASP Top 10 (2025)
A1: 2025 – Broken Access Control
A2: 2025 – Security Misconfiguration
A3: 2025 – Software Supply Chain Failures
A4: 2025 – Cryptographic Failures
A5: 2025 – Injection
A6: 2025 – Insecure Design
A7: 2025 – Authentication Failures
A8: 2025 – Software or Data Integrity Failures
A9: 2025 – Security Logging and Alerting Failures
A10: 2025 – Mishandling of Exceptional Conditions
OWASP Top 10 Version 2025 Key Vulnerabilities Explained
Below we discuss in detail about each of the vulnerability mentioned in the latest OWASP Top 10 2025 edition:
1. Broken Access Control
Broken access control occurs when an application does not properly restrict what users can see or do. Attackers may access other users’ data, modify records, or perform actions without permission. This often happens when access checks are missing or only enforced on the client side instead of the server.
2. Security Misconfiguration
Security misconfiguration happens when servers, frameworks, or applications are set up with unsafe settings. Examples include default accounts, unnecessary services, open storage, or exposed admin panels. These configuration mistakes can allow attackers to access systems or gather information about the application.
3. Software Supply Chain Failures
Applications often depend on external libraries, packages, and development tools. If these components are compromised or contain vulnerabilities, the application using them can also be affected. This issue highlights the risks related to dependency management and using packages from untrusted sources.
4. Cryptographic Failures
Cryptographic failures occur when sensitive data is not properly protected. This may include weak encryption methods, improper key management, or transmitting sensitive data without encryption. As a result, attackers may intercept or access confidential information such as passwords or personal data.
5. Injection
Injection vulnerabilities occur when an application processes user input without proper validation. Attackers can insert malicious commands into input fields, API requests, or URLs. This can allow them to run database queries, system commands, or other actions that were not intended by the application.
6. Insecure Design
Insecure design refers to security problems caused by weak application design decisions. If security checks are not included during planning and development, attackers may find ways to bypass restrictions or misuse application features. Addressing this issue requires reviewing application workflows and logic.
7. Authentication Failures
Authentication failures occur when login systems do not properly verify user identity. Weak password policies, lack of login attempt limits, or improper session management can allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
8. Software or Data Integrity Failures
This vulnerability occurs when applications do not verify the integrity of software updates, dependencies, or stored data. Attackers may modify packages, scripts, or application components if proper verification methods such as signatures or checksums are not used.
9. Security Logging and Alerting Failures
Security logging and alerting failures occur when applications do not record important security events or when those logs are not monitored. Without proper logging, suspicious activities such as repeated login attempts or unauthorized access may go unnoticed.
10. Mishandling of Exceptional Conditions
Applications sometimes encounter unexpected situations such as invalid inputs or system errors. If these conditions are not handled properly, the application may expose internal information, crash, or behave unpredictably. Proper error handling helps prevent sensitive system details from being exposed.
How Peneto Labs Helps Identify OWASP Top 10 (2025) Vulnerabilities?
Peneto Labs has been empanelled by CERT-In to conduct information security auditing services. Peneto Labs helps organizations identify security issues listed in the OWASP Top 10 through structured security testing. Our team performs web application penetration testing to examine how applications handle authentication, user inputs, APIs, and access controls. All identified vulnerabilities are mapped to the relevant OWASP categories.
Our reports clearly explain the issue, the affected component, and the possible impact. Each finding includes remediation guidance so development and security teams understand what needs to be fixed. After fixes are applied, we also provide FREE retesting support to confirm that the vulnerabilities have been properly resolved.
What’s Next?
Organizations can start by reviewing their web applications against the OWASP Top 10 to identify common security weaknesses. Regular web application reviews, dependency checks, and access control and developer awareness also play an important role in reducing web application risks.
When developers understand how these vulnerabilities appear in code and system design, they can prevent many issues early in development. Development teams should include security checks during coding, configuration, and testing stages.
Periodic web application penetration testing and security assessments from companies like Peneto Labs help confirm that applications continue to meet security requirements as they are updated or expanded. Schedule a FREE scoping call with us to get CERT-In Web Application Penetration Testing that maps findings to OWASP top 10 today.
Important : Core Cyber Advice