Breaking Down OWASP Top 10 for Web Apps, Mobile, API, K8s and LLMs

What Is the OWASP Top 10? 

The OWASP Top 10 is a standard awareness document for developers and web application security. It represents a consensus of the most critical security risks to applications as identified by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). The most well known is the list of top 10 threats for web applications, but OWASP maintains additional lists covering mobile applications, APIs, Kubernetes, and Large Language Models (LLMs). 

Each of the OWASP lists is updated periodically to reflect the evolving threat landscape, providing insights into the most prevalent vulnerabilities that affect web development and how to mitigate them. The primary goal is to educate, guide, and improve security practices by highlighting significant risks.

Developers and security professionals use the OWASP Top 10 to inform and enhance application security measures. It serves as a foundational resource for developing secure applications. By addressing the risks listed in the OWASP Top 10, organizations can significantly reduce their exposure to these common vulnerabilities. However, it’s important to realize there are many cybersecurity threats beyond those listed in the Top 10.

This is part of a series of articles about application security vulnerabilities

Introduction to OWASP and Its Role in Security Awareness 

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) was founded in 2001 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the security of software. With a global network of tens of thousands of contributors, OWASP has become one of the most influential organizations in the cybersecurity community. It provides tools, resources, and frameworks to help developers, security professionals, and organizations identify and mitigate security risks.

OWASP's impact extends worldwide, with active chapters in over 100 countries and regular conferences that bring together experts to share the latest research and practices in application security. 

Its flagship project, the OWASP Top 10, has set the benchmark for application security standards and is widely referenced by developers, auditors, and regulatory frameworks. Through its open-source approach, OWASP fosters collaboration and innovation in the field, enabling continuous adaptation to the evolving threat landscape.

Which OWASP Top 10 Lists Are Available? 

OWASP has developed several specialized Top 10 lists to address security concerns in specific domains:

1. OWASP Web Application Top 10: Identifies the most critical security risks affecting web applications. It serves as a resource for developers and security professionals, offering insights into prevalent vulnerabilities and guidance on mitigating them. The latest edition, released in 2021, includes categories such as broken access control, cryptographic failures, and injection.
2. OWASP Mobile Top 10: This list identifies the most critical security risks in mobile applications, emphasizing vulnerabilities unique to mobile platforms. It covers issues such as insecure data storage, insufficient cryptography, and insecure communication. 
3. OWASP API Security Top 10: With the increasing reliance on APIs in modern applications, this list highlights the top security threats related to APIs. It includes risks like broken object-level authorization, excessive data exposure, and lack of resources and rate limiting.
4. OWASP Kubernetes Top 10: As Kubernetes becomes a standard for container orchestration, this list addresses the security challenges associated with its deployment and management. It covers risks such as insecure workloads, inadequate logging and monitoring, and insecure network traffic.
5. OWASP Top 10 for Large Language Model (LLM) Applications: Recognizing the unique security challenges posed by applications utilizing large language models, OWASP introduced this list to highlight critical vulnerabilities in LLM applications. It includes risks such as prompt injection, insecure output handling, and training data poisoning.

‍Related content: Read our guide to OWASP top 10 LLM.

Evolution of OWASP Top 10 Web Application Risks 

The OWASP Top 10 web application vulnerabilities list, the first and most well known of its Top 10 lists, has evolved significantly since its first release: 

• In the 2003 and 2004 editions, the OWASP Top 10 primarily focused on classic web vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), which were common and relatively straightforward to exploit. As web applications became more complex and attackers more sophisticated, new versions of the list incorporated broader categories, such as insufficient transport layer protection and security misconfigurations, emphasizing the importance of configurations and secure communication channels.
• In the 2013 and 2017 updates, the list had evolved to include more abstract or systemic issues, such as "insufficient logging and monitoring" and "using components with known vulnerabilities." This shift acknowledged the rise of complex supply chains and dependencies in web development, as well as the importance of monitoring and detecting security events.
• The 2021 edition of the OWASP Top 10 introduced further refinements, grouping similar vulnerabilities to better reflect root causes, like "insecure design" and "software and data integrity failures." This latest version illustrates OWASP's recognition that design-level security flaws are as critical as traditional technical vulnerabilities. It also highlights the need for proactive security measures, advocating for secure design principles from the earliest stages of development.
• In 2024, OWASP announced its intention to release a new version of the OWASP Top 10, which is planned for early 2025.

Breaking Down the OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities Lists 

OWASP Top 10 Application Security Risks

1. A01:2021 Broken Access Control: Occurs when applications fail to enforce proper access restrictions on authenticated users, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data or functionalities. Common issues include URL manipulation, lack of validation in API endpoints, and improper role-based permissions. 
2. A02:2021 Cryptographic Failures: Formerly known as "sensitive data exposure," this vulnerability involves improper handling of cryptographic practices, leading to data leakage or compromise. It encompasses weak encryption methods, insecure key management, and lack of transport encryption (e.g., HTTPS). 
3. A03:2021 Injection: Injection attacks, including SQL, NoSQL, and command injections, occur when untrusted data is interpreted as executable commands. Attackers exploit these flaws to execute malicious commands or queries.
4. A04:2021 Insecure Design: Represents flaws in the design phase that lead to weaknesses in application security, such as lack of threat modeling, misuse of design patterns, or weak architecture. 
5. A05:2021 Security Misconfiguration: Inadequate or misconfigured security settings can lead to security gaps, such as unnecessary services, default credentials, or overly permissive permissions. Security misconfigurations are often caused by lack of standardized deployment processes. 
6. A06:2021 Vulnerable and Outdated Components: Applications often rely on third-party libraries, frameworks, and components, which may contain unpatched vulnerabilities. Attackers exploit outdated or vulnerable components to compromise the application. 
7. A07:2021 Identification and Authentication Failures: Weak or improperly implemented authentication mechanisms can allow attackers to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access. Common issues include weak password policies, improper session management, and lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA).
8. A08:2021 Software and Data Integrity Failures: Covers failures to verify the integrity of code and data, such as using insecure software updates or failing to validate data integrity. Attacks like supply chain attacks and malicious updates exploit these weaknesses. 
9. A09:2021 Security Logging and Monitoring Failures: Inadequate logging and monitoring allow attackers to persist within a system undetected, increasing the impact of attacks. This category includes insufficient logging, failure to monitor security events, and lack of response mechanisms.
10. A10:2021 Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF): Allow attackers to send unauthorized requests from the server to internal or external services. Exploiting SSRF can lead to information disclosure or internal network access. 

For more information, see the official OWASP Top Ten page.

OWASP Mobile Top 10

The OWASP Mobile Top 10 for 2024 identifies the most critical security risks in mobile applications:

1. M1: Improper Credential Usage: Involves poor management of credentials, such as hardcoding them within the app's source code or configuration files, leading to unauthorized access.
2. M2: Inadequate Supply Chain Security: Arises from insufficient security measures in the app's supply chain, potentially introducing vulnerabilities through third-party components.
3. M3: Insecure Authentication/Authorization: Results from weak or missing authentication schemes, allowing adversaries to execute functionality within the app or backend servers without proper authorization.
4. M4: Insufficient Input/Output Validation: Occurs when apps fail to properly validate input and output data, leading to vulnerabilities like injection attacks.
5. M5: Insecure Communication: Happens when data transmitted between the mobile app and backend services is not properly encrypted, exposing sensitive information to interception.
6. M6: Inadequate Privacy Controls: Involves insufficient measures to protect user privacy, leading to unauthorized access or sharing of personal data.
7. M7: Insufficient Binary Protections: Refers to the lack of protections against reverse engineering or tampering of the app's binary, making it easier for attackers to exploit.
8. M8: Security Misconfiguration: Entails improper configuration of security settings, such as unnecessary permissions or exported activities, which can be exploited by attackers.
9. M9: Insecure Data Storage: Involves storing sensitive data on the device without proper encryption, making it accessible to unauthorized parties.
10. M10: Insufficient Cryptography: Results from using weak or improper cryptographic algorithms, failing to adequately protect data.

For more information, see the official page.

OWASP Top 10 API Security Risks

The OWASP API Security Top 10 for 2023 identifies the most critical security risks affecting Application Programming Interfaces (APIs):

1. API1:2023 Broken Object Level Authorization: Occurs when APIs expose endpoints handling object identifiers without proper authorization checks, allowing attackers to access or manipulate other users' data.
2. API2:2023 Broken Authentication: Results from incorrect implementation of authentication mechanisms, enabling attackers to compromise tokens or exploit flaws to impersonate other users.
3. API3:2023 Broken Object Property Level Authorization: Involves insufficient authorization validation at the object property level, leading to unauthorized information exposure or manipulation.
4. API4:2023 Unrestricted Resource Consumption: Arises when APIs do not limit resource usage, allowing attackers to exhaust system resources, causing denial of service or increased operational costs.
5. API5:2023 Broken Function Level Authorization: Occurs due to complex access control policies and unclear separation between administrative and regular functions, enabling attackers to access unauthorized resources or functions.
6. API6:2023 Unrestricted Access to Sensitive Business Flows: Happens when APIs expose business processes without considering potential abuse, leading to issues like automated exploitation of functionalities.
7. API7:2023 Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF): Occurs when an API fetches a remote resource without validating user-supplied URIs, allowing attackers to make unauthorized requests to internal or external services.
8. API8:2023 Security Misconfiguration: Involves improper configuration of API components, leaving them vulnerable to attacks due to default settings, incomplete configurations, or exposed debug endpoints.
9. API9:2023 Improper Inventory Management: Results from a lack of proper documentation and inventory of API hosts and versions, leading to issues like deprecated APIs and exposed debug endpoints.
10. API10:2023 Unsafe Consumption of APIs: Occurs when developers trust data from third-party APIs without proper validation, leading to potential exploitation through malicious responses.

For more information, see the official page.

OWASP Top 10 Kubernetes Risks 

The OWASP Kubernetes Top Ten identifies the most critical security risks associated with Kubernetes environments:

1. K01: Insecure Workload Configurations: Misconfigurations in workloads can lead to vulnerabilities, such as running containers with excessive privileges or without resource limits, exposing the cluster to potential attacks.
2. K02: Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Utilizing unverified or compromised third-party components can introduce malicious code into the cluster, compromising its integrity and security.
3. K03: Overly Permissive RBAC Configurations: Assigning excessive permissions through Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) can allow unauthorized actions within the cluster, leading to potential breaches.
4. K04: Lack of Centralized Policy Enforcement: Without centralized policies, inconsistent security practices may arise across the cluster, increasing the risk of misconfigurations and vulnerabilities.
5. K05: Inadequate Logging and Monitoring: Insufficient logging and monitoring hinder the detection of suspicious activities, delaying responses to security incidents.
6. K06: Broken Authentication Mechanisms: Weak or misconfigured authentication can allow unauthorized access to the cluster, compromising its security.
7. K07: Missing Network Segmentation Controls: Lack of proper network segmentation permits unrestricted communication between components, facilitating lateral movement by attackers within the cluster.
8. K08: Secrets Management Failures: Improper handling of sensitive information, such as storing secrets in plaintext, can lead to unauthorized data access.
9. K09: Misconfigured Cluster Components: Incorrect configurations of cluster components can expose the environment to various attacks, affecting its overall security posture.
10. K10: Outdated and Vulnerable Kubernetes Components: Running outdated Kubernetes versions or components with known vulnerabilities can be exploited by attackers to compromise the cluster.

For more information, see the official page.

OWASP Top 10 Risks for LLM and Gen AI Applications

The OWASP Top 10 for Large Language Model (LLM) Applications identifies critical security risks associated with LLM and Generative AI applications:

1. LLM01:2025 Prompt Injection: Occurs when user inputs manipulate the model's behavior, leading to unintended actions or outputs.
2. LLM02:2025 Sensitive Information Disclosure: Involves the unintended release of confidential data through model outputs, compromising privacy and security.
3. LLM03:2025 Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Arise from weaknesses in the components and processes involved in developing and deploying LLMs, potentially introducing malicious elements.
4. LLM04:2025 Data and Model Poisoning: Entails the injection of malicious data during training, leading to corrupted models that produce harmful or biased outputs.
5. LLM05:2025 Improper Output Handling: Results from insufficient validation and sanitization of model outputs, which can propagate harmful content or vulnerabilities.
6. LLM06:2025 Excessive Agency: Occurs when LLM-based systems are granted too much autonomy, potentially leading to unintended or harmful actions.
7. LLM07:2025 System Prompt Leakage: Refers to the exposure of system-level prompts or instructions, which can be exploited to alter model behavior.
8. LLM08:2025 Vector and Embedding Weaknesses: Involves vulnerabilities in the representations used by models, which can be exploited to manipulate outputs or infer sensitive information.
9. LLM09:2025 Misinformation: The generation of incorrect or misleading information by LLMs, which can be exploited to spread false narratives.
10. LLM10:2025 Unbounded Consumption: Refers to scenarios where LLMs consume excessive resources, leading to denial-of-service conditions or degraded performance.

For more information, download the latest list.

Common Best Practices for Securing Applications 

Here are a few common best practices recommended by OWASP to improve an organization’s security posture.

1. Implement Secure Coding Standards

Secure coding standards involve guidelines ensuring code contributes to secure applications. These can mitigate vulnerabilities like buffer overflow or data injection by emphasizing principles such as least privilege and input validation. Applying these standards from the project's start reduces the likelihood of security flaws.

Secure coding education for development teams is fundamental, ensuring all members are well-versed in best practices. Regular code reviews, combined with automated tools like static analysis software, can also identify vulnerabilities early.

2. Regularly Update and Patch Systems

Frequent updates and patches are critical for safeguarding applications from exploitation. Vendors routinely release updates addressing vulnerabilities, and neglecting them can leave applications susceptible to attacks. A structured patch management process prioritizes updates based on their risk to ensure timely fixes.

Automated solutions can assist by notifying teams of new updates and facilitating their deployment, minimizing human error and delays. Continuous audit and evaluation of systems for unpatched vulnerabilities ensure that overlooked exposures are addressed promptly.

3. Employ Robust Authentication Mechanisms

Strong authentication mechanisms protect against unauthorized access. Implementing multi-factor authentication adds a layer of security, reducing the impact of stolen credentials. Password policies emphasizing complexity and periodic updates further bolster account security.

Token-based systems can enhance security by securely managing sessions and user authentication. Regular testing of authentication systems, including practices like brute force and red team exercises, assess and strengthen defenses against unauthorized access.

4. Conduct Frequent Security Testing and Audits

Regular security testing and audits identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Penetration testing simulates attack scenarios revealing weaknesses in applications, while audits ensure security policies are adhered to and effective. These proactive measures provide an accurate snapshot of an application's security posture.

Dynamic and static analysis tools can automate testing processes, aiding in the ongoing identification of vulnerabilities. Incorporating security testing into the development lifecycle allows for timely remediation of identified issues.

5. Educate Development and Operations Teams on Security Principles

Educating development and operations teams ensures they can cultivate secure coding practices, deploy applications securely, and recognize potential security risks. Continuous training programs keep team members informed on the latest threats and mitigation strategies. This education fosters a culture of security awareness integral to the development process.

Workshops and certifications can deepen security understanding, providing practical insights into safeguarding applications. By prioritizing education, organizations can equip their teams to anticipate security challenges and integrate security into every facet of application development.

Defending Against OWASP Threats with Oligo

Oligo Security offers real-time protection and risk-based vulnerability prioritization to help organizations address the most pressing OWASP threats. With runtime insights and proactive security measures, Oligo simplifies vulnerability management and enhances application security.

Key Capabilities

• Real-Time Threat Detection: Monitors application behavior to identify unauthorized access, injection attempts, and misconfigurations.
• Focused Vulnerability Prioritization: Highlights exploitable vulnerabilities using Oligo Focus, enabling teams to address high-risk issues first.
• Input and Output Filtering: Validates and sanitizes inputs and outputs to block injection attacks and prevent data leaks.
• Continuous Monitoring and Reporting: Provides actionable insights and compliance-ready reports for ongoing security improvements.

Why Oligo?

Oligo’s solutions, ADR and Focus, deliver runtime insights and exploitability analysis tailored for modern applications. With automated workflows and contextual analysis, Oligo reduces noise, accelerates remediation, and strengthens security.

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