The OWASP Top 10 is one of the first things people mention when they talk about web security. But if you work in security long enough, you learn that most people talk about it without ever reading the details.
So let me explain you through the 2025 edition in a clear, direct way. I’ll mention what changed, why it matters, and where you should focus if you break, test, or defend web apps.
Why the 2025 Edition Matters
OWASP didn’t just reshuffle the list. They added two new categories, expanded supply-chain risk, and grouped weaknesses by root cause, not by symptom. That gives you a more precise view of where systems actually fail today.
The 2025 Top 10 focuses on:
- Bad access rules
- Misconfigured systems
- Compromised dependencies
- Weak cryptography
- Injection flaws
- Poor design
- Broken authentication
- Integrity failures
- Missing alerts
- Unsafe error handling
A01 — Broken Access Control
Developers still trust user input too much and protect data too little. You’ll see users reaching admin functions, bypassing role checks, or escalating privileges. SSRF now lives here because it crosses trust boundaries.
A02 — Security Misconfiguration
Cloud, containers, and complex frameworks create endless ways to misconfigure systems: debug modes left open, unsafe headers, open buckets, or weak CORS rules.
A03 — Software Supply Chain Failures
Expanded beyond “Vulnerable Components.” This covers malicious packages, poisoned builds, dependency confusion, and unsafe update paths.
A04 — Cryptographic Failures
Most crypto issues come from bad implementation: outdated ciphers, hardcoded keys, weak TLS, or plaintext secrets.
A05 — Injection
Still a core issue: SQLi, OS command injection, XSS, template injection, LDAP injection. Assume injection exists until proven otherwise.
A06 — Insecure Design
Deep structural flaws: missing threat modeling, unsafe workflows, weak trust boundaries, and flawed business logic.
A07 — Authentication Failures
Modern frameworks help, but issues remain: broken session handling, missing MFA, weak password rules, and leaked tokens.
A08 — Software or Data Integrity Failures
Covers unsafe deserialization, unverified updates, manipulated files, and missing integrity checks.
A09 — Logging & Alerting Failures
Systems that fail to log events, never alert, or log the wrong data leave teams blind during attacks.
A10 — Mishandling of Exceptional Conditions
A new category highlighting failures under stress: resource exhaustion, unexpected states, bad error handling, or fail-open behavior.
How OWASP Built the List
OWASP used real-world testing data and expert survey feedback. Instead of counting raw vulnerabilities, they looked at whether an app had at least one instance of a weakness. That paints a clearer picture of prevalence and risk. The data has came from reputated companies and community surveys.
What This Means for Security Professionals
If you test or defend applications:
- Start with access control
- Hunt for misconfiguration early
- Treat supply-chain attacks as routine
- Encourage secure design from day one
- Verify crypto correctness
- Review logging and alerting for IR readiness
- Stress-test error paths
This version reflects real attacks and real failures more than past editions.
Got questions about these 10? Don’t worry — I got a full series coming your way, each topic explained with ease!
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