What Is OWASP Top 10 in Cybersecurity?

The OWASP Top 10 lists the most serious web application vulnerabilities. OWASP also offers helpful resources so developers and security teams can learn how to find, fix, and prevent these issues in today’s applications.

OWASP Top 10 is updated periodically along with changes in technology, coding practice, and attacker behaviour.

Why OWASP Top 10 Matters?

Many organizations and security teams use the OWASP Top 10 as a standard reference for web application security. It often serves as a starting point for building secure software development practices.

By following OWASP guidelines, you can:

• Identify and prioritize security flaws in a web application.
• Strengthen secure coding practice in application development.
• Reduce the risk of attack in your application.
• Meet compliance requirements (e.g., ISO 27001, PCI DSS, NIST)

The OWASP Top 10 Categories

The latest update (OWASP Top 10 – 2021) includes the following categories:

• Broken Access Control: When permissions are not enforced properly, attackers can perform actions they shouldn’t be allowed to.
• Cryptographic Failures – Weak or misused cryptography exposes sensitive data.
• Injection – Flaws like SQL Injection or XSS allow attackers to inject malicious code.
• Insecure Design – Weak design patterns or missing security controls in architecture.
• Security Misconfiguration – open ports, or exposed admin panels.
• Vulnerable and Outdated Components – Using outdated libraries or frameworks.
• Identification and Authentication Failures – Weak login mechanisms or session management.
• Software and Data Integrity Failures – Unverified software updates or CI/CD pipeline risks.
• Security Logging and Monitoring Failures – Missing or insufficient incident detection.
• Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) – Attackers force the server to make unauthorized requests.

Example in Practice

A web application uses an outdated version of Apache Struts that contains vulnerabilities; attackers exploit it to gain unauthorized access. That security flaw was detected as :

• A06: Vulnerable and Outdated Components

It demonstrates how overlooking OWASP Top 10 principles can lead to serious breaches like the Equifax 2017 incident.

Benefits of Following OWASP Top 10

• Reduce the cost by detecting vulnerabilities early.
• Improve the security of the application against common attacks.
• Help the developer prioritize security efforts effectively.
• Build trust and compliance readiness.

Related Terms

• Application Security Testing (AST)
• SAST (Static Application Security Testing)
• DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing)
• IAST (Interactive Application Security Testing)
• Software Composition Analysis (SCA)
• Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC)

FAQ: OWASP Top 10

Q1. Who maintains the OWASP Top 10?

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is maintained by a community of people who care about secure software development.

Q2. How often is the OWASP Top 10 updated?

Typically, every 3–4 years, based on global vulnerability data and industry feedback. The last update was in 2001 it scheduled new update is scheduled for November 2025

Q3. Is OWASP Top 10 a compliance requirement?

Not legally, but many standards (e.g., PCI DSS, ISO 27001) reference OWASP Top 10 as a best practice benchmark for secure development.

Q4. What’s the difference between OWASP Top 10 and CWE Top 25?

OWASP Top 10 focuses on categories of risks, while CWE Top 25 lists specific coding weaknesses.

Q5. How can developers apply the OWASP Top 10?

By integrating security tools like SAST DAST, and SCA into the CI/CD pipeline, and following secure coding guidelines aligned with OWASP recommendations.