OWASP Top 10:2025, explained
The OWASP Top 10 is the most widely referenced awareness list of web application security risks. The 2025 edition is the current release.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
| # | Category | What it looks like on an SME site |
|---|---|---|
| A01 | Broken Access Control | Admin pages reachable without login, other customers' bookings viewable by changing an ID in the URL. SSRF is now part of this category. |
| A02 | Security Misconfiguration | Missing security headers, default credentials, directory listing, verbose error pages, public backup files. |
| A03 | Software Supply Chain Failures | Outdated plugins and themes, abandoned npm packages, third-party scripts loaded from unvetted CDNs. |
| A04 | Cryptographic Failures | Forms over HTTP, weak TLS, passwords stored without proper hashing. |
| A05 | Injection | SQL injection in a search box; cross-site scripting (XSS) in a contact form or review widget. |
| A06 | Insecure Design | Password reset flows that can be abused; no rate limits on booking or coupon endpoints. |
| A07 | Authentication Failures | No MFA on the CMS admin, unlimited login attempts, shared admin accounts. |
| A08 | Software or Data Integrity Failures | Scripts loaded without integrity checks; unsigned updates; insecure deserialisation. |
| A09 | Security Logging & Alerting Failures | No logs of admin logins, or logs nobody reviews and no alerts. |
| A10 | Mishandling of Exceptional Conditions | Errors that leak stack traces, or failures that "fail open" and skip a security check. |
What a passive scan can and can't see
Passive checks reliably surface parts of A02 (headers, disclosure), A04 (TLS/HTTPS), A03 (visible outdated libraries) and A08 (scripts without Subresource Integrity). A01, A05, A06 and A07 can't be judged from public signals; for those, consider asking a qualified security professional.
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