The OWASP Top 10 is a global standard for the most severe vulnerabilities in web applications. In 2025, changes are expected that will affect how organizations develop, test, and protect their software. In this article, we look at the forecast for the new list and what steps you should take to be ready, with a brief reference to the previous 2024 version.
According to OWASP and expert analyses (Reflectiz, Undercode Testing), the official list will be published in the fall of 2025, but the main risks are already becoming clear:
This vulnerability occurs when users can access resources or functionalities they shouldn’t have permission for. It’s often due to the lack of effective enforcement of the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) or misconfigured permissions. Attackers can use this gap to view, modify, or delete sensitive data.
Injection attacks happen when unvalidated input is sent to an interpreter (e.g., SQL database), allowing the execution of malicious code. SQL, NoSQL, OS, and LDAP injections can lead to data leaks, database corruption, or full system compromise. The most common cause is a lack of parameterized queries and insufficient input validation.
This arises when an application is designed without taking fundamental security principles into account. The problem lies not in the implementation but in the architectural logic itself, which allows bypassing protections. Solutions include implementing threat modeling and secure-by-design approaches from the earliest stages of development.
Flaws in authentication allow attackers to impersonate legitimate users. Causes include weak passwords, lack of multi-factor authentication, or insecure storage of credentials. Such weaknesses can lead to account takeover, data breaches, or privilege escalation.
Using outdated cryptographic algorithms or poor key management can expose sensitive information. Common issues include insecure SSL/TLS configurations, weak hashing functions, or hard-coded keys. These weaknesses allow attackers to decrypt confidential data.
One of the most common vulnerabilities, this includes default settings left in place, unsecured cloud storage, or unnecessary open ports. Often caused by the absence of automated configuration checks, such weaknesses can be exploited with minimal effort.
Using outdated libraries or frameworks with known vulnerabilities significantly increases attack risk. A lack of dependency management processes leads to accumulated risk over time. Updating components and regularly checking for CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) is essential.
This includes cases where code or data can be modified without authorization. Supply chain attacks, where malicious code is inserted into third-party libraries, are a common example. The absence of verification through digital signatures and version control makes such attacks easier.
Race conditions occur when two or more processes access a shared resource simultaneously, and the outcome depends on execution order. This can let attackers alter or read data at unexpected moments. Timing attacks exploit differences in execution time to extract sensitive information like passwords or encryption keys.
In this attack, malicious requests alter the content cached by a web server or proxy. As a result, subsequent users receive false or malicious responses. This can lead to phishing, session theft, or malware distribution.
Update software components – automate vulnerability checks.
For comparison, here were the top vulnerabilities in 2024:
3. Injection
4. Insecure Design
The OWASP Top 10 for 2025 shows that cyber threats continue to evolve and grow in complexity, with new categories such as Race Conditions and Web Cache Poisoning emerging. Despite technological advancements, core issues like broken access control, injections, and misconfigurations remain widespread. To minimize risks, organizations should adopt secure-by-design principles, conduct regular testing, update components, and train security teams. In an increasingly connected world, preventive measures are no longer optional but an essential requirement for safeguarding data and maintaining user trust.
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