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OWASP Top 10

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The OWASP Top 10 is a widely referenced framework in security engineering interviews. It highlights the most critical web application risks and helps you organize your understanding of vulnerabilities and defenses.

This lesson shows how to reason through these risks, explain them clearly, and connect each to practical defenses.

What to expect

Typical interview questions include:

  • “Walk me through the OWASP Top 10 and which risks you’ve mitigated in your projects.”
  • “How would you test for or prevent injection in an API?”
  • “What controls reduce SSRF risk in cloud environments?”

Expect both quiz-style questions and scenario-based questions on the OWASP Top 10.

How to answer

Use a simple structure when explaining any vulnerability:

  1. Define the issue: What it is and why it matters.
  2. Describe the risk: What an attacker can do.
  3. Explain prevention: How to stop it.
  4. End with context: Why this defense is practical or important.

“SQL injection happens when unvalidated input is sent to a database as part of a query. It allows attackers to modify or extract data. The fix is to use parameterized queries and input validation, which separate user input from code execution.”

OWASP Top 10 Cheatsheet

The table below summarizes key OWASP risks, example exploits, and common mitigations. This helps you quickly understand the threat and how engineers defend against it, exactly what interviewers are looking for.

CategoryDescriptionExample exploitKey mitigations
A01: Broken Access ControlMissing or weak authorization checks.Accessing another user’s data via ID manipulation.Enforce server-side authorization, RBAC, and least privilege.
A02: Cryptographic FailuresWeak or missing encryption.Exposed passwords or plaintext PII.Use TLS, encrypt sensitive data, manage keys securely.
A03: InjectionUntrusted input interpreted as code.SQL, LDAP, or OS command injection.Use parameterized queries and input sanitization.
A04: Insecure DesignWeak architecture or lack of threat modeling.Unvalidated assumptions in multi-tenant systems.Apply security-by-design principles and STRIDE analysis.
A05: Security MisconfigurationDefault credentials or open admin panels.Default Tomcat admin account still active.Harden configs, disable unused services, automate baseline scans.
A06: Vulnerable and Outdated ComponentsUnpatched software or libraries.Using a vulnerable version of Log4j.Implement dependency scanning and patch management.
A07: Identification and Authentication FailuresWeak session management or MFA absence.Session fixation or credential stuffing.Enforce MFA, session timeouts, and short-lived tokens.
A08: Software and Data Integrity FailuresUnsigned code or pipeline tampering.Malicious library injected into build pipeline.Enforce signing and validation of dependencies.
A09: Security Logging and Monitoring FailuresMissing logs or weak alerting.Breach undetected due to no event logging.Enable centralized logging, anomaly alerts, and audits.
A10: Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)Unvalidated URLs letting attackers reach internal systems.Fetching metadata URLs from cloud VMs.Whitelist destinations, restrict outbound requests, and use proxies.

You don’t need to memorize all categories, just focus on your ability to discuss 3–4 confidently and apply them to design or code scenarios.

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