As more organizations rely on the automation and scale that web applications and connected services provide, application programming interface (API) security has become imperative. In just the last year alone, unique attackers targeting customer APIs grew by 400%, proving that organizations must take a proactive approach to secure these increasingly valuable services.
But considering the rapidly evolving nature of API technology and the growing number of threats, knowing where and how to start securing APIs can be overwhelming. Fortunately, organizations like the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) have been working hard to identify the most common and dangerous API security risks that businesses should prioritize.
What are the OWASP top 10?
Recognized for its comprehensiveness and accuracy, the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10 is a detailed list, updated every one to two years, highlighting critical web application security risks businesses should know. The OWASP is a non-profit community of tens of thousands of contributors committed to promoting software security through various measures like creating frameworks, tools and education programs.
As each year passes by, digital threats evolve constantly. As a result, the OWASP list receives timely updates based on data trends specific to API security that helps prioritize countermeasures by developers and security professionals. Most recently, in 2023, OWASP released its updated list of the top 10 API security risks to watch out for.
Starting from the bottom of the list, these are the OWASP Top 10 API security risks that organizations need to be aware of in 2023 and specific measures that can be taken to mitigate them.
