OWASP API Security Top 10… or should it be 4?

APIs power everything, but their rapid growth—and the rise of AI-native systems—has created new blind spots in security. This research challenges the traditional OWASP API Security Top 10, revealing that real-world API risk often centers around four core problem areas: improper authorization, business logic abuse, inadequate governance, and unchecked third-party services. It explores how organizations can move beyond checklists and vendor claims to achieve true, context-aware API protection. Readers will learn how to assess security tools effectively, identify hidden risk gaps, implement multi-tiered strategies for distributed environments, and adapt for  AI-native designs.

What you’ll Learn:

• ‍Focus beyond the Top 10: The OWASP API Security Top 10 is a useful reference—but not a complete roadmap. Real API risk often concentrates in four areas: improper authorization, business logic abuse, inadequate governance, and unchecked third-party services.‍
• Tool coverage is not equal: Many vendors claim full OWASP coverage, but few effectively mitigate these core risks without excessive manual intervention and additional engineering work.‍
• Automation is essential: Manual API security can’t keep pace with today’s dynamic, AI-driven environments—Agentic AI and automation are now necessities.‍
• Risk prioritization needs context: OWASP rankings don’t always align with your organization’s actual exposure; security teams must weigh likelihood and impact for their unique designs, not just risk frequency and anecdotal evidence.‍
• Comprehensive protection requires context awareness: Effective API security solutions combine discovery, behavioral analysis, and runtime defense across the full API lifecycle.