OWASP Top 10 for Vibe-Coded Apps: Which Risks Hit Hardest in 2025

Introduction to OWASP Top 10 for Vibe-Coded Apps

The OWASP Top 10 is a widely accepted standard for identifying the most critical web application security risks. In 2025, vibe-coded apps built with tools like Cursor, Lovable, Bolt, v0, or Replit are particularly vulnerable to certain risks. Broken Access Control is the number one risk, as it can allow unauthorized access to sensitive data and functionality.

Vibe-coded apps often rely on automated code generation, which can lead to insecure defaults and misconfigurations. For example, consider a Cursor-built app with the following code:

from cursor import api

@app.route('/admin')
def admin():
    return 'Welcome, admin!'

In this example, the /admin endpoint is not properly secured, allowing anyone to access it.

Understanding Broken Access Control

Broken Access Control occurs when an application fails to properly restrict access to sensitive data or functionality. This can happen when authentication or authorization mechanisms are flawed or misconfigured. For instance, consider a Lovable-built app with the following code:

import { auth } from 'lovable';

const isAdmin = (user) => user.role === 'admin';

@app.route('/admin')
def admin():
    if isAdmin(user):
        return 'Welcome, admin!'
    else:
        return 'Access denied.'

In this example, the isAdmin function is not properly validating the user's role, allowing an attacker to bypass access controls.

Insecure Design

Insecure design is another significant risk for vibe-coded apps. This occurs when an application's design or architecture is flawed, making it vulnerable to attacks. For example, consider a Bolt-built app with the following code:

from bolt import db

@app.route('/users')
def users():
    users = db.query('SELECT * FROM users')
    return users

In this example, the /users endpoint is retrieving all user data without proper filtering or pagination, making it vulnerable to data exposure.

Injection Risks

Injection risks, such as SQL injection or command injection, can also affect vibe-coded apps. These occur when an application allows user input to be executed as code, allowing an attacker to inject malicious code. For instance, consider a v0-built app with the following code:

from v0 import db

@app.route('/search')
def search():
    query = request.args.get('q')
    results = db.query(f'SELECT * FROM products WHERE name LIKE "%{query}%"')
    return results

In this example, the search endpoint is vulnerable to SQL injection attacks, as it allows user input to be executed as part of the SQL query.

Quick Fix Checklist

[ ] Implement proper access controls and authentication mechanisms

[ ] Validate user input and ensure secure defaults

[ ] Use a security scanner like SecuriSky to detect vulnerabilities automatically

[ ] Regularly review and update code to ensure secure design and architecture

[ ] Use parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent injection attacks

[ ] Keep dependencies and libraries up-to-date to prevent known vulnerabilities