Addressing Cybersecurity Risks in AI: Insights from the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications
In an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly infiltrating numerous sectors, organizations must tread carefully, especially concerning cybersecurity. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025, a striking 63% of organizations lack established protocols to evaluate the security of AI tools before deployment. This significant oversight underlines a pressing need for effective security measures as enterprises race to integrate AI technologies into their operations.
The Rise of Large Language Models
Large Language Models (LLMs) have emerged as the forefront of modern AI, influencing everything from virtual assistants to advanced data analytics. These models not only transform how organizations manage data but also reshape customer interactions and fuel innovation across various fields. However, with progress comes inherent risks—LLMs introduce vulnerabilities that, if unaddressed, can trigger severe operational and security consequences.
This is where the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications plays a pivotal role, offering insights into the most critical vulnerabilities associated with LLMs. By recognizing these risks, companies can prepare more systematically and strategically to mitigate them.
Turning Awareness into Action: The Role of Trend Micro
Recognizing the urgency of addressing LLM-related vulnerabilities, Trend Micro steps in with their Trend Vision One™ platform, which is crafted to tackle these emerging threats innovatively. This enterprise cybersecurity solution integrates protection across a variety of environments: AI, endpoints, networks, cloud applications, and emails, ensuring a multi-layered defense strategy.
Key Components of Trend Vision One
1. Zero Trust Secure Access
Trend Vision One employs Zero Trust Secure Access (ZTSA) principles, which securely governs access across all users and devices, regardless of their location. This approach ensures sensitive data remains safe, whether accessed from internal sources or the cloud.
2. ZTSA AI Service Access
This component is crucial in inspecting traffic to and from generative AI services. By preventing unauthorized access and prompt injection attacks, ZTSA AI Service Access safeguards sensitive AI functionalities from manipulation.
3. AI Security Posture Management (AI-SPM)
Providing insight into AI-related cloud assets, AI-SPM detects misconfigurations and unauthorized access. This proactive measure helps to identify potential attack paths before they can be exploited.
4. AI App Guard
The AI App Guard ensures that AI applications are shielded from tampering. It monitors modifications to applications and files, thus guaranteeing the integrity of AI systems.
5. Container Protection
To maintain security in cloud deployments, this feature enables organizations to ensure that only trusted containers are deployed, keeping a vigilant watch on pipelines against threats and compliance violations.
6. TippingPoint™
TippingPoint delivers real-time threat protection for AI infrastructures, blocking vulnerabilities from network-based attacks and ensuring seamless operations amidst evolving threats.
7. Server & Workload – Intrusion Prevention System
Designed to protect AI servers and workloads, this component offers automated virtual patching against both known and zero-day vulnerabilities, fortifying the vital backend of AI systems.
Mapping Solutions to the OWASP Top 10 Risks
Trend Vision One effectively addresses seven out of the ten risks identified in the OWASP Top 10 for LLM applications. By understanding this alignment, organizations can see the practical applicability of these solutions in mitigating specific vulnerabilities.
| Risk | Implication | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| LLM01:2025 Prompt Injection | Alters LLM behavior/output in unintended ways | ZTSA AI Service Access—input/output filtering, validation, and access control |
| LLM02:2025 Sensitive Information Disclosure | Exposure of sensitive data through LLM output | AI-SPM, ZTSA AI Service Access (monitoring), TippingPoint, Server & Workload – Intrusion Prevention System |
| LLM03:2025 Supply Chain | Compromised models affecting training data | Container Security, AI-SPM, TippingPoint, Server & Workload – Intrusion Prevention System |
| LLM05:2025 Improper Output Handling | Risks from insufficient validation/sanitization of outputs | ZTSA AI Service Access—output sanitization and throttling |
| LLM06:2025 Excessive Agency | LLMs granted too much access to systems | ZTSA AI, AI-SPM—access control and auditing |
| LLM08:2025 Vector and Embedding Weaknesses | Manipulation/exposure of sensitive information | Container Security, TippingPoint, Server & Workload – Intrusion Prevention System |
| LLM10:2025 Unbounded Consumption | Resource abuse leading to economic losses | ZTSA AI Service Access—rate limiting, throttling |
With these connected components, Trend Vision One establishes a robust foundation to safeguard LLM applications, and additional capabilities are currently being developed to address the remaining critical vulnerabilities.
Future-Proofing Against Additional Risks
Trend Micro is committed to remaining at the forefront of cybersecurity by actively developing solutions against the remaining OWASP vulnerabilities:
- Data and Model Poisoning (LLM04): Developing advanced detection methods to secure AI models throughout their lifecycle.
- System Prompt Leakage (LLM07): Establishing systemic audit capabilities for prompt handling to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
- Misinformation (LLM09): Introducing content verification tools to ensure the integrity and accuracy of AI outputs, thereby protecting brand reputation.
The Importance of Actionable Solutions
While the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications provides a critical map of security challenges, realizing true value requires actionable steps. Trend Micro’s integrated solutions convert these insights into tangible defenses, embedding security within the very fabric of AI innovation.
For those eager to delve deeper into these vulnerabilities and explore how Trend Micro’s solutions align with OWASP’s guidance, a comprehensive white paper is available for download, offering a more detailed look into mitigating these pressing security risks. Explore it further through this link.