The OWASP Top 10 is the definitive reference for the most critical web application security risks, updated regularly based on real-world vulnerability data. You will learn what each category means, why it appears on the list, and how developers and testers approach it. This overview provides the framework for everything covered in the rest of this course.

SQL injection remains one of the most dangerous and prevalent web vulnerabilities, allowing attackers to manipulate database queries to extract, modify, or delete data. You will learn how SQL injection works at a fundamental level, the different types (error-based, blind, time-based), and how to exploit them manually and with automated tools. Understanding SQL injection deeply is essential for both attacking and defending web applications.

Cross-site scripting allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript into web pages viewed by other users, enabling session hijacking, credential theft, and malware distribution. You will learn the three types of XSS — reflected, stored, and DOM-based — and practice exploiting each one. XSS is consistently one of the most common vulnerabilities found in bug bounty programs.

CSRF attacks trick authenticated users into unknowingly submitting malicious requests to web applications they are logged into. You will learn how CSRF exploits the browser's automatic cookie-sending behavior and how to craft CSRF proof-of-concept exploits. Understanding CSRF is important for testing authentication flows and state-changing operations in web applications.

Broken authentication is one of the most impactful vulnerability classes because it directly leads to account takeover. You will learn how to identify and exploit weak authentication mechanisms including insecure password reset flows, username enumeration, and session management flaws. Testing authentication is a critical part of every web application penetration test.

Broken access control occurs when applications fail to properly enforce what authenticated users are allowed to do, enabling privilege escalation and unauthorized data access. You will learn horizontal and vertical privilege escalation, insecure direct object references (IDOR), and how to systematically test access control throughout a web application. IDOR vulnerabilities are among the highest-paid findings in bug bounty programs.

Security misconfiguration is the most commonly found vulnerability class in web applications, arising from default credentials, unnecessary features, verbose error messages, and missing security headers. You will learn a systematic approach to identifying misconfigurations across web servers, application frameworks, and cloud environments. Many high-profile breaches have resulted from simple misconfigurations rather than sophisticated exploits.

Modern web applications rely heavily on APIs, which introduce their own unique set of security challenges distinct from traditional web vulnerabilities. You will learn how to discover, map, and test REST and GraphQL APIs for authentication flaws, excessive data exposure, and injection vulnerabilities. API security testing is one of the fastest-growing areas of web application penetration testing.

Burp Suite is the industry-standard tool for web application penetration testing, used by security professionals worldwide. You will learn to use Burp's core features — Proxy, Repeater, Intruder, Scanner, and Decoder — to intercept, modify, and automate attacks against web applications. Proficiency with Burp Suite is one of the most valuable skills a web application pentester can have.

SQLmap is the most powerful open-source tool for automated SQL injection detection and exploitation, capable of extracting entire databases with a single command. You will learn how to use SQLmap effectively, how to tune it for different injection types and database backends, and how to use it responsibly during authorized penetration tests. Understanding SQLmap also helps you appreciate what automated tools can and cannot do.

Bug bounty programs pay security researchers to find vulnerabilities in real applications, and a systematic methodology is what separates successful hunters from those who find nothing. You will learn how to choose programs, scope your testing, prioritize high-value targets, and write reports that get paid. Bug bounty hunting is a legitimate career path that many security professionals pursue full-time.

The ability to communicate technical findings clearly and persuasively is what makes a penetration tester valuable to clients. You will learn the structure of a professional web application pentest report, how to write findings that developers can actually act on, and how to present risk in business terms. A well-written report is often the difference between a vulnerability being fixed and being ignored.

This hands-on lab puts you in the role of a penetration tester conducting a full assessment of a deliberately vulnerable web application. You will apply the complete web app testing methodology — from reconnaissance through exploitation and reporting — without step-by-step guidance. This lab is designed to build the independent problem-solving skills required for real engagements.

This comprehensive lab walks through every vulnerability module in DVWA at all three security levels — Low, Medium, and High — to show how defenses evolve and how attackers adapt. You will see firsthand how adding input validation, CSRF tokens, and prepared statements changes the attack surface. Completing DVWA at all security levels is a rite of passage for web application security students.

The final assessment is a timed, black-box web application penetration test against an unknown vulnerable application. You will have no prior knowledge of the application's vulnerabilities and must apply your full methodology to discover, exploit, and document findings within the time limit. This assessment is designed to simulate the conditions of a real client engagement.