Getting Started with OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) for Web Application Penetration Testing from Pluralsight

The OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is an open source way of testing your web applications manually. This course walks through the basic functions of ZAP, giving you a look at ways this tool makes taking advantage of web application vulnerabilities possible.

This is a starter course for those jumping into the world of web application security. ZAP is the byproduct of an open source OWASP community project and is used by everyone from those starting out in security, developers, QA testers, to professional penetration testers alike. In this course, Getting Started with OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) for Web Application Penetration Testing, you'll learn the process to run your application through a series of tests. First, you'll start by learning the interface and understanding how ZAP works with the browser. Next, you'll discover how to prepare your environment as you setup for the attack. Then, you'll get walked through some of the manual and automated function of the tool, and how new features of ZAP allow you to pull that functionality into the browser. Finally, you'll explore how to report on what you found. By the end of this course, you'll gain the knowledge to have the confidence to be able to step through an application, and find some opportunities to strengthen the security posture of the software.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Installing and Setting up Your ZAP Environment

Prepping Your Attack Functions

Scanning Your Web Application Functions

HUD - Heads Up Display

Documenting Found Vulnerabilities

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces learners to industry standard technologies used for manual web application security testing, such as the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy or ZAP

If you are new to web application security testing and need to assess the security of your web application, this course can help you do manual as well as automated testing using ZAP

Can help learners get started with web application security testing with minimal barriers to entry

Appropriate for professional penetration testers, developers, and QA testers who can use these skills to improve the security of software products

Builds a strong foundation for beginners in the field of web application security testing

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Getting Started with OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) for Web Application Penetration Testing with these activities:

ZAP Workshop

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Get hands-on experience with ZAP in a structured environment.

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Attend a hands-on ZAP workshop.

Review Web Application Security Concepts

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Strengthen your understanding of the fundamentals of web application security.

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Review materials on web application security concepts.

Tutorial on ZAP Basics

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Get a basic understanding of ZAP's interface and core concepts.

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Follow an online tutorial on ZAP basics.
Install ZAP and work through the tutorial.

Three other activities

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ZAP Automated Scan Exercises

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Gain proficiency in using ZAP's automated scanning features.

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Set up a target web application for scanning.
Configure and run various automated scans.
Analyze the scan results and identify potential vulnerabilities.

Assist Fellow Students

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Reinforce your understanding and help others by providing support.

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Offer assistance to fellow students in the course.
Answer questions and provide guidance on ZAP and web application security.

Penetration Testing Report

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Practice documenting and reporting vulnerabilities.

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Configure ZAP to scan a specific web application.
Run the scan and document the vulnerabilities found.
Write a report summarizing the findings and recommendations.

Career center

Learners who complete Getting Started with OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) for Web Application Penetration Testing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Security Engineer

Security Engineers are responsible for managing and implementing security best practices across the software development lifecycle. Many Security Engineers leverage the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy to support this mission. This course is a fantastic way to learn how to use ZAP in your role in order to thoroughly test web applications and protect the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data.

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Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers use specialized security testing tools and exploit common vulnerabilities to probe web applications for weakness. The OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is a core tool for this job function. This course can be used to build a solid foundation for your work in this space so that you can confidently identify and exploit vulnerabilities, providing valuable insights and recommendations to clients.

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Software Developer

Software Developers are increasingly responsible for identifying and fixing security vulnerabilities in their code. While developers can leverage many tools for this, the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is commonly used because of its ease and depth of functionality. This course is an excellent way to build your proficiency with this core tool, allowing you to develop more secure applications and helping you to advance your development career.

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Web Application Security Analyst

Web Application Security Analysts specialize in protecting web applications from malicious attacks. This includes the implementation and maintenance of security controls. The OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is a valuable tool within a Web Application Security Analyst's toolkit, and this course is an excellent way to learn the basics of ZAP and how to apply it to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.

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Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts design and implement security measures to protect organizations from cyber threats. This often includes web application security, which is where the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy comes in. This course is an excellent way to learn how to use ZAP to identify vulnerabilities and implement fixes. It will help you to become more effective at managing cybersecurity as an Information Security Analyst.

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Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Analysts use their knowledge of security vulnerabilities and threats to protect organizations from malicious intentions. Often, this involves identifying and exploiting these vulnerabilities themselves, as you would in a penetration test. The OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is a valuable tool for Cybersecurity Analysts, and this course is a fantastic way to gain the skills needed to use it in your professional work.

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IT Security Analyst

IT Security Analysts protect the information assets of an organization by implementing security controls and policies, as well as other duties. One such security control that IT Security Analysts implement is web application testing. The OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is a valuable tool in this space, and this course is an excellent way to learn how to use it to find and fix web application vulnerabilities.

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Software Tester

Software Testers identify and report software defects to ensure software quality. This can include web application security testing, and the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is a popular tool used for this activity. This course can help you to build the skills needed to use ZAP to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, developing your career as a Software Tester and making applications more secure in the process.

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Privacy Analyst

Privacy Analysts help organizations comply with privacy regulations and protect the privacy of sensitive data. This may include identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in web applications. The OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is a valuable tool in this space, and this course is an excellent way to learn how to use it to find and fix web application vulnerabilities that could lead to privacy breaches.

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Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineers plan, implement, and maintain security controls to protect networks from unauthorized access, misuse, and malicious attacks. This often includes testing security controls for effectiveness, and the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is a standard tool used by Network Security Engineers to test web application security. This course can help you to build the skills needed to use ZAP to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.

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Ethical Hacker

Ethical Hackers are penetration testers who focus on identifying and exploiting security vulnerabilities in web applications and other IT systems. The OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is one of the tool's Ethical Hackers use to identify these vulnerabilities and test the effectiveness of security controls in their role as trusted attackers.

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Security Manager

Security Managers coordinate and lead the development and implementation of security policies and procedures within an organization. This includes overseeing web application security, and the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is a commonly used tool in this space. This course can help you to build the skills needed to use ZAP to effectively manage and improve the web application security of an organization.

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Security Auditor

Security Auditors assess the security of computer systems and networks of an organization, as well as make recommendations for improvement. This includes web application security, with the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy being a core tool used by Security Auditors in this space. This course is an excellent way to learn how to use ZAP to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, and will help you to advance your career in Security Auditing.

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Information Assurance Analyst

Information Assurance Analysts protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information within an organization. This often involves testing security controls, including those on web applications, for effectiveness. The OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is a commonly used tool in this space, and this course can help you to build the skills needed to use it to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.

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Security Consultant

Security Consultants help organizations identify and mitigate security risks. One key aspect of an effective security program is web application security. The OWASP Zed Attack Proxy is a popular tool for Security Consultants, and this course is an excellent way to develop the knowledge needed to use it to find and fix web application vulnerabilities in your client's environments.

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