Tag: web-security

Hacker101: A Free Web Security Training Platform for Aspiring Hackers
Introduction
Whether you’re just getting started in cybersecurity or looking to sharpen your web security skills, Hacker101 is a free, community-driven training platform designed to help you learn ethical hacking and bug bounty techniques from the ground up. Developed by the team at HackerOne, Hacker101 provides a solid foundation for anyone serious about web application security.
Purpose and Real-World Use Cases
Hacker101 is perfect for:
- Aspiring bug bounty hunters looking to land their first report or improve their skills.
- Web developers who want to secure their applications and understand how attackers think.
- Security professionals seeking structured, self-paced training material to stay sharp.
The platform includes video lessons, writeups, CTF-style challenges, and labs that simulate real-world vulnerabilities found in web applications.
Installation and Setup
If you’d like to run the Hacker101 site locally or contribute to its content, follow these steps:
Prerequisites:
- Ruby – recommended to install via rbenv
- Bundler – install with: gem install bundler
Steps:
1. Clone the repository:
  git clone https://github.com/Hacker0x01/hacker101.git
2. Navigate to the project directory and install dependencies:
  bundle install
3. Start the local server:
  bundle exec jekyll serve
4. Visit http://localhost:4000 in your browser.
Core Features and Structure
Hacker101 offers:
- Video lessons that cover topics like XSS, SQLi, authentication bypasses, and more.
- Capture the Flag (CTF) challenges to test and apply your knowledge.
- Writeups from the community and HackerOne staff to deepen your understanding of real-world bugs.
- Open-source access so you can contribute new lessons or fix existing ones.
It’s a complete package whether you’re preparing for bug bounty programs or just learning to secure your apps.
Security Considerations
Since the platform is educational and does not involve exploiting live systems, it’s perfectly safe to use in any environment. If you’re running the site locally, make sure:
- You don’t expose it to the internet unintentionally.
- You keep Ruby and dependencies up-to-date to avoid local vulnerabilities.
Why Hacker101?
Hacker101 stands out by being:
- Beginner-friendly with clear, step-by-step lessons.
- Accessible through its free and open-source content.
- Practical with exercises that reflect real bug bounty scenarios.
Backed by HackerOne, it also gives you the opportunity to practice with CTFs and potentially earn invites to private programs.
Get Involved
You can contribute to Hacker101 by submitting pull requests, fixing issues, or even creating new lessons. Community collaboration is encouraged and welcomed through GitHub.
Conclusion
Hacker101 is more than a course-it’s a stepping stone into the professional world of ethical hacking and web security. If you’re ready to learn how the internet can be broken (and how to fix it), this is your invitation to dive in.
Start learning at https://www.hacker101.com.
2025-05-31
OWASP Juice Shop: The Most Broken Secure App You’ll Ever Love
Welcome to OWASP Juice Shop: The Buggiest Secure App Around
Meet OWASP Juice Shop – the most modern and sophisticated intentionally insecure web application ever made. Designed for training, awareness, CTFs, and tool testing, Juice Shop is a security testing playground disguised as an online store. With vulnerabilities from the entire OWASP Top Ten and more, this app is your one-stop-shop for learning about web application security by doing.
Why Juice Shop Is a Must-Have for Security Learners
Whether you’re a student, ethical hacker, developer, or trainer, Juice Shop offers realistic hacking scenarios that mirror issues in real-world applications. You can:
- Practice exploiting XSS, SQLi, CSRF, and many more vulnerabilities
- Host Capture the Flag events with built-in scoring and challenges
- Use it to test security scanners and automation tools
- Teach secure coding through interactive, hands-on examples
Installation & Setup
Juice Shop runs virtually anywhere! Choose the method that fits your workflow best:
1. From Source
- Install Node.js (v18.x to v22.x recommended)
- Clone the repo: git clone https://github.com/juice-shop/juice-shop.git --depth 1
- cd juice-shop
- npm install
- npm start
2. Packaged Distributions
- Download the latest release for your platform
- Unzip and run npm start
3. Docker
- Install Docker
- docker pull bkimminich/juice-shop
- docker run --rm -p 127.0.0.1:3000:3000 bkimminich/juice-shop
4. Vagrant
- Install Vagrant and VirtualBox
- git clone https://github.com/juice-shop/juice-shop.git
- cd vagrant && vagrant up
Core Features
- OWASP Top 10 Coverage: Every major web vulnerability is here
- Gamified Learning: Complete challenges and track your score
- CTF-Ready: Easily host security competitions with built-in support
- Multiple Deployments: Supports Docker, Node.js, Vagrant, and cloud platforms
- Custom Branding: Make it your own with rebranding support
Security Concepts in Action
OWASP Juice Shop isn’t just about theory. You’ll get to practice:
- Injection attacks (SQL, NoSQL)
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Broken authentication and access control
- Security misconfigurations and more
Each vulnerability is paired with a challenge – many with hints and full walkthroughs in the official companion guide.
Support & Community
Stuck? Check out the troubleshooting guide or hop on the Gitter Chat. Contributions, translations, and improvements are always welcome.
Security Considerations
Juice Shop is intentionally vulnerable. Do not deploy it on the public internet without proper containment (e.g., firewalls or VMs). Use it responsibly for ethical hacking and educational purposes only.
Final Thoughts
OWASP Juice Shop transforms the process of learning application security from boring lectures into an exciting, hands-on experience. With broad vulnerability coverage, multiple deployment options, and strong community support, it’s the ideal sandbox for anyone serious about web security.
Ready to challenge yourself? Then Juice Shop is waiting.
2025-05-30
Mastering Web Application Security with the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide
What Is the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide (WSTG)?
The OWASP Web Security Testing Guide (WSTG) is a flagship project by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), providing a comprehensive framework for testing the security of web applications and web services. Whether you’re a penetration tester, security analyst, developer, or IT manager, the WSTG helps standardize how you approach web application security testing.
Created by a global team of security professionals and contributors, WSTG is a living document that’s constantly evolving to address modern threats. It’s widely used across the cybersecurity industry for ensuring thorough assessments and best practices.
Why WSTG Matters
Web applications are a primary target for attackers. The WSTG provides:
- A structured approach to web application security testing
- Best practice scenarios that cover everything from information gathering to business logic testing
- Support for penetration testing teams, secure SDLC processes, and auditing standards
- Globally recognized and regularly updated documentation
Getting Started
You can start using the WSTG right away by visiting the official project site. The most stable version is version 4.2, but version 5.0 is actively in development on GitHub.
Each test scenario is assigned an identifier like WSTG-INFO-02. To ensure consistency across documents and tools, it’s recommended to use versioned identifiers like WSTG-v42-INFO-02.
How to Use WSTG
The WSTG is divided into categories, each representing a specific area of concern in web security, such as:
- Information Gathering
- Configuration and Deployment Management
- Authentication and Session Management
- Input Validation and Business Logic Testing
- Error Handling and Cryptography
Each section provides a step-by-step methodology and rationale, allowing testers to follow consistent practices. You can integrate WSTG into your test plans or use it as a standalone manual.
Contribution and Community
WSTG is powered by volunteers, and contributions are always welcome. You can help by:
- Fixing typos and improving documentation
- Translating the guide into different languages
- Submitting new test scenarios or improvements via pull requests
- Joining discussions in the OWASP Slack channel #testing-guide
Check out the contribution guide to get started. First-time contributors will find helpful resources curated to make onboarding easier.
Security Considerations
While the WSTG is a documentation project, it underpins many security assessments. Following its methodology ensures consistent, thorough testing and improves your defense posture. Be sure to:
- Reference versioned links to maintain consistency
- Use it alongside automation tools where applicable
- Stay updated with the latest version for new threats
Translations
The guide is available in multiple languages, including:
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Russian
- French
- Persian (Farsi)
This helps non-English-speaking professionals adopt industry best practices without language barriers.
Final Thoughts
The OWASP Web Security Testing Guide is more than just a handbook-it’s a foundation for anyone looking to perform in-depth, effective web application security assessments. Its structured approach, community-driven updates, and global reach make it one of the most trusted resources in cybersecurity today.
Explore the WSTG and start building more secure applications today.
2025-05-29
Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA): The Classic Playground for Web App Security
Welcome to DVWA: Learn Web Security the Hands-On Way
Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) is a legendary tool in the cybersecurity world, purposefully crafted to be insecure. Built using PHP and MariaDB, DVWA is designed for learning, practicing, and testing web security techniques in a safe and controlled environment.
Whether you’re a budding ethical hacker, a seasoned pentester, or a developer trying to build more secure applications, DVWA offers a rich environment filled with real-world vulnerabilities. It’s perfect for hands-on practice with web security challenges.
Use Cases for DVWA
DVWA is ideal for:
- Practicing common web vulnerabilities like XSS, SQLi, CSRF, and file inclusion
- Testing and developing security tools in a controlled environment
- Teaching web security concepts to students in labs or classrooms
- Running Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions
The app includes both documented and hidden vulnerabilities, encouraging exploration and deep learning.
Installation and Setup
You can install DVWA in various ways based on your environment and comfort level:
1. Manual Installation
Clone the repository and set up the application using Apache, PHP, and MariaDB. You’ll need:
- Apache2
- PHP (v7.3+ recommended)
- MariaDB server and client
- PHP modules like mysqli and gd
On Debian-based systems, install dependencies using:
```
apt update
apt install -y apache2 mariadb-server mariadb-client php php-mysqli php-gd libapache2-mod-php
```
2. Docker
If you prefer containerization, DVWA has an official Docker image. After installing Docker and Docker Compose, simply run:
```
git clone https://github.com/digininja/DVWA.git
cd DVWA
docker compose up -d
```
DVWA will be available at http://localhost:4280.
3. Windows + XAMPP
Download and install XAMPP, then place the DVWA files in the htdocs directory. Detailed video guides are available for walkthroughs.
Core Features
- Multiple Security Levels: Adjust difficulty from low to high for scalable training
- Wide Vulnerability Coverage: Practice XSS, SQLi, RFI, LFI, CSRF, command injection, and more
- API Lab: Practice attacks on a dedicated RESTful API
- Authentication Bypass Configs: Optional settings for disabling login, useful for automation
- SQLite3 Support: Offers additional flexibility for SQL injection labs
Security Considerations
Important: DVWA is intentionally insecure. Never deploy it on a public-facing server. Use it within isolated virtual machines or containers with NAT networking. Misuse could lead to system compromise.
By default, login credentials are:
- Username: admin
- Password: password
Troubleshooting and Tips
DVWA provides an extensive troubleshooting guide, including help with database configuration, permission issues, blank pages, and PHP errors. Enable PHP error display for debugging, and consult the video tutorials linked in the repo for additional guidance.
Final Thoughts
DVWA remains a cornerstone for anyone serious about understanding web application security. With its flexible deployment options, layered security levels, and support for both beginner and advanced users, it’s an essential tool in the learning arsenal of any cybersecurity enthusiast or professional.
Set it up, start hacking, and level up your web security skills!
2025-05-26
PayloadsAllTheThings: Your Ultimate Web Security Payload Arsenal
Introduction
If you’re diving into web application security testing, PayloadsAllTheThings is a resource you can’t afford to ignore. Maintained by the security community and packed with practical examples, this GitHub repository is a curated list of payloads, techniques, and bypasses to help penetration testers, bug bounty hunters, and security researchers enhance their web application testing game.
Purpose and Real-World Use Cases
The goal of PayloadsAllTheThings is simple: provide testers with ready-to-use payloads and strategies for finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. Whether you’re:
- Testing for common web vulnerabilities like XSS, SQLi, SSTI, or CSRF
- Creating effective Burp Suite Intruder wordlists
- Learning how to bypass WAFs and other security mechanisms
- Practicing for CTFs or real-world bug bounty programs
PayloadsAllTheThings delivers a practical, field-tested arsenal to accelerate your efforts.
Installation and Setup
No special installation is required to use PayloadsAllTheThings. To get started:
1. Visit the GitHub repository.
2. Clone it locally with:
  git clone https://github.com/swisskyrepo/PayloadsAllTheThings.git
3. Explore folders organized by vulnerability type (e.g., XSS, XXE, SQLi).
4. Alternatively, browse the web version for easy navigation.
Core Features and Examples
Each vulnerability folder in the repository includes:
- README.md: Clear explanations of the vulnerability and exploitation methods.
- Payloads: A comprehensive set of working payloads tailored for different contexts.
- Intruder Files: Pre-built files for Burp Suite’s Intruder tool.
- Images: Visual aids to better understand exploitation.
- Reference Files: Scripts or configs used in demonstrations.
For example, in the XSS directory, you’ll find:
- Reflected and stored XSS payloads
- Context-specific payloads (e.g., HTML, JS, URL-based)
- Bypasses for input filters and WAFs
This structured approach makes it easy to learn and apply effective techniques quickly.
Security Considerations and Dependencies
While PayloadsAllTheThings is a knowledge base, not an executable tool, it’s important to use it responsibly:
- Always test in legal and controlled environments like CTF labs or authorized bug bounty programs.
- Review the README of each vulnerability folder to understand impact and safe usage.
- Payloads may trigger security alerts-use virtual machines or isolated sandboxes for testing.
No programming dependencies are required to explore the repo, but tools like Burp Suite or a browser with developer tools are recommended for practical testing.
Educational and Community Value
This repository goes beyond payloads. It also links to:
- Security books and resources
- YouTube channels for further learning
- Other “AllTheThings” repositories like InternalAllTheThings and HardwareAllTheThings
Get Involved
One of the best parts of PayloadsAllTheThings is its openness to contributions. If you’ve got a payload, bypass, or technique that’s worked for you, submit a pull request. The project thrives thanks to community involvement, and the maintainers are happy to see new additions.
Want to support the project? You can also contribute via GitHub Sponsors or buy the maintainer a beer 🍻 IRL.
Conclusion
PayloadsAllTheThings is not just a repository; it’s a living knowledge base that reflects the collective experience of the web security community. Whether you’re just starting out or already a seasoned penetration tester, this project has something valuable for you. Dive in, explore, contribute-and most of all, use it ethically.
Happy hacking!
2025-05-21