Web Application Security Testing: Hands-On Vulnerability Assessment

Web applications are the primary target for modern cyber threats, making security testing one of the most critical skills in technology today. This text-based course guides you from security novice to a capable tester who can think like an attacker to protect digital assets. You will transition from understanding basic web architecture to actively identifying and reporting high-risk security flaws. Through clear explanations and practical walkthroughs, you will develop the analytical mindset required to secure modern web environments. What you'll learn: Understand fundamental web security concepts, HTTP protocols, and the mechanics of web requests; Identify and exploit common vulnerabilities, including Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and SQL Injection; Analyze modern authentication flaws, focusing on JWT security and OAuth2 misconfigurations; Assess API vulnerabilities and secure RESTful endpoints against unauthorized access; Discover server-side vulnerabilities such as SSRF and command injection; Document security findings and write clear, actionable vulnerability reports. The course starts with essential terminology and web protocols before advancing to step-by-step vulnerability analysis and modern mitigation strategies. You will progress systematically from foundational theory to practical defensive concepts. This course is designed for beginners, aspiring security analysts, and developers looking to understand application security, with no prior cybersecurity experience required. Start your journey into web application security testing and learn how to defend modern web applications today.