Introduction to Web Application Security
Course Overview
Course Overview
Welcome to Introduction to Web Application Security! This comprehensive course will teach you the essential skills needed to identify, exploit, and prevent common web application vulnerabilities.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, you will:
- Understand the OWASP Top 10 web application security risks
- Identify and exploit common vulnerabilities in a controlled environment
- Implement security controls to prevent attacks
- Conduct basic security assessments of web applications
- Apply security best practices in development
Course Format
This course combines:
- Video Lectures: Weekly video content explaining concepts and demonstrations
- Hands-on Labs: Practice exploiting and fixing vulnerabilities in a safe environment
- Reading Materials: Security guides, research papers, and documentation
- Weekly Assignments: Practical exercises to reinforce learning
- Final Project: Comprehensive security assessment of a sample application
Prerequisites
Before starting this course, you should have:
- Basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Familiarity with HTTP protocol
- Basic command-line skills
- A GitHub account for submissions
Tools & Environment
We’ll use several tools throughout the course:
- OWASP WebGoat: Interactive learning environment
- Burp Suite Community Edition: Web vulnerability scanner
- Browser Developer Tools: For inspecting web traffic
- Docker: For running vulnerable applications safely
Assessment
Your progress will be evaluated through:
- Weekly lab assignments (50%)
- Participation in discussions (10%)
- Midterm security assessment (15%)
- Final project (25%)
Getting Started
- Enroll in the course through the enrollment page
- Join the course GitHub repository
- Set up your development environment
- Complete the Week 1 pre-assessment
Community & Support
- GitHub Discussions: Ask questions and help fellow students
- Weekly Office Hours: Live Q&A sessions with the instructor
- Study Groups: Connect with other learners
- Slack Channel: Real-time communication with the community
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week 1: Web Security Fundamentals
Introduction to web application security, the CIA triad, and threat modeling. We’ll explore the OWASP Top 10 and set up our lab environment.
Lab: Setting up OWASP WebGoat and completing initial challenges
Week 2: Injection Attacks
Learn about SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and other injection vulnerabilities. Understand how attackers exploit these flaws and how to prevent them.
Lab: Exploiting SQL injection vulnerabilities and implementing parameterized queries
Week 3: Authentication & Session Management
Explore secure authentication mechanisms, password storage, and session management. Learn about common authentication vulnerabilities.
Lab: Breaking weak authentication and implementing secure authentication
Week 4: Access Control & Authorization
Understand authorization flaws, privilege escalation, and how to implement secure access control.
Lab: Exploiting broken access control and implementing RBAC
Week 5: Security Configuration & Data Protection
Learn about security misconfiguration, sensitive data exposure, and encryption best practices.
Lab: Identifying misconfigurations and implementing data protection measures
Week 6: Final Project
Apply everything you’ve learned in a comprehensive security assessment project.
Project: Perform a security assessment of a sample web application and submit a detailed report
Additional Resources
Certification
Upon successful completion of all assignments and the final project with a passing grade, you’ll receive a certificate of completion from BLT University.
Ready to start? Enroll now and begin your journey into web application security!
Detailed Syllabus
Web Security Fundamentals
Understanding the web security landscape and common threats
- CIA Triad in Web Applications
- OWASP Top 10 Overview
- Security by Design Principles
- Threat Modeling Basics
Injection Vulnerabilities
Deep dive into injection attacks and prevention
- SQL Injection Attacks
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Command Injection
- Prevention and Input Validation
Authentication & Session Security
Securing user authentication and session management
- Password Security Best Practices
- Multi-Factor Authentication
- Session Management Vulnerabilities
- Token-Based Authentication
Access Control
Implementing secure authorization mechanisms
- Broken Access Control
- Vertical and Horizontal Privilege Escalation
- RBAC and ABAC Models
- Secure API Design
Configuration & Data Protection
Security configuration and data protection strategies
- Security Misconfiguration Risks
- Sensitive Data Exposure
- Encryption at Rest and in Transit
- Secure Headers and CSP
Practical Security
Hands-on security testing and implementation
- Security Testing Tools
- Secure Code Review
- Bug Bounty Preparation
- Final Security Assessment Project