Learning web application security is best done through practice on intentionally vulnerable platforms. If you're a budding ethical hacker, penetration tester, or bug bounty hunter, platforms like Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) and bWAPP (buggy Web Application) offer an ideal environment to sharpen your skills safely and legally.
🔓 What is DVWA?
DVWA is a PHP/MariaDB-based application intentionally riddled with security flaws. It helps professionals test their tools and methods, while also teaching developers about secure coding. DVWA is suitable for classroom learning and CTF (Capture the Flag) exercises. It includes common vulnerabilities like:
- SQL Injection
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Command Injection
- CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery)
- File Inclusion
🐞 What is bWAPP?
bWAPP stands for "buggy Web Application" and is a free, open-source platform created by ITSEC Games. It contains over 100+ known vulnerabilities, supporting multiple security frameworks like OWASP Top 10, WASC, and CWE. bWAPP is ideal for testing exploitation, bypassing filters, and learning about modern-day threats.
bWAPP Lab Link: Click here
🧑💻 Why These Platforms Matter for Newcomers
These platforms bridge the gap between theory and practice. You’ll encounter real-world scenarios in a sandboxed setup that’s safe to use from your own system. They help you:
- Understand vulnerability mechanics
- Test automated tools like Burp Suite, SQLMap, Nikto, etc.
- Improve manual testing methodologies
- Develop reporting and remediation skills
🛠️ DVWA: SQL Injection Lab Walkthrough
Level: Low | Objective: Extract user credentials
- Login into DVWA (default creds:
admin:password) - Go to SQL Injection section from the left menu
- In the ID input field, enter:
1' OR '1'='1 - Click Submit. You should now see all user data displayed.
What Happened? - The query became always true due to the injected OR clause. The application doesn’t sanitize user input, which leads to SQLi.
🚨 DVWA: Command Injection (Medium)
- Go to Command Injection
- In the field, enter:
127.0.0.1 && cat /etc/passwd - The output of the system file will be appended to the ping result.
Learning: The lack of input validation allows arbitrary system command execution.
🧪 bWAPP: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Lab
Scenario: Exploiting Reflected XSS
- Login (default:
bee:bug) - Choose XSS - Reflected (GET) from the vulnerability list
- In the “name” field, input:
<script>alert('XSS')</script> - Click Go – you’ll see an alert pop-up.
Insight: This teaches you how unfiltered user input can lead to JavaScript execution in users’ browsers – a serious client-side vulnerability.
🛡️ Tools You Can Use
To further your analysis, try combining these labs with tools such as:
- Burp Suite for request manipulation
- OWASP ZAP for passive scanning
- SQLMap for database dumping
- Dirb/Gobuster for endpoint fuzzing
🔐 Safety and Ethics
Always remember:
- Never test these tools or techniques on systems you don’t own or have explicit permission to test.
- Practice responsible disclosure and follow ethical hacking guidelines.
🎯 Final Thoughts
If you're passionate about cybersecurity, these labs are an exciting gateway. Set up a virtual lab with DVWA and bWAPP, get your hands dirty with practical exploitation, and start your journey into bug bounty hunting, CTFs, or even a full-fledged VAPT career!
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