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Web Application Pentesting Essentials logo

TRAINING / WAPE

  • Offensive security
  • Beginner

Web Application Pentesting Essentials.

Build a repeatable approach to web application testing, from HTTP and authentication to APIs, evidence, and assessment reporting.

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Duration
5 days
Level
Beginner
Delivery
In-person / Remote
Completion
Accredible certificate

Web application assessment

Course overview.

Web Application Pentesting Essentials builds a foundation for scoped web application assessments. Students examine how applications are assembled, how requests move between components, and how identity and data access affect security.

The curriculum covers rules of engagement, reconnaissance, web architecture, HTTP, cookies, authentication, databases, and APIs. Practical assessment work connects these concepts to observable application behavior and documented findings. The course emphasizes a repeatable method for collecting evidence and communicating the limits of an assessment.

Who it is for

  • Security practitioners beginning web application testing
  • Developers working with application security teams
  • Penetration testers building a web assessment foundation

Tools and concepts

  • Browser developer tools
  • HTTP request and response inspection
  • SQL and NoSQL concepts
  • REST API testing

Learning outcomes

What your team will practice.

  • Define the boundaries of a web assessment and document the exposed application surface.

  • Explain how application components and trust boundaries affect an assessment.

  • Inspect HTTP exchanges and assess how an application handles identity and session state.

  • Assess how data access and API behavior contribute to the application's attack surface.

  • Record reproducible observations and communicate their security implications.

Curriculum

Inside the course.

Topics covered across five days of instructor-led training.

01

Assessment scope and reconnaissance

Define the boundaries of a web assessment and document the exposed application surface.

  • Rules of engagement
  • Host and infrastructure enumeration
  • Reconnaissance reporting
02

Web architecture

Explain how application components and trust boundaries affect an assessment.

  • Client-side and server-side technologies
  • Web architecture
  • Protocols and standards
03

HTTP, sessions, and authentication

Inspect HTTP exchanges and assess how an application handles identity and session state.

  • HTTP messages
  • Cookies and cookie security
  • Authentication flows
04

Data stores and APIs

Assess how data access and API behavior contribute to the application's attack surface.

  • SQL and NoSQL foundations
  • RESTful API architecture
  • Requests, data access, and application behavior
05

Assessment findings

Record reproducible observations and communicate their security implications.

  • Organizing reconnaissance evidence
  • Documenting assessment observations
  • Explaining findings and limitations

Preparation

Before your team attends.

Prerequisites

  • Basic networking and command-line familiarity.
  • An understanding of how a browser interacts with a website.

What to bring

  • A laptop, charger, and a modern web browser.
  • Internet access suitable for connecting to the training environment.

What is included

  • Instructor-led demonstrations and guided lab exercises.
  • Course reference materials.
  • An Accredible certificate of completion.

The training team

Meet your instructors.

Workforce alignment

NICE Framework alignment.

Course objectives align with selected parts of the NICE Framework, version 2.2.0. This is a curriculum alignment, not full work-role qualification or NIST endorsement.

  • Software Security AssessmentDD-WRL-005
  • Vulnerability AnalysisPD-WRL-007
View curriculum alignment

Architecture and protocol topics establish assessment knowledge; they do not imply proficiency in application development or database administration.

  1. Assessment scope and reconnaissance

    Define the boundaries of a web assessment and document the exposed application surface.

    Related work roles: Software Security Assessment (DD-WRL-005); Vulnerability Analysis (PD-WRL-007)

    tasks
    • T0080Develop test plans to address specifications and requirements
    • T1619Perform risk and vulnerability assessments
    knowledge
    • K0692Knowledge of vulnerability assessment tools and techniques
    • K0955Knowledge of penetration testing principles and practices
    skills
    • S0598Skill in creating test plans
    • S0459Skill in creating security assessment reports

    Scoping and reconnaissance support a test plan and documented vulnerability assessment.

  2. Web architecture

    Explain how application components and trust boundaries affect an assessment.

    Related work roles: Software Security Assessment (DD-WRL-005)

    tasks

    No separate task claimed.

    knowledge
    • K1079Knowledge of web application security risks
    • K1366Knowledge of application programming interfaces (APIs)
    skills

    No separate skill claimed.

    This is a knowledge foundation for web assessment; no separate hands-on NICE task or skill is claimed.

  3. HTTP, sessions, and authentication

    Inspect HTTP exchanges and assess how an application handles identity and session state.

    Related work roles: Software Security Assessment (DD-WRL-005)

    tasks
    • T1359Perform penetration testing
    knowledge
    • K0686Knowledge of authentication and authorization tools and techniques
    • K1079Knowledge of web application security risks
    skills
    • S0394Skill in developing security assessments

    Inspection and scoped testing of session and authentication behavior support application security assessment.

  4. Data stores and APIs

    Assess how data access and API behavior contribute to the application's attack surface.

    Related work roles: Software Security Assessment (DD-WRL-005); Vulnerability Analysis (PD-WRL-007)

    tasks
    • T1619Perform risk and vulnerability assessments
    knowledge
    • K0705Knowledge of database query language capabilities and applications
    • K1366Knowledge of application programming interfaces (APIs)
    • K1079Knowledge of web application security risks
    skills
    • S0394Skill in developing security assessments

    The mapping concerns security assessment of data and API interfaces, not database administration.

  5. Assessment findings

    Record reproducible observations and communicate their security implications.

    Related work roles: Software Security Assessment (DD-WRL-005); Vulnerability Analysis (PD-WRL-007)

    tasks

    No separate task claimed.

    knowledge
    • K0692Knowledge of vulnerability assessment tools and techniques
    skills
    • S0459Skill in creating security assessment reports
    • S0842Skill in interpreting test results

    Assessment reporting maps to interpreting results and communicating evidence; no additional exploitation technique is inferred.

NIST NICE Framework source data

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