Web Application Security Testing with OWASP ZAP


In the past few years, the world has witnessed a flood of web applications, and these apps will surely have some vulnerabilities, which can lead to severe consequences. However, fully-protected web applications can potentially let you stand out from your competitors and grow your business with almost zero hassle. The Web SecApp(s) audit the web applications thoroughly and detect the loopholes in them using web application testing tools. Later, in order to resolve these vulnerabilities, you can perform the penetration test to get an idea of the extent to which any bug can be exploited.


To run a vulnerability assessment, businesses rely on OWASP ZAP (Open-source Web Application Security Project - Zed Proxy Attack), which is a completely free web app security scanner tool.

Why OWASP ZAP?

The ZAP is an easy-to-use integrated penetration tool that digs for the bugs in any web application and troubleshoots it within a minimum period of time. Devs and testers trust this web application scanning tool due to its outstanding functionalities. Plus, it is an open-source and free-of-cost tool, which is the cherry on top. This open-source web application testing tool incorporates several facets, each version of which is custom-made for a particular set of skills, for instance, for developers, it has a dedicated version, and the same follows for beginner-level and pro-level testers.

Methods to Run A Vulnerability Test on ZAP

Running a vulnerability test is a significant process in order to encounter bugs or assess the security level of web applications. Below, we have mentioned steps that are mandatory for the security assessment.

Perform the Active Scan 

When you perform the Active Scan in this web application scanning tool, it scans for the known attacks only, which means, you can only detect specific sorts of bugs. Automated and active vulnerability tests prove ineffective in finding errors. In order to detect and kick out the faulty feature from the web applications, you need to conduct a manual vulnerability scan. This sort of vulnerability test plays a vital role in the organization where persistent vigilance is required in order to keep the threat factors away.

Run the Passive Scan

This web application testing tool automatically audits HTTP requests along with all the incoming and outgoing responses from the application. With the passive scan, you can add alerts and tags to get notifications about possible faults in the application without affecting its content. Albeit, the option of passive scan is enabled by default, you have permission to configure it manually.


The passive scan is beneficial when you need to monitor the in-use operating systems, different kinds of software and their versions, and network ports including the open ports that are susceptible to social engineering threats.

Security Assessment with OWASP ZAP API

The ZAP API offers you an API that understands HTML, JSON, and XML. You can find the details of API functionalities on the web page. However, the default permits only the device operating ZAP to connect to the API, but you can also configure the setting and enable multiple machines to connect to the API.



People should not use this web application security testing technique when they don’t have permission to run the test and guarantee that it won’t cause any permanent damage.

Vulnerability Detection with ZAP Fuzzer

This application security assessment method includes a fuzzer that allows you to shoot many errorful and inaccurate data to the tested application. Using this functionality, you can utilize the built-in payloads, create custom payloads, and download the payload add-ons offered by the ZAP community.


The fuzzer is for manual web application testing and its basic functionality is to put stress on the web to cause the website to crash until a bug gets detected.

Use of AJAX Spidering

The AJAX spidering uses the crawljax technique, in which the AJAX add-ons integrate a crawler in JAX-rich websites. AJAX spidering is used for penetration testing to detect requests on AJAX-friendly websites, which cannot be identified using a normal spidering technique. This add-on supports the automation framework and can be used in combination with the normal spider to achieve improved outcomes.


However, you don’t require the AJAX spidering if you access the site’s every area while going through your website. It is beneficial to use the technique to address something that you missed or when proxying isn’t a choice.

WebSocket Testing

WebSocket testing is an advanced level of penetration testing or we can say that it’s an advanced form of AJAX testing. In Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) testing, the client or server can transmit and receive data in a half-duplex pattern. But WebSocket testing gives freedom to the client to transmit and receive data in a synchronous way or full-duplex way.


Avoid using WebSocket vulnerability testing, if you send or receive a limited number of messages.

Whom to Look Upon for Web Application Security Testing?

When it comes to web application testing, you can’t rely on any random name. You need to ensure the security of your web application with professional VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing) tools. Get in touch with a company that uses a variety of professional VAPT tools in order to offer you a secure web application.


If you have more thoughts about OWASP ZAP, do let us know in the comment section below.

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