Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP)
Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is a free, open-source security tool developed by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). It is widely used for penetration testing and vulnerability scanning of web applications. ZAP is designed to be easy to use for beginners while still offering advanced features for experienced security professionals.
Overview of ZAP
- Full Name: OWASP Zed Attack Proxy
- Purpose: Web application security testing
- Platform: Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Interface: GUI, CLI, and API
- License: Open-source (Apache License 2.0)
Key Features
1. Intercepting Proxy
ZAP acts as a man-in-the-middle proxy, allowing testers to intercept, inspect, and modify HTTP(S) traffic between the browser and the web application.
2. Automated Scanner
ZAP can automatically scan a target web application for common vulnerabilities such as:
- SQL Injection
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Broken Authentication
- Security Misconfigurations
3. Passive and Active Scanning
- Passive Scan: Observes traffic without altering it, identifying issues like missing security headers.
- Active Scan: Probes the application actively by sending crafted requests to discover vulnerabilities.
4. Spidering
ZAP can crawl a website to discover all its pages and endpoints using:
- Traditional Spider: Parses HTML and follows links.
- AJAX Spider: Uses a headless browser to interact with JavaScript-heavy sites.
5. Fuzzer
Allows custom payloads to be sent to parameters to test for vulnerabilities, such as buffer overflows or input validation issues.
6. Session Management
ZAP supports authentication mechanisms (e.g., cookie-based, token-based) and can maintain sessions during testing.
7. Scripting Support
ZAP supports scripting in languages like JavaScript, Python, and Zest for custom test cases and automation.
8. API Access
ZAP provides a REST API for integration with CI/CD pipelines and automation tools.
Typical Use Cases
- Security assessments of web apps
- Training and education in web security
- Integration into DevSecOps pipelines
- Reconnaissance and vulnerability discovery
User Interface
ZAP offers:
- Graphical UI: Ideal for manual testing and visualization.
- Command-line interface (CLI): Useful for automation.
- Docker images: For containerized deployments.
Common Vulnerabilities Detected
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- SQL Injection
- CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery)
- Directory Traversal
- Insecure Cookies
- Missing Security Headers
Getting Started
1. Download ZAP from OWASP ZAP official site
2. Configure the browser proxy to route traffic through ZAP
3. Start intercepting and scanning your target application
4. Review alerts and reports for discovered vulnerabilities
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