SANS SEC542: The Ultimate Guide to Web Application Penetration Testing Training
What is SANS SEC542?
Web applications play a vital role in every modern organization. However, if your organization doesn't properly test and secure its web apps, adversaries can compromise these applications, damage business functionality, and steal data. Unfortunately, many organizations operate under the mistaken impression that a web application security scanner will reliably discover flaws in their systems.
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SANS SEC542 is a six-day course that teaches you how to perform professional, thorough, and high-value web application penetration testing. You will learn how to assess a web application's security posture and convincingly demonstrate the business impact should attackers exploit discovered vulnerabilities. You will also practice the art of exploiting web applications to find flaws in your enterprise's web apps.
SANS SEC542 is designed for anyone who wants to learn how to conduct web application penetration testing or improve their existing skills. Whether you are a novice or an experienced tester, you will benefit from this course that covers both the fundamentals and the advanced techniques of web app hacking.
Why take SANS SEC542?
There are many reasons why you should take SANS SEC542 if you are interested in web application security. Here are some of them:
You will learn from the experts. SANS SEC542 is taught by certified instructors who have years of experience in web application penetration testing and ethical hacking. They will share their insights, tips, tricks, and best practices with you.
You will get hands-on practice. SANS SEC542 includes more than 30 labs that allow you to apply what you learn in a safe and realistic environment. You will use real-world tools and techniques to discover and exploit web application vulnerabilities.
You will earn a prestigious certification. SANS SEC542 prepares you for the GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT) exam, which validates your knowledge and skills in web app hacking. The GWAPT certification is recognized by employers and peers as a mark of excellence in web application security.
You will advance your career. SANS SEC542 will help you develop your web application penetration testing skills and enhance your resume. You will be able to demonstrate your value to your organization and clients by providing high-quality web app security assessments.
What will you learn in SANS SEC542?
Web application penetration testing methodology
In SANS SEC542, you will learn how to apply a detailed, four-step methodology to your web application penetration tests:
Reconnaissance: You will learn how to gather information about the target web application, such as its architecture, functionality, technologies, and vulnerabilities.
Mapping: You will learn how to identify the attack surface of the web application, such as its pages, parameters, inputs, and outputs.
Discovery: You will learn how to find and exploit web application vulnerabilities, such as injection, XSS, CSRF, and authentication flaws.
Exploitation: You will learn how to leverage the vulnerabilities to gain access to the web application, escalate privileges, execute commands, and exfiltrate data.
Web application vulnerability discovery tools
In SANS SEC542, you will learn how to use various tools to find and exploit web application flaws. Some of the tools that you will use are:
Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP): A free and open-source web application security scanner that allows you to intercept, modify, and replay web traffic. You will use ZAP to analyze the requests and responses between the client and the server, find vulnerabilities, and launch attacks.
Burp Suite: A commercial web application security testing tool that offers a comprehensive set of features and functionalities. You will use Burp Suite to perform advanced tasks, such as spidering, scanning, fuzzing, intruding, and sequencing.
SQLMap: A free and open-source command-line tool that automates the process of detecting and exploiting SQL injection flaws. You will use SQLMap to dump database tables, execute operating system commands, and bypass web application firewalls.
Web application injection attacks
In SANS SEC542, you will learn how to perform injection attacks against web applications. Injection attacks occur when an attacker sends malicious input to a web application that is interpreted as part of a command or query. Some of the injection attacks that you will learn are:
SQL Injection: A type of injection attack that exploits a web application's interaction with a database. You will learn how to inject SQL statements into web requests to manipulate or access data in the database.
Command Injection: A type of injection attack that exploits a web application's interaction with the operating system. You will learn how to inject operating system commands into web requests to execute them on the server.
File Inclusion: A type of injection attack that exploits a web application's file handling functionality. You will learn how to include local or remote files into web requests to execute them on the server or disclose their contents.
Web application cross-site scripting attacks
In SANS SEC542, you will learn how to perform cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks against web applications. XSS attacks occur when an attacker injects malicious JavaScript code into a web page that is viewed by other users. Some of the XSS attacks that you will learn are:
Reflected XSS: A type of XSS attack that occurs when an attacker sends a malicious link to a victim who clicks on it and executes the JavaScript code in their browser.
Stored XSS: A type of XSS attack that occurs when an attacker stores a malicious script in a web application's database or file system that is later displayed to other users.
DOM-based XSS: A type of XSS attack that occurs when an attacker manipulates the Document Object Model (DOM) of a web page using client-side JavaScript code.
In addition, you will learn how to use tools like the Browser Exploitation Framework (BeEF) to hook victim browsers, attack client software and the network, and evaluate the potential impact that XSS flaws have within an application.
Web application cross-site request forgery attacks
In SANS SEC542, you will learn how to perform cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks against web applications. CSRF attacks occur when an attacker tricks a victim into performing an unwanted action on a web application that they are already logged into. Some of the CSRF attacks that you will learn are:
Basic CSRF: A type of CSRF attack that exploits a simple HTTP request that does not require any user interaction or validation.
Advanced CSRF: A type of CSRF attack that exploits a complex HTTP request that requires user interaction or validation.
Anti-CSRF Bypass: A technique that allows an attacker to bypass anti-CSRF tokens or mechanisms implemented by web applications to prevent CSRF attacks.
Web application capture-the-flag exercise
In SANS SEC542, you will have the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to a realistic web penetration test scenario. You will be given access to a vulnerable web application that simulates a real-world business environment. Your goal is to find and exploit as many vulnerabilities as possible and document your findings and recommendations in a professional report.
The capture-the-flag exercise will test your ability to perform the following tasks:
Perform reconnaissance and mapping of the target web application
Discover and exploit web application vulnerabilities, such as injection, XSS, CSRF, and authentication flaws
Leverage the vulnerabilities to gain access to the web application, escalate privileges, execute commands, and exfiltrate data
Use tools like ZAP, Burp Suite, SQLMap, and BeEF to automate and enhance your attacks
Analyze the impact and risk of the vulnerabilities and provide mitigation strategies
Write a comprehensive and professional web penetration test report
How to get SANS SEC542?
If you are interested in taking SANS SEC542, you have several options to choose from. You can register for the course online at https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-courses/web-app-penetration-testing-ethical-hacking/. You can also choose the delivery format that suits your needs and preferences:
In Person: You can attend the course in person at one of the many SANS events around the world. You will get to interact with the instructor and other students face-to-face.
Online: You can take the course online at your own pace and schedule. You will get access to the course materials, recordings, labs, and quizzes for four months.
Live Online: You can join the course live online via Zoom. You will get to participate in live sessions with the instructor and other students, as well as access the course materials, recordings, labs, and quizzes for four months.
Private Training: You can request a private training for your organization or team. You will get a customized course that meets your specific needs and goals.
To prepare for the course, you should have a basic understanding of web application security concepts and terminology. You should also have some familiarity with web application development languages and frameworks, such as HTML, JavaScript, PHP, ASP.NET, etc. You should also have a laptop that meets the minimum requirements for running the course labs.
Conclusion
SANS SEC542 is a comprehensive and practical course that teaches you how to perform web application penetration testing and ethical hacking. You will learn how to assess a web application's security posture and convincingly demonstrate the business impact should attackers exploit discovered vulnerabilities. You will also practice the art of exploiting web applications to find flaws in your enterprise's web apps.
SANS SEC542 will help you develop your web application penetration testing skills and prepare you for the GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT) certification exam. You will also advance your career by providing high-quality web app security assessments to your organization and clients.
If you are interested in learning more about SANS SEC542 or registering for the course, please visit https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-courses/web-app-penetration-testing-ethical-hacking/.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between web application penetration testing and ethical hacking?
Web application penetration testing is a process of evaluating the security of a web application by simulating an attack from a malicious source. Ethical hacking is a broader term that refers to any authorized attempt to gain unauthorized access to a system or network for a legitimate purpose.
What are some of the common web application vulnerabilities?
Some of the common web application vulnerabilities are injection flaws, cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), broken authentication and authorization, insecure file handling, insecure configuration management, etc.
What are some of the tools used for web application penetration testing?
Some of the tools used for web application penetration testing are web application security scanners, such as ZAP and Burp Suite, command-line tools, such as SQLMap and Nmap, browser exploitation frameworks, such as BeEF and Metasploit, proxy tools, such as Fiddler and Tamper Data, etc.
What are some of the skills required for web application penetration testing?
Some of the skills required for web application penetration testing are web application security knowledge, web development languages and frameworks knowledge, web application vulnerability discovery and exploitation techniques, web application penetration testing methodology and tools, web penetration test reporting and communication skills, etc.
How long does it take to complete SANS SEC542?
SANS SEC542 is a six-day course that consists of six modules and more than 30 labs. The course hours vary depending on the delivery format. For example, in person courses typically run from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, while online courses typically run from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
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