Overview

Advanced Web Attacks and Exploitation (AWAE) is an advanced web application security review course. We teach the skills needed to conduct white box web app penetration tests.

OSWE is an advanced web application security certification. We recommend starting with PWK and earning the OSCP penetration testing certification first.

Once you’ve completed the AWAE course material and practiced your skills in the labs (90 day access), you’re ready to take the certification exam. The OSWE exam has a time limit of 48 hours and consists of a hands-on web application assessment in our isolated VPN network. Within the exam environment, you’ll attack various web applications and operating systems. Points are awarded for each compromised application, based on their difficulty and the level of access obtained.

If you obtain the points needed to pass, you must submit a comprehensive web application assessment report. It should contain in-depth notes and screenshots detailing your findings. This exam is proctored. Students who complete the course and pass the exam earn the Offensive Security Web Expert (OSWE) certification, demonstrating mastery in exploiting front-facing web apps.

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Prerequisites

Advanced Web Attacks and Exploitation expects students have the following before starting the course:

  • Familiarity with coding languages: Java, .NET, JavaScript, Python
  • Familiarity with Linux: file permissions, navigation, editing, and running scripts
  • Ability to write simple Python / Perl / PHP / Bash scripts
  • Experience with web proxies, such as Burp Suite and similar tools
  • General understanding of web app attack vectors, theory, and practice (covered in PWK)

Target Audience

Advanced Web Attacks and Exploitation is not an entry-level course. AWAE is designed for:

  • Experienced penetration testers who want to better understand white box web app pentesting
  • Web application security specialists
  • Web professionals working with the codebase and security infrastructure of a web application
  • (software engineer, full stack web developer, etc)

A passing exam grade will declare you an Offensive Security Web Expert (OSWE). Certified OSWEs have a clear and practical understanding of the web application assessment and hacking process. They’ve proven their ability to review advanced source code in web apps, identify vulnerabilities, and exploit them.

We recommend it as an option for skills specialization after completing PWK.

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Objectives

Students will learn how to:

  • Perform a deep analysis of decompiled code,
  • Identify logical vulnerabilities many scanners aren’t equipped to find, and
  • Exploit vulnerabilities by chaining them into complex attacks.
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Outline

AWAE is not a course focused on black box methodology. You will be learning white box web app pentest methods. The bulk of your time will be spent analyzing source code, decompiling Java, debugging DLLs, manipulating requests, and more, using tools like Burp Suite, dnSpy, JD-GUI, Visual Studio, and the trusty text editor. The course covers the following topics in detail. For a more complete breakdown of the course topics, please refer to the AWAE syllabus.

  • Persistent Cross-Site Scripting
  • Session Hijacking
  • .NET Deserialization
  • Data Exfiltration
  • Bypassing File Extension Filters
  • Magic Hashes
  • PostgreSQL Extension and User Defined Functions
  • Bypassing REGEX restrictions
  • Cross-Site Request Forgery
  • Type Juggling
  • Blind SQL Injection
  • Bypassing File Upload Restrictions
  • Loose Comparisons
  • Bypassing Character Restrictions
  • PostgreSQL Large Objects
  • Debugging .NET Assemblies

Supporting your online journey

  • 6-hour video series
  • 270-page course guide
  • Active student forums
  • (90 day) Access to virtual lab environment
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Cyber Security learning paths

Want to boost your career in cyber security? Click on the roles below to see QA's learning pathways, specially designed to give you the skills to succeed.

= Required
= Certification
AI Security
Application Security
Cyber Blue Team
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
Cloud Security
Continuity & Resilience
DFIR Digital Forensics & Incident Response
Industrial Controls & OT Security
Information Security Management
NIST Pathway
Offensive Security
Privacy Professional
Reverse Engineer
Secure Coding
Security Auditor
Security Architect
Security Risk
Security Tech Generalist
Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing