How to Find Vulnerabilities in Web Applications

Web applications are a frequent target for cyberattacks due to their extensive use and potential security weaknesses. Detecting vulnerabilities is essential for developers, security researchers, and ethical hackers to safeguard systems from exploitation.

In this guide, we’ll delve into common web application vulnerabilities, effective tools for identifying them, and practical examples to enhance security measures.

Web Application Vulnerabilities

Before diving into detection methods, let’s review the most common vulnerabilities:

1. SQL Injection (SQLi)
2. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
3. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSR
4. Broken Authentication & Session Management
5. Security Misconfigurations
6. Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR)
7. Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
8. XML External Entity (XXE) Injection
9. File Upload Vulnerabilities
10.API Security Issues

Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Vulnerabilities

1. Reconnaissance & Information Gathering

Before testing, gather as much information as possible:

• Subdomain Enumeration: Use tools like Sublist3r, Amass.
• Port Scanning: Nmap helps identify open ports and services.
• Web Technologies: Wappalyzer or BuiltWith detect frameworks (e.g., WordPress,Django).

Example: