Performing Security Testing with OWASP ZAP API and Python

I wanted to share this information that I researched while doing my software engineering homework. How to Test Security with Python Using OWASP ZAP API?

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Step 1: Installing OWASP ZAP
Firstly, you need to download and install OWASP ZAP on your computer. You can download the latest version of OWASP ZAP from the OWASP ZAP website.

Step 2: Installing Python
Ensure that you have Python installed on your computer. Make sure you have Python 3.x version installed, as it is required to use the OWASP ZAP API.

Step 3: Installing OWASP ZAP API Module
To use the OWASP ZAP API in Python, you need to install the “python-owasp-zap-v2.4” module. This module provides access to the OWASP ZAP API functions. You can install the module using pip by running the following command:

pip install python-owasp-zap-v2.4

Step 4: Connecting to OWASP ZAP API
To connect to the OWASP ZAP API in your Python code, you need to establish a connection as follows:

from zapv2 import ZAPv2

# OWASP ZAP API URL'sini belirtin
zap = ZAPv2(apikey='your_api_key', proxies={'http': 'http://127.0.0.1:8080', 'https': 'http://127.0.0.1:8080'})

In the code above, replace `your_api_key` with your OWASP ZAP API key. You must also specify which URL and port OWASP ZAP will connect to.
Step 5: Scanning the Target Web Application
You can scan the target web application using the OWASP ZAP API. Below is a simple sample code:

# Tarayıcıyı aç
zap.urlopen("http://targetwebsite.com")

# Taramayı başlat
scan_id = zap.spider.scan(url='http://targetwebsite.com')

# Taramanın tamamlanmasını bekleyin
while int(zap.spider.status(scan_id)) < 100:
    time.sleep(2)

# Güvenlik açıkları için rapor oluştur
alert_results = zap.core.alerts()
for alert in alert_results:
    print('URL: %s, Risk Level: %s' % (alert['url'], alert['risk']))

By following the steps outlined above, you can perform security testing with Python using the OWASP ZAP API. However, please note that this is just a basic example and does not cover all the features of the OWASP ZAP API. You can refer to the OWASP ZAP API documentation for more information.

I would like to highlight the following point:
The ability to add or modify proxies is an important feature that enhances the flexibility of tools like Burp Suite and OWASP ZAP, which are Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) proxies [Mahajan, A. (2014). Burp Suite Essentials. Packt Publishing Ltd.]. There are several reasons why this feature is possible:

1. Multiple Proxy Support: In a testing scenario, you may need multiple proxy servers. For example, you may use different proxy servers to monitor different network traffic, simulate various test environments, or redirect different protocols. In such cases, the tools need to allow adding multiple proxies.

2. Customized Scans: Each test scenario is unique and may require customized scans. By modifying the proxy settings, you can make the tests more precise and targeted by focusing on a specific port or network interface. This way, you can limit your tests to a specific network resource or port.

3. Traffic Routing and Manipulation: Proxy servers can be used to route or manipulate HTTP or HTTPS traffic during scans. For example, you can inspect, modify, or filter traffic sent to or received from the target web application. This enables functions such as detecting security vulnerabilities, capturing session information, or altering the application’s response.

Due to these reasons, Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, and similar tools allow users to add or modify multiple proxy servers. These features make security testing more flexible, customizable, and comprehensive. However, it is important to use these features with caution and conduct tests within legal and ethical boundaries.

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Feel free to reach out to me if you have any further questions on this topic. I’m eagerly awaiting your feedback and comments.