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Application Security Testing and Debugging

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Application Security Testing and Debugging

Included with

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Implement automated (SAST/DAST) and manual testing techniques to identify web application vulnerabilities and strengthen application security.

  • Apply advanced debugging techniques and secure coding analysis to diagnose, isolate, and resolve critical vulnerabilities in application code.

  • Execute penetration testing engagements to simulate real-world attack scenarios and validate application security controls.

  • Produce security reports with technical findings, business impact, and actionable remediation strategies for application security.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer
Taught in English

There are 6 modules in this course

In today's digital landscape, application security is not optional, it's essential. With cyber threats evolving rapidly and data breaches making headlines daily, organizations desperately need skilled professionals who understand why application security is important and can identify, analyze, and resolve security vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them.

This comprehensive application security testing and debugging course transforms you from a security novice into a confident application security testing professional. You'll master both automated and manual testing techniques, learn to think like an attacker, and develop systematic debugging skills, following application security best practices that separate expert security practitioners from the rest. This course is designed for software developers looking to expand their skillset in security testing, QA professionals transitioning into security roles, IT professionals with basic coding experience, and cybersecurity students or early-career professionals eager to dive deeper into application security. If you're ready to strengthen your understanding of web application security vulnerabilities and security testing methodologies, this course will provide the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to excel in the field of application security. To get the most out of this course, you'll need basic programming knowledge in any language and a solid understanding of web technologies like HTTP, HTML, and databases. Familiarity with the software development lifecycle and CI/CD processes is preferred, though not required. Basic command-line usage is also essential, as many tools and exercises in this course will involve navigating through terminal interfaces. By the end of this course, you will be able to implement both automated (SAST/DAST) and manual application security testing techniques to identify and mitigate web application vulnerabilities. You'll also gain advanced debugging skills to diagnose, isolate, and resolve security flaws in application code. Additionally, you'll conduct penetration testing to simulate real-world attack scenarios and produce comprehensive security reports that effectively communicate technical findings and remediation strategies to various stakeholders.

In this course, you’ll master application security testing with both automated and manual techniques. You’ll learn to identify and resolve vulnerabilities, simulate attacks, and develop advanced debugging strategies. Through hands-on exercises and real-world simulations, you’ll gain the skills to integrate security testing into development workflows and produce professional security reports. By the end, you'll be ready to take on roles like Application Security Engineer or Penetration Tester, equipped to tackle complex security challenges and drive security improvements.

What's included

1 video1 reading

1 videoTotal 4 minutes
  • Intro Video to Course 4 minutes
1 readingTotal 5 minutes
  • Welcome to the Course: Course Overview5 minutes

This module introduces the fundamental principles of application security and static application security testing (SAST). You will learn about the key vulnerabilities identified in the OWASP Top 10 and gain hands-on experience using tools like SpotBugs and OWASP security testing tools. The module focuses on integrating security testing early in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and emphasizes the importance of both automated and manual security testing methods. By the end of the module, you will have practical knowledge in configuring, running, and interpreting results from SAST tools and manual reviews, with a focus on prioritizing vulnerabilities based on CVSS scoring systems.

What's included

10 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 109 minutes
  • Module Introduction 3 minutes
  • Intro to Application Security 6 minutes
  • Security Testing in the SDLC 10 minutes
  • OWASP Top 10 Deep Dive 7 minutes
  • SAST Fundamentals and Tool Selection 11 minutes
  • Hands-on SAST with SpotBugs 19 minutes
  • SAST Results Analysis & CVSS Scoring 16 minutes
  • Manual Security Code Review Process 9 minutes
  • OWASP Code Review Tools Workshop 18 minutes
  • Security Audit Standards & Compliance 10 minutes
2 readingsTotal 10 minutes
  • NIST Secure Code Review Practices 5 minutes
  • Secure Coding Practices Checklist 5 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes
  • Foundations of Security Testing & SAST20 minutes
1 peer reviewTotal 15 minutes
  • Hands-On-Learning: Practical Vulnerability Analysis Using SAST 15 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes
  • Integrating Security Testing in Your Development Workflow10 minutes

In this module, you will learn the critical role of security-focused debugging in identifying vulnerabilities that traditional methods often miss. Using runtime analysis, you'll uncover flaws like authentication bypasses, race conditions, and memory corruption. Through hands-on sessions with tools like OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, and CodeQL, you'll master debugging techniques and integrate them into DevSecOps pipelines for automated security monitoring. By the end, you'll be able to detect runtime vulnerabilities missed by static testing and implement continuous security monitoring in development workflows..

What's included

10 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 103 minutes
  • Module Introduction 4 minutes
  • Systematic Debugging for Security 11 minutes
  • White-Box Debugging Techniques 10 minutes
  • Runtime Security Analysis 11 minutes
  • Authentication Flow Debugging 13 minutes
  • Interactive Debugging in Web Applications 15 minutes
  • Advanced Exploit Analysis 7 minutes
  • DevSecOps Pipeline Integration 14 minutes
  • CodeQL and Advanced Static Analysis 11 minutes
  • Security Test Automation Architecture 7 minutes
2 readingsTotal 10 minutes
  • DevSecOps Best Practices 5 minutes
  • OWASP Testing Guide: Error Handling 5 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes
  • Security-Focused Debugging Techniques 20 minutes
1 peer reviewTotal 15 minutes
  • Hands-On-Learning: Vulnerability Discovery with a Proxy Tool 15 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes
  • From Traditional Debugging to Security-Focused Analysis 10 minutes

In this module, you'll learn dynamic application security testing (DAST) and penetration testing techniques to validate real-world security controls. By simulating attack scenarios, you'll uncover vulnerabilities like session flaws and business logic errors that static analysis can't detect. You’ll gain hands-on experience with tools like OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, and WebGoat, applying both automated and manual testing methods. By the end, you'll be able to execute realistic penetration tests and enhance your security testing skills.

What's included

10 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 97 minutes
  • Module Introduction 4 minutes
  • DAST Methodology and Black-box Testing 7 minutes
  • ZAP Professional Workshop 15 minutes
  • Hybrid Testing: Automated and Manual Techniques 8 minutes
  • Penetration Testing Methodology 8 minutes
  • Burp Suite Professional Techniques 16 minutes
  • WebGoat Exploitation Laboratory 18 minutes
  • Authentication & Session Security Testing 8 minutes
  • Business Logic & Race Condition Testing 6 minutes
  • Injection Attack Mastery 8 minutes
2 readingsTotal 10 minutes
  • Advanced Penetration Testing Techniques 5 minutes
  • OWASP ZAP Getting Started 5 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes
  • Dynamic Testing & Penetration Testing 20 minutes
1 peer reviewTotal 15 minutes
  • Hands-On-Learning: Penetration Testing: Exploiting a Web Injection 15 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes
  • Ethical Hacking and Authentication Security Testing 10 minutes

In this module, you will learn to translate technical security findings into actionable business outcomes. You’ll focus on creating clear security reports, communicating with various stakeholders, and using frameworks like CVSS to prioritize vulnerabilities. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll develop remediation strategies, analyze real-world case studies, and document security testing workflows. By the end, you’ll be able to produce professional reports that drive security improvements and align with business goals.

What's included

10 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 95 minutes
  • Module Introduction 4 minutes
  • Executive Security Reporting 7 minutes
  • CVSS Scoring and Risk Quantification 9 minutes
  • Remediation Strategy Development 7 minutes
  • Complete Vulnerability Assessment 9 minutes
  • Enterprise Penetration Testing Case Study 14 minutes
  • DevSecOps Transformation Case Study 13 minutes
  • ISTQB Security Testing Standards 9 minutes
  • Career Development in Security Testing 11 minutes
  • Building Security Culture 12 minutes
2 readingsTotal 10 minutes
  • Security Testing Career Guide 5 minutes
  • FIRST CVSS v3.1 User Guide 5 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes
  • Professional Reporting & Real-World Applications 20 minutes
1 peer reviewTotal 15 minutes
  • Hands-On-Learning: Security Reporting: From Findings to Strategy 15 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes
  • Building Professional Security Testing Expertise and Career Value 10 minutes

In this wrap-up module, you will consolidate your learning by designing a strategic cybersecurity framework that integrates vision, communication, training, and cultural reporting. Through a final case-study project, you'll apply your knowledge to address a critical security challenge and demonstrate your ability to lead cybersecurity initiatives with clarity and measurable impact. This module ties together the key concepts and prepares you to take the next steps in your professional journey.

What's included

1 video1 peer review

1 videoTotal 4 minutes
  • Course Wrap-Up 4 minutes
1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes
  • Project: Designing an Integrated Application Security Strategy 60 minutes

Instructors

6 Courses10,322 learners
Starweaver
571 Courses1,155,721 learners

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Frequently asked questions

Application security is the practice of finding, fixing, and preventing vulnerabilities in software throughout its lifecycle, from design to deployment. It matters because most modern attacks target application logic and code rather than network infrastructure, which is why application security is important for any team that builds or ships software.

Security testing has four main objectives, and this course builds toward each in order: find vulnerabilities before attackers do, combining automated application security testing tools like SpotBugs, OWASP ZAP, and Burp Suite with manual review; verify that controls like authentication and access control hold up under real attack conditions; assess and prioritize risk using a framework like CVSS; and turn findings into a clear report stakeholders can act on.

This mirrors the course's own structure: testing and secure coding review, then debugging and penetration testing, then professional reporting, so each objective builds on the last.

The four core approaches are static analysis (SAST), dynamic analysis (DAST), interactive analysis (IAST), and software composition analysis (SCA) for open-source dependencies. Most application security testing tools combine two or more of these to cover both code-level and runtime vulnerabilities.

The core pillars are secure design, secure coding, automated and manual testing, vulnerability management, and ongoing monitoring after deployment. Together they cover an application's full lifecycle, not just a single pre-launch scan.

If you already write code or test software, an application security course is the fastest way to add a specialization that's in high demand without starting your career over. This one in particular is built around real tools (OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, CodeQL) and a shareable certificate, so what you build during the course is also evidence you can show an employer afterward. 

You'll need working knowledge of programming, web technologies like HTTP and HTML, and common vulnerability categories, plus hands-on experience with application security testing tools for both static and dynamic analysis. Debugging skills and basic command-line comfort round out the foundation.

Common roles include application security engineer, penetration tester, and security-focused developer or DevSecOps engineer. The course is built around preparing learners for exactly these roles, closing with a capstone project on designing a security strategy.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Financial aid available,

¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.