Introduction

The Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) is a deliberately vulnerable web application designed to assist security professionals and enthusiasts in learning and practicing web application security. It provides a controlled environment for testing various web vulnerabilities and understanding how they can be exploited.

XAMPP is a popular software suite that includes Apache HTTP Server, MySQL database, PHP, and Perl. It offers a convenient way to set up a local web development environment on your Windows machine.

Prerequisites

• Windows 10
• XAMPP (Download from https://www.apachefriends.org/)
• DVWA (Download from https://github.com/digininja/DVWA)

Installation Steps

1. Install XAMPP:

   • Download the latest XAMPP installer for Windows from the official website.
   • Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Ensure that the components you need (Apache, MySQL, PHP) are selected.
   • After installation, start the Apache and MySQL services from the XAMPP Control Panel.

2. Download DVWA:

   • Download the latest DVWA ZIP file from the official GitHub repository.
   • Extract the contents of the ZIP file to a directory of your choice (e.g., C:\xampp\htdocs).

3. Configure DVWA:

   • Open the config.inc.php file located inside the DVWA directory.
   • Set the $DVWA[ 'database_type' ] value to 'mysql'.
   • Configure the database connection details using the credentials you set up in XAMPP.
   • Save the changes.

4. Access DVWA:

   • Open a web browser and enter the following URL: http://localhost/dvwa/.
   • You should see the DVWA login page.

Using DVWA

• Login: Use the default credentials (admin / password).
• Select Security Level: Choose the desired security level (low, medium, high, or impossible) to adjust the vulnerability complexity.
• Explore Vulnerabilities: Navigate through the different categories (Injection, XSS, CSRF, etc.) and try to exploit the vulnerabilities using the provided examples.

Additional Considerations

• Learn from Examples: DVWA provides examples and explanations for each vulnerability. Use them to understand the underlying concepts.
• Practice Regularly: The more you practice, the better you'll become at identifying and mitigating web vulnerabilities.
• Use a Security Scanner: Consider using a security scanner to automate vulnerability testing and identify potential issues.

By following these steps, you can successfully install DVWA on your Windows 10 machine using XAMPP and begin learning about web application security in a controlled environment.