OWASP ZAP: Open Source App Security Testing

OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is a prominent open-source application security testing tool designed to identify vulnerabilities in web applications through both automated and manual testing methods. Developed by Simon Bennetts in 2010 and maintained by a global team of volunteers, ZAP is widely used by developers and penetration testers for its dynamic application security testing capabilities, enabling users to conduct active and passive scans. These scans help detect potential vulnerabilities, such as SQL Injection and Cross-Site Scripting, by mimicking real-world attack scenarios on running applications. The tool's flexibility allows for integration into CI/CD pipelines, supporting secure software development and compliance requirements, while its active community contributes to a collaborative environment for sharing resources and insights. ZAP can be compared to other security tools like StackHawk, BurpSuite, Veracode, and Rapid7, and is favored for its scalability and automation features, particularly in testing APIs and modern application architectures.