Web Hacking 101 in 2025#

The web has changed. In 2025, we aren't just dealing with simple SQL injections in PHP scripts. We are facing complex Single Page Applications (SPAs), serverless architectures, and AI-driven defenses. This guide covers the essentials for the modern web hacker.

The Modern Tech Stack#

• Frontend: React, Vue, Svelte, and HTMX are dominant. Understanding the Virtual DOM and client-side routing is crucial.
• Backend: Node.js, Go, and Rust have replaced much of the legacy PHP/Java code.
• Infrastructure: Kubernetes and Serverless (AWS Lambda, Cloudflare Workers) are the new normal.

Key Vulnerability Classes#

1. Client-Side Vulnerabilities#

• DOM XSS: With heavy client-side logic, DOM-based XSS is king.
• CORS Misconfigurations: Exploiting overly permissive Access-Control-Allow-Origin headers.

2. API Security#

• Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA): The #1 API threat. Accessing other users' data by changing an ID.
• Mass Assignment: Overwriting internal fields (like isAdmin) during object creation.

3. Supply Chain Attacks#

• Dependency Confusion: Tricking build systems into installing malicious internal packages from public registries.
• Malicious NPM Packages: The risk of npm install is higher than ever.

Tools You Need#

• Burp Suite Pro: Still the undisputed champion.
• Caido: The lightweight, Rust-based alternative gaining traction.
• Nuclei: For fast, template-based scanning.

Conclusion#

Web hacking in 2025 requires a developer's mindset. You need to understand how applications are built to break them effectively.