Create environment for DVWA on Windows7

What is DVWA？

Official description

Damn Vulnerable Web App (DVWA) is a PHP/MySQL web application that is damn vulnerable. Its main goals are to be an aid for security professionals to test their skills and tools in a legal environment, help web developers better understand the processes of securing web applications and aid teachers/students to teach/learn web application security in a class room environment.

My opinion

DVWA is a good platform for us to practice our skills in Web security. It is a legal environment for penteration testing and a lab on our PC.

How to install DVWA?

Install XAMPP

You need a XMAPP Software for this lab to run a DVWA on local server.

XAMPP is an easy to install Apache distribution containing MySQL, PHP, and Perl. 

Download XAMPP here!

It is very easy to install XAMPP. 

Now, start the Apache, Mysql and Filezilla services. 

(I have ever installed MySQL alone, so there is no MySQL selected. )

Install DVWA

Download DVWA here!

Extract the DVWA file that you downloaded from the above link. Then paste it in the D:\Tools\xampp\htdocs folder.(My path where the xampp has been installed)

Edit file D:\Tools\xampp\dvwa\config\config.inc.php. 

Then navigate to http://127.0.0.1/dvwa/setup.php and clickCreate / Reset Database. 

You will see:

Now navigate to http://127.0.0.1/dvwa/login.php to login. The Username=admin and the Password=password. 

Now you can enjoy your penetration testing lab with DVWA.