Automating OWASP ZAP in GitLab CI/CD

Integrating OWASP ZAP into GitLab CI/CD pipelines enables automated security testing, ensuring vulnerabilities are detected early in development.

Step 1: Setup OWASP ZAP in Docker

OWASP ZAP can run in a Docker container for ease of integration. Add the following to your `.gitlab-ci.yml` to set up a job for ZAP:

security_test:
image: owasp/zap2docker-stable
script:
- zap.sh -daemon -port 8080 -host 0.0.0.0 -config api.disablekey=true

This command initializes ZAP in daemon mode, enabling it to run in the background on port 8080 without an API key.

Step 2: Run Security Scans

After ZAP starts, configure the script to scan your application:

- zap-cli quick-scan --self-contained --start-options '-config api.disablekey=true' http://your-app-url

The quick scan performs essential security checks.

Step 3: Generate Reports

OWASP ZAP produces a report that can be saved and reviewed:

- zap-cli report -o zap_report.html -f html
- cat zap_report.html

This report can be uploaded as an artifact or saved in a GitLab environment for review.

Step 4: Integrate with Pipeline

Add this job into your GitLab pipeline to run on pushes or merges:

stages:
- test
- security_test

Step 5: Configure Thresholds

Set up success/fail criteria based on vulnerability thresholds, helping prevent risky builds from passing.

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This integration ensures continuous security validation without manual testing, protecting against potential vulnerabilities throughout the development lifecycle.

Note: It’s important to use OWASP ZAP with caution and only for authorized users. If you are using ZAP to intercept requests without proper authorization or for unauthorized purposes, it could be considered a security risk.

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