Open-Source Security · whgojp

JavaSecLab

JavaSecLab is a Spring Boot-based vulnerable application laboratory designed for learning Java security vulnerabilities through hands-on practice. It provides vulnerable code, fixed implementations, realistic attack scenarios, and traffic analysis examples covering OWASP-class issues and Java-specific vulnerabilities.

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Source: GitHub — github.com/whgojp/JavaSecLab

858

GitHub stars

Forks

Java

Primary language

Apache-2.0

License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.

Field	Value
Repository	whgojp/JavaSecLab
Owner	whgojp
Primary language	Java
License	Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved
Stars	858
Forks	75
Open issues	1
Latest release	V1.5 (2026-05-27)
Last updated	2026-06-09
Source	https://github.com/whgojp/JavaSecLab

What JavaSecLab is

Spring Boot application (Java 8+) that deliberately exposes vulnerable patterns across SQL injection, XSS, deserialization, SSRF, RCE, and ecosystem-specific flaws (Fastjson, Jackson, Log4j2, Shiro). Built on MyBatis/JPA, Thymeleaf, and MySQL; deployable locally or via Docker; includes source/sink audit annotations and remediation code samples.

Quickstart

Get the JavaSecLab source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash

1git clone https://github.com/whgojp/JavaSecLab.git2cd JavaSecLab3# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

Security training and code-audit practice

Organizations can deploy JavaSecLab in isolated environments to train developers and security teams on identifying vulnerabilities, understanding exploitation paths, and applying secure coding practices.

Security tool validation (SAST, DAST, IAST, SCA)

Researchers and tool vendors can use JavaSecLab's labeled scenarios and source/sink annotations to benchmark and evaluate static analysis, dynamic testing, interactive analysis, and component scanning tools.

SDL and DevSecOps program foundation

Enterprise security teams can integrate JavaSecLab into secure development lifecycle programs, using realistic Java vulnerability scenarios to demonstrate risks and remediation in code-review and deployment pipelines.

Implementation considerations

Isolated network or local deployment is mandatory; do not expose to the internet. Use disposable accounts and test databases only.
Requires JDK 8, MySQL 8.0+, and Maven for local builds, or Docker/Docker Compose for containerized deployment. Database schema must be imported from sql/JavaSecLab.sql.
Each vulnerability scenario is self-contained but tied to the same Spring Boot application instance; simultaneous modification of scenarios may require careful state management.
Default credentials (admin/admin) must be changed or removed before any multi-user or team usage; authentication is basic and not suitable for production-grade access control.
Traffic analysis examples are provided but require a proxy (Burp Suite, etc.) or network sniffer for learners to observe HTTP patterns; no built-in capture or replay mechanism.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

Production or public-facing deployment required — JavaSecLab is intentionally vulnerable and contains dangerous endpoints and insecure dependencies. It must never run on public networks or in production environments.
Need for out-of-the-box scanning or compliance automation — JavaSecLab is a learning and testing tool, not a scanning or compliance platform. It does not include built-in SIEM integration, automated remediation, or reporting for compliance frameworks.
Requirement for closed-source or commercial support — JavaSecLab is Apache 2.0–licensed open source with community-driven maintenance. No official commercial support, SLAs, or vendor indemnification are available.
Need for non-Java vulnerability scenarios — JavaSecLab focuses exclusively on Java web application vulnerabilities. Organizations needing practice labs for Python, Go, Node.js, or other languages should look elsewhere.

License & commercial use

Apache License 2.0. Permits commercial use, modification, and distribution with proper attribution and license inclusion. No copyleft requirements or patent clauses. See http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 for full terms.

Apache 2.0 permits commercial use of the software itself. However, JavaSecLab is a vulnerable lab intended for testing and training, not a commercial product. Commercial use as a training platform, internal tool, or integration into commercial security products is permissible under the license, but users assume all liability for running intentionally vulnerable code. No warranty or commercial support is provided by the project.

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

Signal	Assessment
Maintenance	Active
Documentation	Strong
License clarity	Clear
Deployment complexity	Moderate
DEV.co fit	Good
Assessment confidence	High

Security considerations

JavaSecLab is deliberately insecure and contains vulnerable dependencies, dangerous endpoints, and insecure configurations for educational purposes. Users must: (1) never deploy to public networks, (2) use isolated containers or VMs, (3) treat all data as untrusted, (4) rotate default credentials, (5) monitor logs and uploaded files, (6) apply network isolation. The secure code examples are for teaching only; production systems require additional controls (authentication, rate limiting, input validation, defense-in-depth).

Alternatives to consider

OWASP WebGoat

Multi-language vulnerable web application for learning OWASP Top 10. Less Java-specific; covers broader web security topics but with fewer Java ecosystem vulnerabilities.

PortSwigger Web Security Academy labs

Comprehensive interactive labs for web vulnerabilities with hands-on exploitation and guided learning. Hosted service (no self-deployment); covers broader scope but less deep on Java internals.

DVWA (Damn Vulnerable Web Application)

Classic PHP-based vulnerable app for learning web attacks. Simpler setup; focuses on fundamental vulnerabilities but lacks Java-specific and ecosystem scenarios.

Software development agency

Build on JavaSecLab with DEV.co software developers

Deploy JavaSecLab in an isolated environment and practice hands-on vulnerability identification, exploitation, and remediation. Perfect for security teams, developers, and tool validation.

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JavaSecLab FAQ

Can I run JavaSecLab in a shared development environment or internal network?

Only if the network is fully isolated from production, the internet, and sensitive systems. Use a dedicated VM or container, change default credentials, and monitor all activity. The project recommends treating it as a training sandbox only.

Does JavaSecLab help validate my SAST or DAST tool?

Yes. The project explicitly supports tool validation. Vulnerability scenarios are labeled with source/sink annotations, making it useful for benchmarking detection rates. However, no standardized scoring or reporting format is provided; you must manually compare tool output to documented vulnerabilities.

Is the secure code in JavaSecLab production-ready?

No. The secure code examples are for teaching remediation patterns. Production code requires additional layers: authentication, authorization, rate limiting, input validation, dependency security, logging, monitoring, and defense-in-depth policies.

What Java versions are supported?

Documented minimum is Java 8. The project has been tested and deployed on Java 8 and likely later versions, but explicit support for Java 11, 17, or LTS versions is not clearly stated. Requires testing.

Work with a software development agency

Adopting JavaSecLab is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source security software in production.

Ready to strengthen your Java security knowledge?

Deploy JavaSecLab in an isolated environment and practice hands-on vulnerability identification, exploitation, and remediation. Perfect for security teams, developers, and tool validation.

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