Interpreting and Prioritizing Results

Your first scan likely produces numerous alerts requiring prioritization. Focus initially on High-risk findings with High confidence levels, as these represent the most critical and reliable issues. Common High-risk findings in vulnerable applications include SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and authentication bypass vulnerabilities. Each represents a serious security flaw that attackers could exploit for data theft or system compromise.

Creating an actionable remediation plan starts with understanding vulnerability impact. Read each alert's description carefully, focusing on the "Risk" section explaining potential consequences. A SQL injection vulnerability might allow database access, while XSS could enable session hijacking. Understanding impact helps communicate severity to developers and prioritize fixes based on actual risk rather than just technical severity.

The reference section in each alert provides valuable learning resources. ZAP includes links to detailed vulnerability explanations, often referencing OWASP documentation or CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) entries. Following these links deepens your understanding of each vulnerability type, its root causes, and comprehensive remediation strategies. Building this knowledge transforms you from someone who runs scans to someone who understands security.