Generic security testing often fails to uncover the unique risks inherent in Python environments. While many testers are proficient in broad security principles, few possess the specialised insight into Python’s nuances required for truly effective assessments. Mastering Security Testing for Python provides the deep-dive expertise you need to secure modern applications with confidence.
Goal of this course¶
This course is designed for developers and security enthusiasts, taking you from basic code hygiene through to advanced automated security analysis. It focuses on reliable open-source security tools to identify vulnerabilities arising from Python’s dynamic nature and the common pitfalls in its ecosystem.
It is designed to take you from a security novice to a proficient code auditor. Rather than focusing solely on theory, we will take a practical approach—identifying and resolving vulnerabilities in Python code using Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools.
Who is this course for?¶
This course is designed for software security testers who want to improve their knowledge and skills in security testing for Python software.
It is also suitable for DevOps professionals, architects, security professionals, AppSec engineers, software engineers, web application developers, and others interested in learning about security testing for Python software.
The course focuses on practical steps that can be taken — even with limited resources — to build your skills in security testing for Python software and performing security audits on systems that include Python components. This is not a beginner’s course that simply teaches you to run tools and follow a checklist. To get the most from this course (and to complete it successfully), you should already be familiar with:
software testing
using programs from the command-line interface (CLI) on Unix-like systems (Linux or BSD)
Course Overview¶
Overview of modules:
Module 1: Understanding Python Security Threats.
Module 2: Choosing the Right Tools for Effective Python Security Testing.
Module 3: Harnessing Static Application Security Testing (SAST) for Python Code Deep coverage of Python Code Audit, the advantages of a SAST for Python code, and use cases.
Module 4: Setting up a Python Security Testing Environment.
Module 5: Detecting and Exploiting Common Python Vulnerabilities with Python Code Audit.
Module 6: In-Depth Analysis: Detecting and Exploiting Common Python Vulnerabilities and Hands-on exercises.
Module 7: Security Verification Beyond Testing.
Module 8: Effective Security Reporting.
Module 9: Course Completion & Next Steps.
Pay what you can¶
Cybersecurity education shouldn’t be a luxury.
In an industry where online courses are often overpriced and provide little genuine value, we choose a different path.
We believe that critical technical knowledge should be open, borderless, and accessible to everyone. True to the spirit of this course, we respect your digital sovereignty: there are no mandatory registrations and no invasive tracking. After all, this is a security course.
We don’t want your financial situation to be a barrier to improving your skills or advancing your career. Not everyone can afford the often excessive fees attached to professional cybersecurity training. Financial circumstances should never prevent someone from developing the skills needed to grow, contribute, and thrive in the information security field.
That is why Mastering Security Testing for Python is offered on a pay-what-you-can basis.
The course is completely free to read and use under the CC BY-SA licence. If you find it valuable and are in a position to do so, we kindly invite you to make a voluntary contribution. Your support helps fund ongoing development, updates, maintenance, and the creation of new learning resources.
If you cannot contribute, please continue learning — you are very welcome here. If you can, your support makes a meaningful difference.