I’m thrilled to share that I’ve officially passed the Offensive Security Web Expert (OSWE) exam!
This certification is one of the core components of the Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE3) track and focuses entirely on advanced web application assessments in a white-box setting. It’s not just about finding bugs – it’s about understanding source code, identifying logic flaws, and, most importantly, chaining multiple vulnerabilities to achieve your desired result and automating all these steps by writing a reliable exploit.
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Why I Took the OSWE?
After earning my Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification, I knew that pursuing OSWE would eventually be on my radar. Although some time passed before I could dedicate myself fully to it, I’ve always been drawn to the inner workings of web applications, and I wanted a course that emphasized real-world code analysis and advanced exploitation – OSWE was the perfect match. Plus, it complements my growing interest in secure web development and offensive security research.
My Study Approach
I took the WEB-300 course offered by Offsec, which includes PDFs, videos, and vulnerable labs. I approached the content module by module – completing the exercises, taking notes, and most importantly, scripting out each exploit from scratch.
One thing that stood out: the OSWE labs don’t primarily revolve around flag submission. While you’ll occasionally need to capture a flag, the main focus is digging into hundreds of lines of source code, identifying vulnerabilities, and building working proof-of-concept exploits and scripts. The white-box approach is powerful but also mentally taxing – context switching between frameworks, languages, and vulnerability types can be overwhelming without strong organization.
To manage that, I used Visual Studio Code on Kali and followed a strict documentation and methodology structure. I kept my notes, payloads, and exploitation scripts categorized so I could quickly grep through them during the exam.
The WEB-300 Exam Experience
The OSWE exam is a 48-hour white-box penetration test against two web applications. You’re required to find vulnerabilities, chain them together, automate the exploitation process by building reliable exploit scripts, and score at least 85 out of 100 points to pass. To earn the full 50 points for a single application, you must retrieve the local.txt (35points) and proof.txt (15points) flags. Additionally, passing the exam requires creating a script for each web application that automates the exploitation process and retrieves both flags.
Let me be blunt – the exam is brutal. Not because of the technical depth (the course actually prepares you well), but because of the sheer mental and physical demand. You have to maintain sharp focus for two full days, troubleshoot edge cases, and write a professional-grade report at the end.
Some lessons learned:
- Revert often. I reverted the machine before testing each new version of my exploit to make sure it worked on a clean slate. Otherwise, you might find out at the end that your exploit doesn’t work after a revert.
- Expect for your payloads/exploits to run in multiple steps, and not just one.
- Write your report as you go. It saves a massive amount of time at the end.
- Scripting takes time. Building clean, reusable exploit scripts is just as important as finding the bug itself.
Tools and Resources That Helped
- WebSecurity Academy by Portswigger for hands-on web app exercises.
- HackTheBox VMs for hands-on practice.
- different Github Lists with payloads, for different vulnerabilities.
- Cheatsheets (OWASP, custom payloads, exploit templates)
- Offsec Forums + Discord – underrated resources for last-minute clarifications, especially on Discord.
Final Thoughts
The OSWE taught me how to think like a developer and attacker at the same time. It forced me to slow down, read code carefully, and chain seemingly harmless flaws into full application compromises.
This wasn’t just a test of knowledge – it was a test of endurance, patience, and persistence.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely – for any offensive security professional serious about mastering web exploitation, the OSWE is one of the most valuable certifications you can earn today.
If you’re currently preparing for OSWE or considering it, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to share tips, resources, or just chat about the experience.
Thanks to everyone who supported me on this journey 🙌
Other Exam Reviews
If you’re interested in reviews of other certifications, check these reviews on:
Feel free to check them out if you’re considering those certifications!
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