So, you're looking for an OWASP Juice Shop download. That’s smart. Honestly, if you’re trying to learn web security without breaking the law or accidentally nuking a production server, this is basically the gold standard. It is arguably the most intentionally buggy web application ever conceived. It’s a dumpster fire of vulnerabilities, and that is exactly why it’s beautiful.
Björn Kimminich, the guy who started this whole thing, didn’t just make a "broken" app. He made a modern, JavaScript-heavy beast that mimics how real companies actually build stuff today. We’re talking Angular on the front end, Node.js and Express in the middle, and a mix of SQL and NoSQL databases in the back. It’s not some crusty 2005 PHP site. It’s real.
Most people think they just need a link. They want to hit a "Download" button and be done. But here’s the thing: how you set up Juice Shop matters just as much as what you do once you’re inside. Depending on whether you're on a Mac, a Windows rig, or a Linux box, your "download" might look like a ZIP file, a Docker command, or a Git clone.
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Why the OWASP Juice Shop download is a rite of passage
Cybersecurity is a weird field. You spend all day reading about cross-site scripting (XSS) or SQL injection, but until you actually bypass a login screen yourself, it’s all just theory. That’s where Juice Shop comes in. It’s a CTF (Capture the Flag) platform disguised as a juice store. It sells things like "Apple Juice" and "Eggfruit Juice," but it also lets you steal user data, manipulate prices, and find hidden administrative panels.
It’s built to be broken. If you try to secure it, you’re missing the point. You want to download it so you can destroy it.
One of the coolest things about the OWASP Juice Shop download is the gamification. It tracks your progress. You get a "Score Board" that is actually hidden when you first start. Finding that board is your very first challenge. It’s like a meta-game of hacking. You aren't just following a tutorial; you’re hunting.
The Docker Method: The easiest path (usually)
If you have Docker installed, stop reading the rest of this section and just run docker pull bkimminich/juice-shop. Seriously.
Docker is the preferred way to handle an OWASP Juice Shop download because it keeps the mess contained. You don't have to worry about whether your local version of Node.js is too old or if your Python path is screwed up. You pull the image, you run it, and it lives in its own little containerized world.
To get it running once the pull is finished, just use:docker run --rm -p 3000:3000 bkimminich/juice-shop
Boom. You go to localhost:3000 in your browser, and you’re in. You’re ready to start hacking. If you break the app so badly that it stops responding—which will happen if you’re doing it right—you just kill the container and start a new one. Fresh start. No harm done.
Getting the OWASP Juice Shop download for Windows and Mac
Not everyone wants to mess with Docker. Maybe you want to see the code. Maybe you want to poke around the node_modules or see how the specific vulnerabilities were coded into the TypeScript files. In that case, you’re looking at a manual installation.
The Node.js approach
First, you need Node.js. Don’t grab the absolute bleeding-edge version; stick to the LTS (Long Term Support). Once that’s handled, you head over to the official GitHub releases page.
- Download the source code (ZIP or TAR).
- Unpack it somewhere that isn't your desktop (keep it clean, folks).
- Open a terminal or PowerShell.
- Run
npm install.
Now, wait. This takes a minute. It has to download a massive list of dependencies. Once it’s done, you run npm start. If you see a bunch of green text and a message saying the server is listening on port 3000, you’ve successfully completed your OWASP Juice Shop download and setup.
A warning about "pre-built" binaries
You might see some sites offering "one-click installers" for Juice Shop. Honestly? Avoid them. The official GitHub repository maintained by the OWASP foundation is the only place you should trust. Hacking tools are a magnet for malware. It would be pretty ironic if you got pwned while trying to learn how to pwn. Stick to the official sources.
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Common hurdles when you first start
You’ve got it running. You’re looking at the storefront. Now what?
A lot of beginners get stuck because they expect the vulnerabilities to be screaming at them. They aren't. This isn't a "click here to hack" button. You have to use tools. You’re going to need a proxy like Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP.
If you just downloaded Juice Shop and you're just clicking around the menu, you're only seeing 10% of the game. The real "download" is the mental shift. You have to start looking at the HTTP requests. Look at the cookies. Look at the local storage in your browser's dev tools.
Why your browser might hate you
Sometimes, your antivirus or your browser's built-in "safe browsing" features might flag the OWASP Juice Shop download. This is a false positive. Because the app contains "malicious" scripts (for educational purposes), it looks like a threat. You’ll probably have to whitelist the folder or tell your browser to "keep anyway."
Just make sure you aren't running Juice Shop on a public-facing server. If you put this on an open AWS instance without a firewall, someone will find it, and they will use it as a pivot point to attack the rest of your infrastructure. It’s a lab, not a website. Keep it local.
What’s actually inside the Juice Shop?
When we talk about the OWASP Juice Shop download, we’re talking about a massive ecosystem. It covers the entire OWASP Top 10 list.
- Broken Access Control: Can you view someone else’s basket?
- Cryptographic Failures: Are those passwords actually hashed? (Spoiler: some aren't).
- Injection: Can you bypass the login with a simple
' OR 1=1 --? - Insecure Design: There are flaws here that aren't just coding bugs; they are fundamental logic errors.
There are over 100 challenges. They range from "1-star" (find the score board) to "6-star" (perform complex JWT attacks or exploit SSRF).
One of the most overlooked parts of the OWASP Juice Shop download is the "Coding Challenges." Once you find a vulnerability, the app can actually present you with the source code and ask you to identify the fix. This is huge. It turns you from a "script kiddie" who just runs tools into a security professional who understands how to remediate flaws.
Real-world scenarios you'll encounter
Juice Shop mimics a modern e-commerce platform perfectly. You'll deal with:
- OAuth 2.0 flows that are slightly skewed.
- File upload forms that don't check file extensions properly.
- API endpoints that leak more information than they should.
- Two-factor authentication that can be bypassed if you're clever with your headers.
Actionable steps to master Juice Shop
Don't just let the OWASP Juice Shop download sit in your "Downloads" folder. Actually use it. Here is the path to moving from a novice to someone who actually knows what they're doing.
1. Get the environment right.
Use the Docker method if you want to get straight to hacking. Use the Node.js/GitHub method if you want to read the code. If you’re on a tablet or a Chromebook, look for the "Juice Shop" on Heroku or other cloud providers, but be aware that some challenges (like those requiring file system access) might not work perfectly in the cloud.
2. Find the Score Board.
This is non-negotiable. You can't track your progress without it. Search the client-side JavaScript files. Look for strings related to "score" or "board." Use your browser’s "Sources" tab. This is your first "win."
3. Use a Proxy.
Download Burp Suite (the Community Edition is free and amazing). Configure your browser to send traffic through it. When you click a button in Juice Shop, look at the request in Burp. Change a "1" to a "2." Change "true" to "false." This is where the magic happens.
4. Follow the Companion Guide.
Björn Kimminich wrote a book called "Pwning OWASP Juice Shop." It’s free online. If you get stuck, don't just look up the answer on YouTube. Read the guide. It explains the why behind the vulnerability.
5. Try the "Challenge Mode."
If you’re feeling confident, try to complete the 1-star and 2-star challenges without any hints. It’ll be frustrating. You’ll want to quit. Don't. The moment when you finally see that "Challenge Solved" notification pop up in the top right corner is an incredible rush.
The OWASP Juice Shop download isn't just a file. It’s an entry point into a career. Whether you want to be a penetration tester, a secure coder, or just someone who doesn't want their own site to get hacked, this is where you start. Keep your tools sharp, stay curious, and remember: in this environment, breaking things is the only way to learn how to build them right.