PentestSA

Web Application Testing Overview

Web application penetration testing is a comprehensive and systematic evaluation aimed at identifying, assessing, and addressing vulnerabilities within a web application to ensure robust functionality, data integrity, and security. A deep-dive manual approach enhances this process by leveraging human expertise to uncover complex vulnerabilities, logical flaws, and security weaknesses that automated tools often miss, providing a tailored methodology for thoroughly examining each component and mitigating potential risks of unauthorized access or breaches.

Key Objectives

Assess your critical web application for security vulnerabilities with a web app pen test.

Web Application Testing

A focused web application penetration test is a time-limited test that is tailored to the complexity of your application.

Objectives	Scope
Identify Security Vulnerabilities	Discover flaws that could be exploited by attackers, such as SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), or authentication bypasses.
Assess Business Logic	Evaluate application workflows for design flaws, such as improper access controls or bypasses in multi-step processes.>
Simulate Real-World Attacks	Use techniques that mimic real-world attack scenarios to understand the potential impact on the application and the organization.
Provide Remediation Steps	Deliver clear and actionable recommendations to mitigate discovered vulnerabilities.

What It Involves

What is Involved in a Web Application Penetration Test?

It identifies vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers and assesses their impact on the application and organization. Below is a breakdown of the steps typically involved in a web application penetration test.

Testing Flow	Scope
Information Gathering	The first step is to collect as much information as possible about the web application: Identify the technology stack, architecture, APIs, and endpoints. Gather publicly accessible information about the application and organization (e.g., open-source intelligence, DNS records, or metadata). Understand the application’s purpose, users, and potential threat actors.
Reconnaissance and Mapping	The tester interacts with the application to: Discover accessible URLs, pages, and features. Map the application’s structure, workflows, and endpoints. Identify parameters, input fields, and functionalities that could be exploited.>
Vulnerability Identification	This step involves scanning and analyzing the application for security flaws, including: OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities such as: Injection flaws (e.g., SQL Injection, Command Injection). Broken Authentication and Session Management. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). Security Misconfigurations. Sensitive Data Exposure. Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR). Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF). Business logic flaws that automated tools cannot detect. Issues specific to APIs and backend integrations.>
Exploitation	Once vulnerabilities are identified, testers attempt to exploit them in a controlled environment to understand their: Impact on data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Potential for lateral movement within the application or network. Severity in real-world scenarios.
Authentication and Authorization Testing	This involves evaluating mechanisms that secure user sessions and data: Testing login mechanisms, password policies, and reset processes. Evaluating session management, including cookies and tokens. Attempting to bypass Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
API and Backend Security	If the application uses APIs or interacts with backend systems: Test for insecure API endpoints, rate limiting, and data leakage. Look for improper validation, broken access controls, or IDOR issues. Evaluate server and database configurations for potential risks.
Business Logic Testing	Testers analyze workflows and processes to identify flaws such as: Unauthorized access to restricted functionalities. Bypassing multi-step processes (e.g., order approval, payment validation). Exploits that compromise application logic integrity.
Source Code and Configuration Review (If Applicable)	Review application source code for insecure practices, hardcoded credentials, or input validation issues. Assess server and database configurations for vulnerabilities.
Reporting	The findings are compiled into a detailed report that includes: Identified vulnerabilities, their severity, and proof of exploitation. Business impact of the vulnerabilities. Actionable recommendations to address the identified risks.
Retesting	After vulnerabilities are addressed, retesting is conducted to ensure remediation efforts are successful and no residual risks remain.