Features of Web Application Pentesting

Web application pen testing is an important part of the cybersecurity strategy for companies seeking to protect their data and minimize risks. During the active growth of cyberattacks and information leaks, it is very important for companies to identify vulnerabilities in web applications before hackers can exploit them. In this article, we will consider the main features and approaches to conducting an application penetration test.

What Does a Web Application Pentest Involve?

Penetration testing is a method of assessing the security of an information system, in which an expert simulates the actions of an intruder trying to gain unauthorized access to information. That is, he literally tries to hack it, using the same tools and approaches as a real hacker.

A variety of objects can be pentested – domain controllers, access control systems, wireless networks, etc. Web applications can also be pen tested. Web applications can have a number of specific vulnerabilities that can be checked as part of a pentest.

For example:

• Using weak passwords;
• Various types of injections – a type of attack in which an attacker can inject special code into the application’s web interface form, which will be executed on the server;
• Cross-site scripting (XSS) – a type of attack in which malicious code gets to users’ computers through the web server and is executed there;
• Insecure configurations. For example, using insecure “default” settings, incorrect access settings, etc.;
• Using frameworks and platforms with vulnerabilities for developing web applications;
• Storing forgotten, temporary, unused files, and backups, which may contain sensitive information, in accessible places.

In addition to detecting vulnerabilities, experts can exploit the vulnerabilities found, which will allow a more complete assessment of the consequences of attacks using the vulnerabilities found.

Stages of Web Application Penetration Testing

Web application penetration testing is an important part of security. This process includes a series of stages aimed at identifying vulnerabilities and assessing the resilience of applications to various types of attacks. Let’s take a look at them.

Main stages:

• Test planning and initial reconnaissance. The scope, objectives, and methods of testing are determined. The versions of services and applications, the equipment used, open ports, and other information that will be used in subsequent stages are determined;
• Scanning and attempting to gain access. Direct attacks are carried out on the web application to identify vulnerabilities with an attempt to exploit the vulnerabilities found;
• Maintaining access. An attempt to ensure permanent presence in the operated system by exploiting the vulnerabilities found or installing additional malware;
• Analysis of the pentest results and preparation of a report.

Scanning and attempting to gain access includes the following types of work:

• Collecting information about the web application from open sources;
• Researching account management processes, including the ability of an attacker to obtain a list of active accounts;
• Researching the processes of checking input data (XSS, various types of injections);
• Researching error management processes;
• Researching the technologies used to encrypt traffic (can an attacker decrypt traffic or not);
• Researching the possibility of downloading malicious files, and gaining access to other people’s accounts;
• Researching authentication and authorization processes, including the ability to intercept login/password and bypass the authentication process;
• Researching session management processes, including the ability to reuse cookies and intercept a session;
• Researching the processes of checking input data (XSS, various types of injections);
• Researching the business logic of the web application;
• Identifying vulnerabilities relevant to the web application;
• Studying the architecture of the web application (what technologies are used, what functionality is present);
• Research of possible attack vectors of intruders taking into account information about the architecture of the web application;

Methods For Penetration Testing Web Applications

There are several methods for pen testing, each with its characteristics and approaches.

1. White box.

The expert receives maximum administrator access to the tested IT resources, as well as full information about the functionality, structure of the application, and its source codes.

2. Black box.

Only publicly available information is provided to the expert, for example, only an IP address, while the expert must try to obtain other information independently.

3. Gray box.

This is a combination of the previous two options with fikfap, in which the information provided is determined by the tasks facing the testing.

In addition, there are two main approaches to determining how the tested application reacts to intrusion attempts:

• Static analysis (SAST) – checking the application code.
• Dynamic analysis (DAST) – checking the application in working order.

The choice of one or another testing method is determined by the testing tasks.

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Penetration Testing Software

Web application testing software can be divided into manual, automated, and automatic testing tools, specialized and universal tools.

Among the most popular specialized software for manual and automated vulnerability search:

• Nmap utility – configures scanning of an extended number of IP objects being checked, determines the state of subnets of the scanned area, including ports and other services, supports various operating systems, regardless of the version;
• Nessus tool – for automatic detection of system vulnerabilities, this application has open source code according to the General Public License principle;
• KaliLinux distribution – specialized settings, a set of tools, as well as system applications for penetration testing;
• THC Hydra utility – brute force of various services, including web applications;
• Burp Suite utility – a tool for pentesting, including the brute force of web forms;
• OWAS ZAP – a specialized tool for testing web applications;
• WPSeku utility – a WordPress testing tool;
• Metasploit framework;
• Penetration testing framework;
• Others.

The choice of one or another tool is individual and is determined for each pentest separately. Based on the testing results, a pentest report is prepared, which provides detailed information about the vulnerabilities detected, and a quantitative assessment of their danger. It also determines the methods by which they were detected, how they can be used by an attacker and specific recommendations for their elimination.

Final Thoughts

Web application pentesting is a necessary tool for identifying and eliminating vulnerabilities in modern digital resources. Understanding the specifics of this process helps companies more effectively protect their applications from potential threats. If you are looking for a reliable web application pen-testing service provider, we recommend paying attention to ImmuniWeb.