Web Application Penetration Testing

A web application penetration test is a type of ethical hacking engagement designed to assess the architecture, design and configuration of web applications. Assessments are conducted to identify cyber security risks that could lead to unauthorised access and/or data exposure.

Redscan web application penetration testing is performed by a team of CREST CCT APP certified professionals that have a deep understanding of the latest tactics and techniques that adversaries use to compromise web applications.

The information needed to help scope a web application security test typically includes the number and types of web applications to be tested, number of static and dynamic pages, number of input fields and whether the test will be authenticated or unauthenticated (where login credentials are unknown/known).

Penetration testing for web applications not only requires knowledge of the latest web application security testing tools but also a deep understanding of how to use them most effectively. To assess web app security, ethical hackers leverage a range of specialist tools. These range from specialist pen testing platforms (such as Cobalt Strike, Metasploit Pro and Kali Linux), to networking tools (such as Wireshark), and custom-developed tools and exploits written using Python, Java and PowerShell.

The time it takes an ethical hacker to complete a web application penetration test depends on the scope of the test. Factors influencing the duration include the number and type of web apps assessed, plus the number of static or dynamic pages and input fields.

Web application pen testing can be highly beneficial for your business if you develop proprietary web applications in-house or use an app provided by third party vendors. It can help to reduce the financial and reputational costs of a security weakness being uncovered in your app after it’s gone to market or has been shared with your customers. While web application pen testing provides many advantages, your business may benefit from other types of security assessments. Depending on your organisation’s specific requirements, other types of assessments include mobile application security testing, agile pen testing, cloud penetration testing and scenario-based testing. A good offensive security provider should be able to advise you on the most appropriate choice of assessment for your organisation.

While web app pen testing focuses on identifying security vulnerabilities in applications, network penetration testing, also known as infrastructure penetration testing, aims to identify cyber security vulnerabilities that could be used to compromise on-premises and cloud environments. Unlike web app testing, which looks at the app environment and the setup process, network pen testing looks at potential issues inside and outside an organisation’s network perimeter.

Web app pen testing focuses specifically on identifying security vulnerabilities in web applications while vulnerability scanning is an automated approach that aims to provide a broader overview of potential security risks, looking at aspects areas such as networks, servers, routers, mobile devices, websites and network applications. As a subset of vulnerability assessments, automated vulnerability scans are run via commercial scanner services or platforms on network infrastructure or application components.

After each web application security test, the ethical hacker(s) assigned to the test will produce a custom written report, detailing any weaknesses identified, associated risk levels and recommended remedial actions.

The cost of a web application penetration test is determined by the number of days it takes an ethical hacker to fulfil the agreed scope of the engagement. To receive a pen test quotation, your organisation will need to complete a pre-evaluation questionnaire, although Redscan’s experts can support you with this.