Service
Web Application Penetration Testing
Security assessment of web applications against the OWASP Testing Guide and PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard). We evaluate authentication, authorization, injection vulnerabilities, business logic flaws, and API security across your entire application stack.
What We Test
Web application testing evaluates the implementation of your technology stack — whether MEAN, LAMP, WAMP, or any other combination of platform, application logic, database, and presentation layer.
Authentication & Session
Authentication & Session Management
Assessment of login mechanisms, session token handling, password policies, account lockout, and multi-factor authentication implementations. Identifies weaknesses that could allow unauthorized access to user accounts.
- Login brute-force and credential stuffing resistance
- Session token entropy and predictability
- Session fixation and hijacking vectors
- Token storage and expiration handling
Authorization
Authorization & Access Control
Testing for broken access control — one of the most common and critical web application vulnerabilities. We verify that users can only access resources and actions they are authorized for, and that privilege escalation is not possible.
- Horizontal and vertical privilege escalation
- Insecure direct object references (IDOR)
- Missing function-level access control
- Role and permission boundary enforcement
Injection
Input Validation & Injection
Manual and automated testing for injection vulnerabilities across all input vectors. Injection flaws remain among the most severe vulnerabilities in the OWASP Top 10, enabling data theft, authentication bypass, and full system compromise.
- SQL injection (in-band, blind, time-based)
- Cross-site scripting (XSS) — reflected, stored, DOM-based
- Command injection and OS-level execution
- XML injection, LDAP injection, and template injection
Business Logic
Business Logic Vulnerabilities
Automated scanners miss business logic flaws entirely — they require manual analysis of how the application is designed to work versus how it can be manipulated. We analyze workflows, state machines, and application-specific logic for exploitable flaws.
- Workflow bypass and sequence manipulation
- Price and quantity manipulation
- Race conditions and time-of-check/time-of-use flaws
- Mass assignment and parameter pollution
API Security
API Security Testing
REST and GraphQL API endpoints are a common attack surface. We test API authentication, authorization enforcement, input validation, rate limiting, and data exposure in API responses.
- Broken object-level authorization (BOLA/IDOR)
- Excessive data exposure in API responses
- Missing authentication on sensitive endpoints
- GraphQL introspection and batching attacks
Client-Side
Client-Side Security
Review of client-side controls, JavaScript security, browser security headers, CORS policy, and CSRF protections. Client-side vulnerabilities are often overlooked but can be highly impactful.
- CORS policy misconfiguration
- CSRF protection effectiveness
- Content Security Policy (CSP) evaluation
- Sensitive data exposure in JavaScript and HTML
Methodology
Web application assessments follow the OWASP Testing Guide and are conducted within the PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard) engagement framework. Manual testing is the core — automated scanning alone produces too many false positives and misses logic flaws entirely.
Phase 1
Reconnaissance & Application Mapping
Passive and active reconnaissance of the target application: crawling the application structure, identifying all endpoints, parameters, and input vectors. We build a comprehensive map of the attack surface before testing any individual component.
Phase 2
Automated Scanning
Automated vulnerability scanning with tools such as Burp Suite Pro to identify known vulnerability patterns quickly. Automated findings are manually triaged — false positives are removed, and true positives are verified before inclusion in the report.
Phase 3
Manual Testing & Exploitation
The core of the assessment. Manual testing of all identified attack vectors using OWASP Testing Guide techniques. We attempt to exploit vulnerabilities to demonstrate real impact — not just flag theoretical issues.
Phase 4
Business Logic Testing
Manual analysis of application workflows, state transitions, and business rules. This phase requires understanding how the application is designed to work, then systematically testing each assumption for exploitable deviations.
Phase 5
Reporting
A comprehensive written report documenting all findings with evidence, CVSS risk scores, and specific remediation guidance. Findings are categorized by OWASP category where applicable, making them easier to assign to development teams.
After Delivery
Post-Test Debrief
A video call walkthrough of findings with your development and security team. We explain root causes, discuss remediation approaches, and help prioritize the remediation backlog based on risk and effort.
What You Receive
Every web application penetration test engagement includes a comprehensive written report and post-test debrief session.
Executive Summary
Non-technical overview for leadership: what was tested, overall risk posture, key findings by severity, and top remediation priorities.
Technical Findings
Detailed documentation of each vulnerability with evidence (screenshots, request/ response captures), CVSS v3 score, OWASP category, and affected endpoints.
Remediation Guidance
Specific, actionable fix recommendations for each finding — including code-level guidance where applicable. Not generic advice.
Risk Prioritization
Findings organized by severity (Critical, High, Medium, Low, Informational) so your team can address the most impactful issues first.
Retest Guidance
Recommendations for which findings to verify after remediation, and what evidence constitutes a successful fix.
Post-Test Debrief
Video call walkthrough with your development team — explaining findings, answering questions, and helping prioritize the remediation effort.
Legal Authorization Required
If you are testing a third-party application, SaaS platform, or application hosted on cloud infrastructure you do not own, additional authorization from the platform provider may be required. We can help you navigate these requirements.
Concerned About Your Web Application's Security?
Web applications are a primary attack vector. A professional assessment identifies vulnerabilities before they become incidents.
Request a QuoteQuestions? Email jon@virtuscybersecurity.com