What is the role of penetration testing in web app security?

Manual penetration testing is a key component of developing the attacker mindset in an offensive security program. Working with skilled ethical hackers who can test your software and applications in order to identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited can provide organizations with a clear action plan for remediation.

In my experience, penetration testing is treated as an afterthought and is often done just to tick a box (annually). Several organisations that need it to ensure their digital assets are as resilient as possible, do not understand its relevance, which is sad. There have also been situation where this ignorance is abused and people assume that the vulnerability assessment they did is the same as a penetration test, leading to a false sense of security. Pentests are critical and can unearth zero days, while showing multiple entry points that exist on the application. It must not be done only once a year, but preferably also after any update to the application. This ensures that changes in the application have not increased the vulnerabilities

Penetration testing is definitely one of important activity as part of security assurance. Also recommended to enhance testing to include source code reviews and OS hardening.

My two cents is to make sure you have penetration testers go after an application that mirrors the production environment as close as possible, except without production data, and set up in such a way that it will not affect production systems at all if it goes down. This is also a good practice for a bug bounty program.

It is a method of validation on the control requirements that need to be coded inside the application. It has to be validated in such way to ensure the controls in the compiled codes works during the application run-time.

A complete information security program requires both defensive and offensive elements. You can’t defend well if you don’t know how attackers operate and take advantage of weaknesses in your defensive posture. Offensive security activities that include penetration testing and red teaming are key aspects of a healthy information security program.

I consider penetration testing more valuable to test the controls that are just deployed. After a set of controls are deployed to reduce risk in the environment, it is essential to check if the controls are performing as expected. This gives an opportunity to assess the gaps in the risk. Also, provides an opportunity to finetune the existing controls or add additional controls.

Pentesting is crucial for web app security. But not just for web app security. Every IT component should go through in-depth testing. Also it helps owners and developers gauge risk levels and focus on critical issues. This process aligns with security standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR and so much more, which mandate regular assessments. Beyond compliance, pentesting boosts customer trust and reputation, showing commitment to a secure, reliable service.

Penetration testing is important because it helps web app owners and developers to understand the level of risk they face, and to prioritize the most critical issues. Pentesting can also help to comply with security standards and regulations, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, or GDPR, that require regular security assessments. Moreover, pentesting can improve the trust and reputation of the web app among customers, partners, and stakeholders, who expect a secure and reliable service.

Penetration testing is a part of Red Teaming activities. Bootstrapped, cash strapped and on limited budget organisations, most of the times don’t prefer these specialised pen testers or red team members due to budget constraints. They put the onus on developers for preparing a secured architecture. However, we are humans and we do not find fault in our own work. Well, not purposely but that’s just how we are. But pen testers are the ones whose job is to bring down the house and show you the cracks in your architecture. No amount of automation and vulnerability assessment can be a replacement for pen testing.

If you previously completed a threat model exercise to ensure your application is secure by design, share it with your red team so they can find the gaps between design and implementation. This will make the exercise much more valuable and improve the red team’s efficiency. Also, it serves to improve assurance that known threats have been adequately addressed in addition to finding those that were not previously considered.

To conduct penetration testing, you need to start with planning and reconnaissance to define the test's scope and gather intelligence on the target. Next, use scanning tools to analyze the target's responses to intrusion attempts. The actual testing phase involves attempting to exploit vulnerabilities, either manually or using automated tools. After the test, compile the findings in a detailed report, outlining vulnerabilities, the risks they pose, and recommendations for remediation. Finally, retesting is important to ensure all vulnerabilities have been effectively addressed.

Penetration conducted in two type of process one is Manual and other is automated. For both the process there are set of tools. Also there are three types of penetration testing. 1. Blackbox 2. Whitebox 3. Greybox So basically to conduct penetration testing exercise first phase is “Information gathering “ where penetration tester will gather information like DNS info, coding, API, third party library, credentials, database kind of info. Than next step is to conduct penetration testing and then at the last make a detailed report which includes POC, mitigation strategies and recommendations.

Penetration testing involves these key phases: Planning and Reconnaissance: Define test scope and goals; gather intelligence about the target (network, applications, etc.) Scanning: Use tools to identify open ports and analyze network traffic for potential entry points. Vulnerability Assessment: Identify security weaknesses that could be exploited. Exploitation: Attempt to exploit identified vulnerabilities using tools like Metasploit, Burp, Nmap, etc. Final Analysis and Reporting: Compile a detailed report of exploited vulnerabilities, accessed data, and undetected access duration. Effective penetration testing combines automated and manual methods, with careful planning and a deep understanding of the target environment.

Penetration tests vary depending on the type, the scope, and rules of engagement. Always have written authorization, define a scope and exclusions, and adhere to the rules of engagement. When in doubt, consult the customer. A penetration test will usually start with information gathering/enumeration, identifying vulnerabilities, exploiting vulnerabilities, and reporting. Reports are the most important piece of the test to provide to the customer. The report will summarize the test, explain findings in more technical detail, provide suggested mitigations, and other pertinent information relevant to the test.

Penetration testing types (outside of white,grey,black box the testing): External Testing: Targets visible company assets on the internet, like websites, email servers, aiming to gain access and extract data. Internal Testing: Simulates an insider attack (e.g. stolen credentials), focusing on potential damage from within the company's network. Blind Testing: Provides the tester only with the name of the organization, offering a real-time view of how an actual application assault unfolds. Targeted Testing: Involves cooperation between testers and the security team, offering real-time feedback from a hacker’s POV. Each type offers unique insights and prepares organizations for various attack scenarios, enhancing cybersecurity posture.

There are three types of penetration testing. 1. Black box :- In black box tester test the application without having information and knowledge of the application code, WPI’s and other info. They test the application from outer network not the internal network. Basically tester acts as a hacker having no prior knowledge. 2. White box :- In white box tester have all the information and prior knowledge about the application. They test the application inside the company internal network. 3. Grey box :- Grey box is mix of black box and white box.

In addition to White-, Black-, and Grey-box engagement models, Penetration Testing can further be classified by how they are delivered. While this is often delivered manually by an expert (or a team of experts), the use of automation has increased to expedite the service delivery and cost. The quality of manual penetration testing can vary drastically based on the expertise of the assigned resources (from one that's genuinely able to emulate complex attacks by an advanced adversary to one that's reliant on brute force and low-hanging system weaknesses). In contrast, automated testing can produce fairly consistent (mid-range) results.

3 types of Penetration Testing: 1- Black Box 2- White Box 3- Grey Box Black Box testing simulates a real Cyber-attack. The testing conditions is same as an attacker who has no information about your network will try to break in to your network by exploiting the weakness. White Box testing simulates a cyber-attack where threat actor have gain enormous amount of knowledge about the organization and already have foothold into the network (for e.g. they have domain admin control etc.) Grey Box testing is a combination of black box and white box. You have limited amount of information to conduct the test. Good reconnaissance is the key in Black Box testing where as key in white box testing is to avoid rabbit holes.

Aside from traditional network penetration testing (external/internal) there are many types of penetration testing, but these are the main ones: Web Application Penetration Testing (Webapps) Wireless Penetration Testing (WLANS, WAP) Mobile Penetration Testing (Cell phones, mobile apps, mobile devices) Internet of Things (IoT) (any "Smart" device) Physical Penetration Testing (Building security, doors, locks, sensors, alarms, etc..)

Penetration testing is a dynamic discipline requiring a unique blend of expertise and adaptability. Your points on staying current with evolving threats, maintaining a delicate balance in test depth and breadth, and ensuring precision without causing disruption are crucial. Moreover, effective communication of test results is paramount, bridging the technical and non-technical realms. It's not just a test; it's a strategic dialogue to fortify web app security.

While conducting pen test is, to my opinion a mandatory practice in each development process, we need to be able to articulate how , what is the actual potential to use the exploit found during the penetration testing, so the management can prioritize and allow the development process to continue

Challenges are like false positive check, proper knowledge on various tech stack, should have knowledge on latest vulnerabilities found, syncup with developers team for proper mitigation.

As an internal technology leader, the key challenges are scope and degree of disruption. You want your pen test to be as comprehensive in scope as possible; you also want to minimize disruption to everyday business. These are competing aims, so require rigorous prioritisation and close communication with the red team conducting the pen test.

The main challenges in Penetration Testing are: 1- Scoping and Rules of engagement 2- False Positives 3- Poor reconnaissance 4- Focusing on limited amount of weaknesses 5- Lack of Communication

Penetration testing should be conducted within the development and release cycle for web applications, however forcing penetration testing as a gate to release will, often be met with significant resistance. To improve penetration testing within the development lifecycle and reduce resistance, you can implement a two step methodology: (1) For critical and high severity findings, leverage existing emergency procedures to address the findings within the current sprint. (2) For lower severity findings, leverage a bug tracking system, or pentest platform that integrates with a bug tracking system, to log and prioritize the findings for remediation in subsequent sprints, based on the organization’s risk tolerance.

To improve penetration testing consider the following: Define Objectives and Scope: Clearly establish the test's goals and the systems to be evaluated. Budget Consideration: Allocate resources based on test type and scope. Choose Appropriate Methodology: Select a testing methodology like OSSTMM, OWASP, NIST, ISSAF, or PTES. Expert Pen Testers: Hire experienced testers or external services with domain-specific expertise. Preparation: Prepare the test environment and obtain necessary authorizations. Effective Monitoring: Implement logging and risk management processes. Prioritization of Results: Analyze test results to prioritize and address vulnerabilities. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of new cybersecurity developments and tools.

Penetration testing can be improved by counted as very important step in SDLC process. If a company takes it seriously and make it as an important process it will get improved. Also penetration testers should make some automation scripts to help developers for quick vulnerabilities check. Also every penetration tester should check application from all the verticals, not only depends on owasp and SANS but also check all the parameters like rate limiting, authentication bypassing.

Incentives to any red team effort. Offer them bounties for finding flaws. Also offer training with certification, if internal team, and demand (re)certification if external team.

Mejorar las pruebas de penetración implica mantener conocimientos actualizados, adoptar un enfoque realista, colaborar estrechamente con equipos, usar automatización de manera equilibrada, incluir ingeniería social, realizar evaluaciones continuas, proporcionar formación al personal y generar informes claros y accionables. Estos elementos aumentan la efectividad y relevancia de las pruebas en un entorno cibernético dinámico.

Consider Pentesting as a Service. Not every organization can afford fat cat consultants or take 6 months to wait on tester availability. Platforms that provide access to a community of highly qualified, vetted testers can accelerate your time to findings or augment your own team when you need to surge testing capacity.

Do not confuse pentesting with security testing - one should not come at the expense of the other. Security testing (in many different forms) should happen way earlier in the development lifecycle, finding what it can much closer to development than to deployment. Pentesting should be more of a confirmation that you did what you needed to do than a discovery of all the things you did not do.

Penetration testing is pivotal for web app security. By simulating cyber-attacks, it identifies vulnerabilities, ensuring robust defenses. It aids compliance, vital for sectors like finance and healthcare. Assessing incident response, it refines strategies, reducing impact and downtime. Crucially, in the software development life cycle, it fosters early vulnerability detection, aligning with modern DevSecOps practices. In an ever-evolving threat landscape, penetration testing is not just a best practice; it's a strategic imperative for maintaining trust and integrity in web applications.

The role of application penetration testing is understanding the importance of protection, because testing can proactively address vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of data breaches. Also, gives a fresh perspective and experience to help to identify vulnerabilities, prevent data breaches, protect your reputation,ensure compliance,Improve overall security posture.

The biggest threat, for service-oriented firms at least, is social hacking. So keep your team, particularly leaders, trained and tested in cybersecurity threats. The contextual benefit is their awareness of the importance of pen testing and their tolerance of the disruption it may cause.