Web Application Penetration Testing

Web Application Penetration Testing has become more than just important—it’s absolutely vital. Cyber threats have seen a significant upswing in recent years (Driven by many factors), making the implementation of robust security measures no longer a choice but an absolute necessity for any business that wants to keep its user data under wraps.

Web applications often serve as the digital frontline for businesses (and, in many cases, the products the company sells), making them a desirable target for cyber attackers. It’s like an ongoing arms race against capable adversaries—the necessity to discover potential vulnerabilities that might have been missed by developers due to tight deadlines or simple oversight is absolutely critical. Our penetration testing solution can help identify these vulnerabilities before an attacker does.
By ensuring the security of your web applications, you’re safeguarding your sensitive data, such as customer information and proprietary business data, and your company’s reputation.

When your web applications have undergone rigorous Web Application Penetration Testing, you help your business avoid financial losses associated with a potential security breach. In addition to this, it ensures regulatory compliance. Above all, a securely tested web application provides the continuity of business operations and delivers a smooth, reliable experience to the user.

The cost of web app pen testing in the UK can vary widely based on several factors:
Complexity and size of the web application: A larger application with more features and functionalities will require more time and effort to test, increasing the cost.

User roles: An application featuring multiple user roles—such as guest, standard, admin, or super admin—will require significantly more testing time than an application with a single role. This extended timeframe is attributed to the tester’s need to thoroughly examine horizontal and vertical access controls for each distinct role.

Depth of the penetration test: A simple vulnerability assessment will cost less than a deep-dive penetration test that aims to exploit and demonstrate vulnerabilities.

Reputation and experience of the testing firm: Established firms with a strong track record might charge more than smaller or newer firms.

All of these things should be considered before committing to purchasing a penetration test from a firm. Speak to a senior consultant and ask questions to understand how the testers will conduct the assessment.

For a detailed breakdown of the costs of penetration testing. Read our detailed guide “How much does Penetration Testing Cost?“

Web application penetration testing should be considered a regular aspect of any mature software development and maintenance lifecycle. However, there are several key instances when it becomes particularly crucial.

First and foremost, it should be performed before launching any new web application. This allows fixing any vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in the wild. It’s also important to schedule regular tests – at least annually, although ideally every quarter – to check for new vulnerabilities that might arise due to changes to the application or newly discovered threats.

Any significant change to the application’s infrastructure or design should trigger a new web app penetration test. Introducing new features, significant software updates, server migration, or changes in user roles and access controls, for instance, can open up new vulnerabilities that need to be identified and mitigated.

A variety of sophisticated tools are used to ensure the robustness and security of a modern web application. Central to a penetration tester’s toolkit is Burp Suite, a versatile web application security testing tool that is the de facto standard for security testers.

Burp Suite excels in providing automated and manual testing features, facilitating target mapping, and comprehensive attack surface analysis. Penetration Testers use Burp Suite to find XSS, SQL Injection, SSRF, and many other issues. The input from a skilled security professional helps discover, verify, and push each vulnerability to its limits.
To ensure the robustness and security of a modern web application, a penetration tester’s toolkit extends beyond just Burp Suite. Open-source community offerings, such as OWASP ZED Attack Proxy (ZAP), are also widely employed. However, a critical distinction between ZAP and Burp Suite lies in their functionality and user bases. While ZAP is a competent tool, it often requires a more hands-on approach and a deeper understanding of the testing process, making it more suitable for developers and functional testers.

In contrast, Burp Suite, with its balance of automated and manual testing features, is often favoured by professional penetration testers due to its flexibility and the depth of control it provides.