This guide is a fusion of critical testing checkpoints and the best tools for each category, offering a thorough approach to web application security.
1. Information Gathering
- Gather server version and patch level.
- Enumerate all endpoints of the application.
- Identify application frameworks and libraries.
- Map out the application architecture, including databases and services.
- Discover hidden files or directories.
- Examine comments and metadata in source code for sensitive information.
- Collect error messages for information leakage.
- Identify third-party services (like payment gateways).
- Conduct DNS enumeration for subdomains and related hosts.
- Assess web application firewalls and other defensive mechanisms.
- Tools: OWASP Amass, Shodan, Maltego.
2. Authentication Testing
- Check for user enumeration vulnerabilities.
- Test password complexity and reset functions.
- Assess CAPTCHA for strength and implementation.
- Evaluate session management after authentication.
- Analyze multi-factor authentication mechanisms.
- Test for user account lockout policies.
- Probe for credential transport over secure channels.
- Verify remember me and auto-login features.
- Inspect social login functionality.
- Attempt to bypass login protocols.
- Tools: Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Hydra.
3. Session Management
- Analyze the security of session tokens.
- Test for session fixation vulnerabilities.
- Check for cross-site request forgery (CSRF).
- Inspect cookie attributes for security flags.
- Evaluate session timeout and user inactivity controls.
- Probe for session hijacking possibilities.
- Test session token randomness.
- Analyze session termination after logout.
- Check for concurrent session handling.
- Test for session puzzling issues.
- Tools: Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Cookie Cadger.
4. Authorization Testing
- Test for horizontal access control issues.
- Probe for vertical access control vulnerabilities.
- Check for insecure direct object references (IDOR).
- Test for missing function-level access controls.
- Evaluate access control mechanisms post-authentication.
- Assess file and resource access permissions.
- Inspect for bypassing access control checks.
- Check for role manipulation possibilities.
- Evaluate user and role enumeration.
- Test for over-privileged users.
- Tools: OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, Nmap with NSE scripts.
5. Input Validation
- Test for SQL Injection in all input fields.
- Check for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities.
- Evaluate for Command Injection flaws.
- Probe for Local File Inclusion (LFI) and Remote File Inclusion (RFI).
- Test for XML External Entity (XXE) attacks.
- Check for email header injection.
- Test for HTTP verb tampering.
- Evaluate input validation on the client and server side.
- Probe for LDAP injection vulnerabilities.
- Assess the security of file uploads.
- Tools: SQLMap, XSSer, W3af.
6. Testing for Misconfigurations
- Check for insecure HTTP methods (like TRACE).
- Probe exposed administrative interfaces.
- Evaluate security headers (like CSP, X-Frame-Options).
- Inspect for verbose error messages revealing sensitive information.
- Check for default accounts and passwords.
- Test for outdated software and patches.
- Evaluate server and application configuration files
- Inspect for unnecessary services running on the server.
- Check for open cloud storage buckets.
- Evaluate CORS configurations for security flaws.
- Tools: Nessus, Nikto, OpenVAS.
7. Cryptography
- Test the strength of SSL/TLS implementations.
- Probe for weak encryption algorithms in use.
- Check for improper certificate validation.
- Evaluate the use of non-repudiation mechanisms.
- Test for sensitive data sent over unencrypted channels.
- Inspect for weak cryptographic storage.
- Check for hardcoded cryptographic keys.
- Evaluate the implementation of digital signatures.
- Test for secure cookie communication over HTTPS.
- Inspect digital certificate expiry and validity.
- Tools: TestSSL.sh, Qualys SSL Labs, CryptCheck.
8. Business Logic Vulnerabilities
- Test for flaws in multi-step processes (e.g., shopping cart).
- Evaluate transaction logic for manipulation.
- Probe for inconsistent application behavior.
- Test for abuse of application logic.
- Check for insufficient process validation.
- Evaluate timing attacks.
- Test for flawed redirect and forward logic.
- Inspect for weaknesses in data export/import features.
- Check for improper implementation of rate limiting.
- Test for abuse of the trust relationship in the application.
- Tools: Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, BeEF.
9. Client-Side Testing
- Test for DOM-based XSS vulnerabilities.
- Check for client-side SQL injection.
- Evaluate HTML5 storage security.
- Test for Cross-Site Request Forgery in AJAX calls.
- Inspect client-side code for sensitive data exposure.
- Check for insecure JavaScript libraries.
- Evaluate CORS policies for client-side requests.
- Test for Clickjacking vulnerabilities.
- Check for WebSockets security.
- Evaluate client-side caching issues.
- Tools: DOMinator, Retire.js, OWASP ZAP.
10. API and Web Services Testing
- Test authentication on REST/SOAP APIs.
- Evaluate authorization checks in APIs.
- Test for SQL injection in API endpoints.
- Check for XML/SOAP injection.
- Evaluate rate limiting on API endpoints.
- Test for JSON/Web token security.
- Inspect API request and response handling.
- Check for insecure direct object references in APIs.
- Evaluate caching mechanisms in APIs.
- Test for API endpoint discovery.
- Tools: Postman, SoapUI, Fiddler.
11. External Service Interaction
- Test for Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF).
- Evaluate interactions with external web services.
- Check for security in third-party integrations.
- Test for data leakage through external services.
- Evaluate webhook security implementations.
- Test for OAuth implementation issues.
- Check for vulnerabilities in microservices architecture.
- Evaluate data validation with external services.
- Inspect for dependency vulnerabilities.
- Test for information leakage in APIs.
- Tools: Burp Collaborator, Postman, OWASP ZAP.
12. Performance and Stress Testing
- Perform load testing to evaluate application performance.
- Conduct stress testing under extreme conditions.
- Test for application behavior under high traffic.
- Evaluate the robustness of the application under stress.
- Check for resource exhaustion vulnerabilities.
- Test for slow denial of service vulnerabilities.
- Evaluate the application’s ability to recover from crashes.
- Test for memory leaks and resource management.
- Check for performance degradation over time.
- Test for scalability issues.
- Tools: Apache JMeter, LoadRunner, Gatling.
13. Compliance and Reporting
- Ensure compliance with standards like OWASP, PCI DSS, HIPAA.
- Prepare detailed reports of vulnerabilities found.
- Include risk assessment and impact analysis in reports.
- Recommend mitigation and remediation strategies.
- Document testing methodologies and tools used.
- Ensure legal compliance in testing methods.
- Regularly update security policies and procedures.
- Facilitate awareness and training based on findings.
- Implement a process for continuous monitoring and assessment.
- Foster a culture of security within the organization.
- Tools: Nessus, Metasploit Pro, Dradis.
Conclusion
This guide provides a structured and detailed approach for web application penetration testing, combining essential tests with key tools. Adapting these practices and tools to the specific context of each application is vital for effective security.
