What is website penetration testing?
Website penetration testing (Penetration Testing or Pentest) is a simulated, controlled and legitimate attack on your systems that is carried out with your written permission. Its goal is to find security vulnerabilities before a real attacker discovers them. The output of the penetration test is a detailed report of the vulnerabilities, the level of risk of each and a specific solution for their correction.
The difference between penetration testing and automated scanning is that scanners only check for known patterns; But a penetration tester thinks like an attacker, chaining together vulnerabilities and finding flaws that no tool would detect on its own.
Why Every Online Business Needs Penetration Testing?
Customer data protection: Leaking user information can destroy brand trust forever.
Prevent financial loss: The cost of remediating a successful attack is usually several times the cost of prevention.
Legal and contractual requirements: Many organizations, payment gateways and enterprise customers consider the security assessment report mandatory.
Assurance before release: Penetration testing before launching a new system or version minimizes the risk of security bug release.
What parts are checked in penetration testing?
Web Application penetration test based on OWASP Top 10
The OWASP Top 10 list is the global reference for the most common and dangerous web vulnerabilities. Everything on this list, from incomplete access control to security misconfigurations, is checked manually with tools like Burp Suite and OWASP ZAP.
API and Endpoints security testing
Many applications today communicate with the server through an API, and the API is often the weakest link. Authentication, rate limiting, access to other users' data (IDOR) and input validation are checked on all endpoints.
Verification of authentication and authorization
Login process, password recovery, session management and user access levels are tested to make sure that no user can access information or facilities beyond their access level.
SQL Injection and XSS testing
Code injection into the database (SQL Injection) and execution of malicious script in the user's browser (XSS) are among the oldest but still the most common attacks. All site inputs, from forms to URL parameters, are tested in this way.
Review of Business Logic Flaws
Flaws in business logic, such as the possibility of buying at a manipulated price or using a discount code multiple times, are not detected by any scanner and only discovered by human analysis. This section often contains the most valuable findings of a penetration test.
Methodology and steps of penetration testing in Netanik
Our work is based on the OWASP Testing Guide and PTES standard methodologies:
1. Determining the scope and contract (Scoping)
The exact scope of testing, authorized systems, timing and work rules shall be agreed upon in writing. Penetration testing is not performed without the written permission of the system owner.
2. Gathering information (Reconnaissance)
System structure, used technologies, subdomains and attack surface are identified.
3. Identification and controlled exploitation
Vulnerabilities are identified and verified in a controlled manner to ensure they are real, without harming data or service.
4. Standard reporting
The final report includes a management summary, technical description of each vulnerability, risk level based on CVSS, remediation steps and detailed remediation strategy.
5. Retest
After your technical team fixes the issues, reported items will be reviewed to ensure they are fully resolved.
Types of penetration testing based on access level
Black Box: Testing without any prior information, exactly from the perspective of an outside attacker.
Gray Box: Testing with the access of a normal user; The most common and cost-effective mode.
White Box: Testing with access to documentation and source code; The most in-depth review.
For which systems is penetration testing necessary?
Online stores and payment systems, SaaS platforms, mobile applications, enterprise dashboards, and any system that stores users' personal or financial information should be penetration tested at least once a year and after any major change. Penetration testing is part of a complete program Cyber security and it gives the best result when security is included from the beginning Platform design be included
The difference between website penetration testing and security audits and bug bounty
There are three common methods of security assessment that are often confused. A security audit focuses more on reviewing policies, settings, and compliance with standards. The Bug Bounty program invites independent researchers to report vulnerabilities in exchange for a reward. Website penetration testing But it is an in-depth, timed, and scoped assessment conducted by a committed, contracted team, and the output is a complete, actionable report.
For most businesses, website penetration testing is the right place to start; Because it provides a complete and prioritized picture of risks in a limited time.
The most common vulnerabilities discovered in penetration testing
Based on experience with security assessment and inventory projects OWASP Top 10These are the most frequent cases in websites and applications:
Incomplete access control: The ability to view or change the information of other users by changing an identifier in the address or request.
Security misconfigurations: Accessible admin panels, revealing error messages and default settings.
Weakness in authentication: No restrictions on login attempts, weak passwords, or mismanagement of sessions.
Older libraries and plugins: Versions with known and public vulnerabilities.
Injections: SQL Injection, command injection and XSS in inputs that are not validated.
Disclosure of sensitive information: More information returned in API responses than required.
What sections does the website penetration test report include?
The real value of a website penetration test is in its report. A weak report is just a list of the tool's output; A professional report tells your team exactly what to fix, with what priority and how. Netanik reports include these sections:
Management summary: General security situation and the most important risks in non-technical language for managers.
Technical description of each finding: Vulnerability location, discovery method and reproduction steps.
Risk level: Scoring based on the CVSS standard and the real impact on your business.
Documents: Images and related requests and responses for approval.
Correction solution: Specific and actionable advice for the development team.
When should you do a website penetration test?
Before the official launch of a new website, application or system
After major changes in code, infrastructure or adding sensitive features like payments
At least once a year for systems that hold user information
Before working with enterprise customers or connecting to systems that require security reporting
After any security incident to ensure all intrusion routes are closed
Frequently asked questions about penetration testing
How long does a penetration test take?
Depending on the size and complexity of the system, a web penetration test usually takes between one and three weeks. The exact scope will be determined in the scoping session.
Does the penetration test cause the site to fail?
no Tests are conducted in a controlled manner and no malicious methods or Denial of Service (DoS) attacks are used without prior coordination. If needed, testing is done on the trial version (Staging).
What is the difference between penetration testing and vulnerability scanning?
Vulnerability scanning is an automated, shallow check; Penetration testing is an in-depth, human assessment that verifies vulnerabilities and determines their true impact. For a quick initial review you can from Free security scan tool Use netanik.
Will our information remain confidential during the test?
yes All findings and information are treated as confidential and this is stated in the contract and non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
Is the website penetration test done on the original version or the trial version?
Both are possible. Testing on the original version gives the most realistic result and is done with utmost caution. If you have a trial version similar to the original version, riskier tests are performed on it.
Do you help fix vulnerabilities after testing?
yes Netanik's development team can make corrections or work with your technical team to fix issues, and at the end, retesting is done.