Black Hat Defense
Web Application Penetration Testing
Web Penetration Testing: Critical for Secure Applications
Black Hat Defense leads the industry in web application penetration testing, identifying vulnerabilities in a range of programming languages and environments.
From webapps in highly scalable AWS environments to legacy apps in traditional infrastructure, out security experts have helped secure data across the world.
With dozens of zero-day vulnerabilities disclosed and our research circulating on national news outlets, we consistently prove our commitment to top-notch security testing.
Identifying Vulnerabilities in Web Applications and APIs
Web applications play a critical role in today’s digital landscape, handling everything from financial transactions to personal healthcare information. However, as they grow more complex and interconnected with APIs, they become more vulnerable to security flaws and human error. These weaknesses can lead to serious security breaches if not addressed. Cybersecurity experts constantly discover new ways to exploit these vulnerabilities, putting your sensitive data at risk.
To protect your web applications, a proactive approach is essential. By engaging a team of skilled penetration testers to assess your web app's security, you can uncover potential vulnerabilities before they are exploited by attackers. This gives you the opportunity to strengthen your web application and secure your most valuable data.
Manual vs. Automated Penetration Testing for Applications
Automated vulnerability scanners are commonly used for basic security assessments, but they often miss complex and context-specific vulnerabilities. A skilled penetration tester understands the unique logic of an application and can exploit weaknesses that automated tools overlook.
At Black Hat Defense, we use automated scanning tools during the initial phase of an assessment, but the true value comes from our expert engineers. They dive deeper into the application, understanding its user base and security needs to provide a more relevant and effective assessment.
Our Web Penetration Testing Process
At Black Hat Defense, we follow a methodical and repeatable approach to web application testing. This ensures our assessments are thorough, consistent, and of the highest quality. We also make it easy for your team to verify and address any issues we find, both during and after the testing process. Our process involves the following key steps:
01
Define Scope
Before starting a web application assessment, Black Hat Defense works closely with your team to clearly define the scope of the project. Open communication is crucial to ensure that both parties understand the objectives and limitations of the test. During this stage, we will:
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Identify which applications or domains will be tested.
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Exclude any specific pages or subdomains if needed.
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Set a testing schedule, considering time zones and availability.
03
Enumeration
In this phase, we use automated tools and manual techniques to dig deeper into potential weaknesses. Our engineers analyze any attack vectors that could be exploited later. The results of this enumeration guide the next steps in the testing process. Activities may include:
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Identifying directories and subdomains.
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Investigating cloud services for misconfigurations.
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Mapping known vulnerabilities to the application’s software and services.
05
Reporting
After completing the assessment, we compile a detailed report of our findings. This report includes:
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A high-level summary of the overall risk, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses in the application’s security.
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Strategic recommendations to help business leaders make informed decisions.
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A technical breakdown of each vulnerability, explaining the testing process and providing remediation steps for your IT team.
We ensure that our reports are comprehensive, clear, and easy to follow, making the remediation process as smooth as possible.
02
Information Gathering
Our team of engineers conducts an extensive information-gathering phase using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools and techniques. By collecting as much data as possible about the target, we gain valuable insights into your system’s vulnerabilities. Information gathered may include:
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Files like PDFs, DOCXs, or XLSXs exposed through Google.
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Data from previous breaches or credential leaks.
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Forum posts from developers that might reveal sensitive details.
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Misconfigured or exposed files such as robots.txt.
04
Attack and Penetration
Once vulnerabilities have been identified, our team carefully launches attacks to verify their exploitability. We prioritize protecting your data and systems while confirming the presence of security flaws. Examples of attacks include:
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SQL injection or Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).
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Using compromised credentials and brute force tools to test authorization mechanisms.
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Monitoring the web application for insecure protocols or functions.
06
Remediation Testing
If requested, Black Hat Defense can reassess your application after vulnerabilities have been patched. We will verify that the issues have been properly resolved and update our findings to reflect the improved security state of your web app.
