Web Application Penetration Testing
Ensure your web applications are secure and resilient against cyber threats
Protect your digital assets and ensure robust cyber security compliance
Web applications (apps) are one of the most common types of software in use today. Due to their complexity and ubiquity, web apps represent a unique challenge to the security posture of any organisation.
For rigorous assurance, we test web applications using the methodology outlined in the Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS). This ensures appropriate depth and breadth of testing is achieved when assessing the security posture of your web application.
Our web application penetration testing services
Our penetration testing experts employ a combination of manual and automated techniques to thoroughly assess the security of your web applications. We tailor our approach to match your specific environment and risk profile, ensuring that all potential vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated. Our services include:
In-depth vulnerability assessment
We evaluate your web applications against the latest threat vectors, including OWASP Top 10 and other industry standards.
Customised exploitation testing
We simulate potential attacks to understand how they might affect your business operations.
Detailed reporting and remediation guidance
Our findings are compiled into a detailed report, complete with prioritised recommendations for addressing vulnerabilities
Post-testing support
We offer ongoing support to help you implement recommended changes and improve your cyber security maturity.
Benefits of Web Application Penetration Testing
Web applications are the face of most organisations and will continue to be at the core of business operations for the foreseeable future. Web application penetration tests can be complex engagements and require skilled penetration testers to meet the objectives.
- Web application penetration tests seek to identify and address security vulnerabilities before malicious attackers discover them.
- The most serious web application vulnerabilities can expose highly sensitive information or provide unauthorised and unrestricted access to business resources. It is the job of a penetration tester to identify these vulnerabilities and provide comprehensive reporting and remediation advice to help protect the security of your customers.
- Web application tests assure stakeholders, third-party suppliers or customers that the application is secure.
- Penetration testing can also be a means of achieving compliance with various regulatory frameworks or standards, for example, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Why work with us?
Specialist expertise
Our cyber security experts hold multiple vendor certifications and accreditations as well as highly respected industry accreditations from CREST, the PCI SSC, ISC2, BCI, Chartered Institute of IT, and NCSC CHECK.
Continuous assurance
Our cyber security experts detected over 15,500 vulnerabilities through penetration testing during 2023.
Everywhere you are
Operating in over 55 countries, with more than 250 dedicated cyber security specialists and over 300 highly qualified information security auditors across the world, we can provide a local service with a globally consistent dedication to excellence.
Award winners
We have been recognised for the breadth and depth of our services – including the TEISS Award for Best Penetration Testing Service in 2024, Enterprise Threat Detection and Cloud Security awards at the Security Excellence Awards 2024 and the Stratus Award for Best Managed Cloud Security Service.
Our approach to web app penetration testing
Technical delivery
Both breadth and depth of findings must be achieved during tests. Therefore, we use a combination of manual and automated tools and techniques throughout each engagement. The toolsets used vary from well-configured off-the-shelf software to custom-made tools, depending on the task. We utilise a methodology that moves from initial discovery exercises through to in-depth exploitation:
- Reconnaissance and threat intelligence gathering
- Enumeration
- Vulnerability discovery
- Exploitation
- Post exploitation
Once the full attack surface of a web application has been mapped, we proceed to probe for vulnerabilities. Design, implementation and operational vulnerabilities are all analysed and exploited in a standard web application penetration test.
Understanding web application functionality
Understanding each web application’s functionality from an end user’s perspective is and allows flaws to be uncovered that are often missed by others. Each engagement is unique, and we ensure priority is given to those flaws that directly affect the primary security concerns described by your organisation ahead of the test.
It is not uncommon that we uncover methods of remote code execution and advanced data exfiltration, even in commercial off-the-shelf web applications. LRQA specialises in identifying application attack chains; it is often the case that the overall impact of a series of flaws is greater than the sum of its parts.
Reporting and output
Each web application penetration test needs to result in clear and actionable output. We deliver a management report and a technical report at the end of each engagement. The management report is designed to be consumed by a C-suite audience and describes the engagement in terms of risk. The technical report is typically a longer document that describes each finding in detail, along with appropriate remedial advice. These reports are subjected to a rigorous quality assurance process before final delivery.
At the request of the client ahead of the engagement, we can tailor the web application penetration testing output in many ways to meet your specific requirements.
Remedial advice
LRQA’s web application penetration testers all have robust programming abilities and typically have professional developer backgrounds. This ensures that the advice given, and the tests performed are useful and relevant.
We provide robust and actionable remedial advice for all levels of vulnerability. Our experts are available, both during and after the engagement, to provide in-depth guidance based on years of unique experience.
Debriefs and beyond
We believe that it is important to ensure that full comprehension of the engagement has been achieved. All web application penetration testing engagements come with a debrief or ‘readout’ as standard. The reports will be delivered in advance of the debrief to give time for the organisation to digest the content and formulate any questions or thoughts ahead of time.
The world leader in CREST accreditations
We are proud to be the only organisation in the world with a full suite of CREST accreditations. (CREST – The Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers). Our team of consultants have achieved the highest accreditations for Penetration Testing, Red Teaming, Incident Response services and Threat Intelligence. In addition, we were also the first organisation to be CREST accredited for our Security Operation Centre services.
Providing Security Testing to a leading UK financial investment company
This client had previously experienced a high number of vulnerabilities, from which LRQA was able to help. The services implemented provided the client with a proactive and threat-led approach; informed by our offensive and threat intelligence teams to protect against the latest industry threats.
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