Website Penetration

Websites are a crucial business tool that most organizations use. The major parts of the website include the web server and the database. A web server allows websites to understand and execute commands. The database has all the information regarding the website like IP address and network type.

The URL that we see in the search bar translates into an IP address using the DNS whenever we search anything. Upon the program execution, the results come in HTML for the computer to understand. The user sending the web shell needs to use a server and not a personal computer.

Another important thing to remember while handling website security is the difference between client-side language and server-side language. Javascript is the common language that clients use during code execution. Attacking a website is just like attacking a computer.

The reason is simple – websites are installed on a computer system. The tools we have seen in previous blogs work for website penetration as well. The attack can be from the server-side using the OS or from the client’s side by hacking the admin office.

Importance of Web App Pen Testing

• Identification of potential vulnerabilities.
• Security Policies checkup.
• Component testing like firewalls and routers.
• Identification of the most vulnerable route of attack.
• Tracking loopholes in the system if any.
• Building a secure system for users.
• Data protection and authentication.

Web Penetration Testing Methodology

The security industry guidelines for website penetration testing refers to the methodology of this process. These methodologies are developed by top agencies for standardizing the process of pen-testing. But there are no particular methodologies for just website applications. Users can refer to the ones below for this process.

• Open Web Application Security Project
• Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual
• Penetration Testing Framework
• Information Systems Security Assessment Framework
• Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard

Following these standards is one of the major responsibilities of pen testers. Some other responsibilities include – thorough research, confidentiality, and more.

Read about the responsibilities of a pen tester in detail here.

Website Pen Test Scenarios

• Cross-Site Scripting
• SQL Injection
• Broken authentication
• Session management
• File Upload flaws
• Caching Servers Attacks
• Security Misconfigurations
• Cross-Site Request Forgery
• Password Cracking

Types of Web Penetration Testing

1. Internal Penetration Testing

This type of pen testing takes place within the organization using the Local Area Network hosted on the intranet. This is mainly to identify vulnerabilities within the corporate firewall. This is not very effective for attacks from outsiders. It prepares companies for threats coming from insiders who are aware of internal security policies and passwords.

2. External Penetration Testing

This type of pen testing is done using the internet outside of the organization. The testers impersonate hackers to break into the network without any internal system knowledge. The only thing that they know is the IP address. They test the strength of servers, firewalls, and IDS.

Read about more types of pen testing like Black box, Grey Box, and White Box here.

Web Pen Testing Approach/ Website Pen-Testing Steps

1. Planning Phase

This phase also refers to the reconnaissance phase where the main purpose is to collect information about the target website. The type of interaction with the target system decides the reconnaissance type as well.

The process starts with defining the scope of the test. Some data comes from the organizations like web architecture, integration points, etc. They should also have a basic understanding of protocol and standards.

The next point should be to determine the success criteria of the process. Will the model you have in mind work for the organization? It should get approval from the management before you begin.

Go through the results of the previous testing and see if there is a pattern. It will allow you to understand if the company is falling into the same pit again. The last objective should be to understand the environment of the website. This includes the browser they use, standards, firewalls, etc.

Passive Reconnaissance involves gathering information from online sources with any direct communication with the target. While Active Reconnaissance allows information gathering from the target system directly. Some common ways/tools of collecting information are –

a. Fingerprinting the web application – this includes collecting information regarding scripting language, server software version, and OS of the server. Hackers usually use the Nmap tool for this purpose.

b. Network Scanner – scanning the network allows you to get information about web applications available on the internet. This includes geolocation, open port numbers, server software, and more. Shodan is a known name for this type of network scanner.

c. DNS Forward And Reverse Lookup – this tool is for creating associations between subdomains and their respective IP addresses. Burp Suite has all the advanced features for this purpose.

d. DNS Zone Transfer – this is for identifying DNS servers and then using the “dig” command for zone transfer.

e. Related External Sites – the next step is to discover related external websites to track the traffic flow between them. Burpsuite again is the go-to choice for this step.

f. Inspect HEAD and OPTIONS HTTP requests – This step will get information about web server software and version. Tools like Burp Suite can intercept this information just by going to the website.

g. Error pages – this step allows in identifying the website environment and get honest feedback about the same. The simple way to do this is to change the URL a bit leading to a 404 not found error. This forum will provide information about the server and its version.

h. Source code – Information from the source code will get us an insight into the overall working of the website. This will become useful later in identifying vulnerability.

i. Documenting – This is just to maintain a record of all the information for future reference. This should be done at the end of every phase for better flow.

2. Attacks/Execution Phase

The testers should be more flexible while running the pen test. They should try doing it with different user roles. This is to identify the system’s reaction to users having different privileges.

The success criteria we saw above are relevant here as well. Testers must have an idea about how they will handle the exploit found. By following the scope, they should create a framework for tackling the problem.

After running the test, like said before, making a report is very important. This is what the security team will get for maintaining records. The report should have details about vulnerabilities, the methodology, severity, and location.

3. Post Execution Phase

The test is useless if the testers don’t have relevant suggestions to overcome the issues. The security team and the tester should sit together and discuss remediation to avoid threats. Involving the upper management can also ensure proper discussion.

Then the tester should apply them to the website and retest the vulnerabilities. This will validate the process and ensure the security of the website.

Lastly, like professional hackers, testers should clean their path. All the settings changes, files they accessed, and information they gather should become invisible. For the company, the website should look untouched.

Ensure that the company takes analysis into account for the long term. The team can learn a lot from this while formulating strategies in the future. This is one of the major steps after completing the pen test.

Why are web application pen tests performed?

1. Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)

This is a set of guidelines that developers create for the success of software under development. It has steps for making the software more convenient for the users. They also make it cost-effective by considering all these things.

Testing for such software allows developers to identify loopholes that may cause problems later. Handling them at the operational level can save a lot of resources and assure its success.

2. Programming Mistakes

The developers might make small programming mistakes during the coding process. But this small mistake is what hackers exploit to gain access. Pen testing allows the identification of such open points and ways to correct them.

3. Requirements

Delay in solving the problem leads to technical debt. To avoid such a situation, Pen testing becomes a less expensive way to find defects in the program. Patching it at the right time is what the purpose of the process is.

4. Web Application Firewalls

Many developers believe that having just a web application firewall is enough for web security. But it is not enough. Hackers often use the data from these firewalls to find loopholes in the application. This is why regular pen testing can allow firewall administrators to find weaknesses before time and update the system for security.

Areas of Pen Testing

Web Applications are just of the areas of pen-testing. It works efficiently for –

• Network Security – identifying vulnerabilities in a network.
• Cloud Security Tests – test cloud-based systems and applications.
• IoT Security Tests – testing IoT devices and their components to identify weaknesses.
• Social Engineering – using deception to get information access of any company.

Conclusion

The process of pen testing is very important for cybersecurity. It has proven effective for system security, network security, and even web application security. The process may differ for all of them slightly but the techniques remain the same.

Having regular audits and checks can keep the security of the organization strong. Above we saw multiple benefits for doing it with the explanation of the entire process. Refer to it if you are a beginner or a manager looking to secure their website.