Dynamic web pages display content that updates regularly, catering to frequently changing information such as news, weather, and stock prices. These pages adapt their content based on the user while maintaining a consistent layout and design. Unlike simpler static web pages, dynamic ones are more susceptible to cyberattacks due to their interactive features. Their allowance for user-generated content and real-time updates makes them prime targets for cybercriminals. Conducting regular penetration testing on dynamic web pages is essential to safeguard your site from potential threats and ensure its functionality and integrity.
Read on to understand the relationship between dynamic pages and pen tests, including key focus areas.
What Is Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing is the practice of simulating attacks on a system in an attempt to gain access to sensitive data. The attacks help uncover vulnerabilities in the target system, which cybercriminals could exploit. It is a crucial security practice that informs organizations whether remediation measures are needed to secure a system.
Key Areas of Focus in Penetration Testing for Dynamic Web Pages
Here are some of the areas of focus when undertaking penetration testing for dynamic web pages:
Input Validation
Performing a pen test determines the safety of user inputs. When input validation is inadequate, attackers can use HTTP requests to inject malicious data into the vulnerable web page. During a pen test, attempts can be made with all available inputs to determine how well the application validates input. This process may also seek to access unauthorized data, tamper with database queries, and inject JavaScript.
Authentication and Authorization
Penetration testing for dynamic web pages can also ensure only the right people are accessing certain areas. The pen tester may use brute force attacks to determine login security and ensure strong password policies and account lockout mechanisms. They may also check for weak or default user names and passwords and verify the implementation of multi-factor authentication.
Session Management
A pen test is also critical for maintaining user states. The pen tester may use session hijacking to determine whether session IDs are regenerated after login and verify that sessions expire after a period of inactivity or when the user logs out. They can also verify secure and HTTP-only flags on cookies while ensuring proper scoping of cookies.
Data Exposure and Leakage
During the pen test, a tester can scan for sensitive data exposed in source code such as HTML, JavaScript, and comments. They can also test for SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other injection flaws that might allow data extraction. The tester can also look for vulnerabilities that allow access to restricted directories and files.
Business Logic Flaws
Business logic flaws (BLFs) are vulnerabilities in designing and implementing an application’s business rules. The pen test’s goal is to ensure the site works as intended without loopholes. During the penetration testing process, you can attempt actions as different user roles to see if there are any role-based access control (RBAC) failures. You can also bypass steps in workflows to determine whether actors can implement workflow manipulations.
Security Misconfiguration
This involves identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities caused by improperly configured security settings. The pen tester can check for misconfigurations and exploit them to gain unauthorized access. For example, you can look for misconfigured file permissions that allow unauthorized access or modification. You can also identify systems running outdated and vulnerable software versions or fix settings to determine whether it will lead to security holes.
Penetration Testing Methodologies for Dynamic Web Pages
Here are the three primary penetration testing methodologies for dynamic web pages:
Automated Scanning
Automated penetration testing is a security scanning method that uses tools such as OWASP Zap and Burp Suite to expose vulnerabilities automatically. This is much faster and often less costly compared to manual pen tests. The tools are also highly efficient, allowing you to gain valuable insights at a low cost.
Manual Testing
Expert pen testers manually check for vulnerabilities in your dynamic web pages through manual penetration testing. Although slower and more costly than automated scanning, manual pen testing provides a more thorough assessment of the page’s security since it is undertaken by experienced specialists. It can also expose sophisticated vulnerabilities and attacks that automated tests may not find.
Fuzz Testing
Fuzz testing is an automated method that involves injecting unexpected or random data into a system to identify vulnerabilities. During the test, a fuzzing tool introduces these inputs and monitors the system for crashes, failures, or information leakage.
Code Review
Code review is a methodological assessment of code to find hidden vulnerabilities and ensure adherence to coding standards. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities that allow attackers to inject HTML codes into the web page and ensure proper encoding of user inputs to mitigate the injection of malicious scripts.
Importance of Penetration Testing for Dynamic Web Pages
Dynamic pages are prone to all sorts of vulnerabilities, from SQL injection attacks, cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgery, data leakage, and security misconfigurations. Here is the importance of penetration testing for dynamic web pages:
Protecting Sensitive Data
Dynamic pages frequently handle sensitive data such as user credentials, personal information, and financial details. Pen testing helps identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to this data. Testing ensures that encryption protects user and business data during transmission, preventing interception and unauthorized access.
Maintaining User Trust
Regular pen testing helps you identify and fix security weaknesses proactively. This step helps maintain a website’s integrity and reliability, which is crucial for user trust.
Compliance
Penetration testing helps ensure dynamic web pages comply with these regulations, avoiding legal penalties. It effectively demonstrates to regulators and stakeholders that your organization is actively managing and mitigating security risks.
Identifying Weak Points
The overall goal of pen tests is to find and fix vulnerabilities before attackers do. It offers a comprehensive view of the security posture of dynamic pages, helping prioritize fixes based on the potential impact of identified vulnerabilities.
Improve the Security Posture of Your Dynamic Web Pages With Pen Testing Solutions From Trava
As mentioned, dynamic web pages often interact with databases and process user inputs, making them a prime target for cybercriminals. Securing your dynamic web pages with regular penetration testing helps improve your cybersecurity posture and demonstrate compliance with industry regulations.
If you need help with your pen test efforts, Trava can help. We provide tailored compliance and cybersecurity advisory solutions to protect your digital assets and help your organization comply with changing regulations. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.