I am starting a new role as a Junior Pen Tester and need to build my toolkit. Beyond Burp Suite and OWASP ZAP, what are the must-have tools for modern web app hacking? I’m particularly interested in automated scanners that integrate well with manual testing workflows to find complex vulnerabilities.
3 answers
For a modern web pen test, you should definitely look into Nuclei for template-based vulnerability scanning; it’s incredibly fast for finding known CVEs. I also highly recommend FFuf or Gobuster for directory brute-forcing and fuzzing, as they are much faster than the built-in tools in some suites. For JavaScript analysis, LinkFinder is a lifesaver for discovering endpoints in heavy client-side apps. Don't forget Postman for API testing. While automation is great, your manual testing in Burp’s Repeater and Intruder will always be where you find the most critical business logic flaws that scanners miss.
This is a solid list, but how do you manage the massive amount of data and notes generated during a multi-week engagement? Is there a specific reporting or note-taking tool you prefer?
Don't overlook SQLmap for automated SQL injection testing. Even though it's an older tool, it remains the gold standard for detecting and exploiting database vulnerabilities.
Great point, Larry. Just be careful with the "risk" levels in SQLmap when testing production environments, as aggressive scripts can sometimes cause service interruptions.
I personally swear by Obsidian or CherryTree for structured notes. However, if you are working in a team, tools like Dradis or Ghostwriter are fantastic because they allow multiple testers to collaborate on a single report in real-time. This ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding discovered vulnerabilities and prevents overlapping work, which is a huge time-saver during the final reporting phase.