I am transitionining from network security to ethical hacking and I'm a bit overwhelmed by the different frameworks available. When performing a web app pen test, do most professionals strictly follow the OWASP Top 10, or is there a more comprehensive workflow that includes automated scanning and manual exploitation? I want to ensure my reports are industry-standard.
3 answers
The OWASP Top 10 is actually a list of risks rather than a full methodology. For a professional-grade assessment, you should look into the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide (WSTG). It provides a structured framework covering everything from information gathering and configuration testing to identity management and business logic flaws. My typical workflow starts with passive reconnaissance, followed by automated tools like Burp Suite Professional for crawling. However, the real value lies in the manual testing of logic flaws that scanners always miss. Always document every step to provide a clear proof of concept in your final report.
Since you mentioned Burp Suite, do you find that relying too heavily on the automated intruder or scanner functions leads to a high rate of false positives that waste time during the reporting phase?
I highly recommend checking out the PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard). It’s very detailed and covers the business side of hacking which is great for new consultants.
I agree with Susan. PTES is excellent because it helps you understand the pre-engagement and post-engagement phases, ensuring you stay within the legal scope of your contract.
That is exactly why manual verification is mandatory, Gregory. Automated tools are great for finding low-hanging fruit like outdated headers or clear-text cookies, but a human needs to verify if a flagged SQL injection is actually exploitable or just an error message. I usually spend 30% of my time scanning and 70% manually confirming and searching for complex vulnerabilities.