Security Application Testing: Defend Web Application With Automated Tools

Cyber attacks continue to evolve, with cybercriminals employing increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit security weaknesses. As seen in statistical numbers, the need for effective security testing of web applications has never been more important.

In 2024, Claranet identified 2,570 instances of reflected and stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities across approximately 500 web apps. The same study found 1,032 instances where outdated JavaScript libraries were used, highlighting a common avenue for potential exploits.

Cloudflare reported a 93% annual increase in application-layer HTTP DDoS attacks in early 2024. These attacks accounted for 37.1% of all mitigated application traffic during this period. In October 2024, over 287 malicious packages were published on the Node Package Manager platform. These packages employed typosquatting techniques to deceive developers into downloading compromised code, posing significant risks to software supply chains.

As for the AI-driven attacks, BT observed a 1,200% increase in malicious scanning bots over the past year, attributing this surge to cybercriminals implementing AI to automate and enhance their attack strategies (for example, automated phishing campaigns or AI-powered malware). Furthermore, the average cost of a data breach caused by a web application vulnerability reached $4.33 million, according to IBM's report.

The above-mentioned trends and statistics from recent reports highlight the critical need for organizations to adopt robust security measures, including regular vulnerability assessments, timely updates of software components, and the implementation of automated security testing tools to protect web applications from evolving threats.

While it is recommended to conduct regular penetration tests that help to ensure that your application does not contain any exploitable security flaws, automated application security testing could help you find and mitigate common security vulnerabilities in the early stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

Many different tools and approaches can be used to set up an automated security testing flow, and it is important to choose the right options that would be the best match for your project. This article will give you the most useful advice, tools, and insights into the topic. Let's begin!

Understanding Web Application Security Testing

Every 44 seconds, a system or application faces a security breach attempt. According to Security Magazine, there are 2,200 cyberattacks daily, affecting over 800,000 people each year. With cyber threats becoming more frequent and sophisticated, relying solely on manual security measures is no longer an option. This is where automated security testing tools become essential.

Web application security testing (AST) is the process of evaluating a web application's security by detecting vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and potential threats. It involves assessing the application's code, configurations, and behavior to ensure it can withstand cyberattacks and protect sensitive data. Various methods, including static and dynamic analysis, penetration testing, and automated vulnerability scanning, help uncover security flaws before attackers can exploit them.

Security app testing should be integral to the development lifecycle to detect and mitigate risks early. Automated tools streamline this process, reducing manual effort while ensuring consistent and thorough security assessments. In addition to web application testing, using a mobile application security testing checklist can help detect specific vulnerabilities unique to mobile apps and enable an extensive evaluation across platforms.

Benefits of Automated Security Testing

Automated security testing enhances efficiency, accuracy, and overall security posture compared to manual testing. Here are the key benefits, supported by real statistics:

Efficiency

Security testing automation accelerates vulnerability detection and resolution. 44% of IT companies have integrated automation into at least half of their testing processes, highlighting its growing adoption, according to RWS. Automation tools scan applications quickly and accurately, reducing the time developers spend identifying and fixing security issues.

Consistency

Automated security tools apply standardized testing procedures across all code changes. Regular scans ensure that security weaknesses are consistently monitored and addressed. In their article, Qualysec mentioned that 70% of security professionals analyze more than ten notifications daily, with 78% spending over 10 minutes reviewing each alert, which demonstrates the need for reliable automation.

Cost-effectiveness

Security automation significantly lowers financial risks. A study by IBM reported that organizations using AI-driven security testing experience an average cost reduction of $3.58 million per data breach compared to those relying solely on manual efforts. Automating security processes reduces incident response costs, security-related downtime, and the need for extensive manual testing.

Repeatability

Security automation eliminates inconsistencies caused by human error, ensuring that every test follows the same structured process. An IDC report found that developers spend an average of 19% of their weekly hours on security-related tasks, often outside regular working hours. Automated testing reduces this burden and improves reliability.

Compliance

Security automation simplifies compliance with industry regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Automation tools apply security policies consistently, reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties and protecting sensitive data. According to Drata, 91% of companies plan to implement continuous compliance within the next five years, which highlights the growing importance of automated security measures.

Time-efficiency

Manual testing remains a major bottleneck in software development. Automated testing optimizes this process, allowing teams to focus on high-priority security concerns. QualySec concluded that 83% of security personnel report experiencing alert fatigue, which emphasizes the need for automation tools to streamline security workflows.

Early security intervention

Vulnerabilities detection during development prevents costly security breaches. Automated testing integrates into the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and detects threats before exposure. According to McKinsey's Global Survey on AI, 65% of organizations now use generative AI for security, nearly doubling in the last ten months. This increase underscores the shift toward proactive security safeguards.

Vulnerability triage

Automated tools prioritize security vulnerabilities based on severity, helping teams address the most critical threats first. A structured triage process minimizes risks by ensuring that high-priority vulnerabilities are handled immediately. According to Drata, 74% of organizations report struggling to properly address vulnerabilities due to limited budgets and resources. This fact makes automation essential for efficient security management.

Different Types of Security Testing for Web Applications

Automated testing involves using software tools to detect and report vulnerabilities in applications. There are different types of automated security testing, each with strengths and weaknesses.

Interactive application security testing

Interactive application security testing combines the strengths of both static application security testing and dynamic application security testing by analyzing the application's behavior while running using instrumentation to detect potential weaknesses. This allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of the application's security than either SAST or DAST can provide.

Software composition analysis

Composition analysis examines third-party software components used in the application to detect vulnerabilities. SCA tools can identify known vulnerabilities in open-source libraries and frameworks used in the application and licensing issues that may arise from using these components.

Static application security testing (SAST)

SAST analyzes the application's source code to identify potential vulnerabilities. It checks for common coding errors, such as buffer overflows, SQL injection, and XSS attacks. SAST can be integrated into the SDLC to identify and fix security issues early in development.

Dynamic application security testing (DAST)

DAST is a type of automated testing that simulates attacks against the application to detect vulnerabilities in its behavior. DAST can detect issues that SAST cannot, such as authentication and authorization problems and configuration errors.

Today, we will focus on dynamic security testing and software composition analysis and reveal major tools in these areas.

Dynamic Application Security Testing

DAST aims to simulate attacks and identify potential vulnerabilities in a system by treating it as a whole. Vulnerability scanners can automate testing by checking for known risks in applications and networks, providing a list of detected vulnerabilities and recommendations for patching or securing them.

This type of testing is particularly relevant for software composed of multiple services, libraries, and code snippets rather than being top-down written. Ideally, the infrastructure should be tested when it is complete and functional. Examples of DAST techniques include active/passive attacks on API calls within HTTPS and passing SQL injection patterns into user input.

Best DAST Tools

There are several security testing tools for web applications available for DAST, including OWASP Zap, Burp Suite Pro, Nessus, Acunetix, etc. Let's take a look at OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite Pro scanners.

OWASP ZAP

The OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is an open-source testing tool designed to test the security of web applications. ZAP is available for download on multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. It has various security testing functionalities, including fuzzing, spidering, vulnerability scanning, and more. OWASP ZAP can be used for both manual and automated testing.

Features and benefits of OWASP ZAP

OWASP ZAP offers a range of features. Some of the key features of OWASP ZAP include:

• Automated scanning. ZAP can automatically scan web applications for security vulnerabilities, making it ideal for businesses looking to automate their security testing processes.
• Active and passive scanning. ZAP offers both active and passive scanning capabilities, allowing businesses to identify security vulnerabilities in real time and vulnerabilities that are present but not currently being exploited.
• Brute force testing. Through brute force testing, ZAP can test the strength of user credentials and passwords.
• Scripting. ZAP supports scripting languages like Java, JavaScript, and Python, allowing businesses to create customized security tests.
• API support. ZAP can be integrated with other tools and platforms via its API, making it a flexible and scalable business option.

How to use OWASP ZAP for automated security testing

Using OWASP ZAP for automated security testing is a straightforward process. Here are the basic steps:

1. Install and launch OWASP ZAP on your local machine.
2. Configure the target web application that you want to test.
3. Select the scanning mode (e.g., safe, protected, standard, and attack mode). We recommend starting with a protected mode with limited actions and potential risks to URLs within the specified scope.
4. Start the scanning process.
5. Review the results and prioritize any vulnerabilities that were discovered.

Burp Suite Professional

Burp Suite Professional is a leading web application security testing tool that allows security professionals to comprehensively assess web applications for vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection, CSS, etc. It offers a comprehensive range of security testing functionalities, including scanning, spidering, and penetration testing.

Burp Suite doesn't provide a report processor for Pro plan users that enables the automation of report generation and distribution. Still, you can use Extra capabilities for Burp Suite Reporter with the Enterprise plan. This feature allows testers to create custom report templates that can be automatically generated and distributed based on specific criteria, such as the severity of vulnerabilities found or the type of vulnerability.

Features and benefits of Burp Suite Professional

Burp Suite Professional has many features that make it a powerful tool for web application security testing. These features include:

• Spidering. Burp Suite can crawl and map an application's content and functionality, enabling testers to identify vulnerabilities.
• Automated scanning. It can automatically identify common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting, saving testers time and effort.
• Vulnerability analysis. It can analyze and assess the severity of vulnerabilities, helping testers prioritize their remediation efforts.
• Fuzzing. Burp Suite can generate malformed input data to test how the application responds to unexpected input.
• Intruder. Burp Suite's Intruder feature can test the security of an application's input validation by generating and testing many requests with different input values.
• Repeater. Burp Suite's Repeater feature can repeat requests with different input values to detect vulnerabilities.
• Extender. Burp Suite can be extended with plugins and scripts to add additional functionality.

Benefits of using Burp Suite Professional include:

• Comprehensive testing enables comprehensive testing of web applications and identifies a wide range of vulnerabilities.
• Automation to save time and effort for testers.
• Prioritization of remediation efforts.
• Flexibility to meet the needs of individual testers and organizations.

How to use Burp Suite Professional for automated security testing

Burp Suite Professional can be used for automated testing in several ways. First, testers can use the tool to automatically scan an application for vulnerabilities, saving time and effort compared to manual testing. Second, testers can use Burp Suite to automate testing specific functionality or inputs, such as user authentication or input validation.

To use Burp Suite for automated testing, testers can set up automated scans using the tool's scanning configuration options, specifying which vulnerabilities to test for, how to handle authentication, and how to handle errors. Testers can also use Burp Suite's extensibility to add custom functionality, such as scripts that automate specific tasks or tests.

Note that these tools are not an alternative for a thorough inspection; they can provide a standardized verification for security controls. DAST balances time consumption and severity of found vulnerabilities, as it can identify low-hanging risks while security engineers can focus on more complex and multi-step issues.

Automated Security Testing Process

The automated security testing process involves several steps to ensure that the web application is secure and free from vulnerabilities. Here's a breakdown of the process:

1. The first step in the automated security testing process is integration testing. This involves testing the individual components of the application to ensure that they work together seamlessly. This can be done using testing frameworks like Mocha and JUnit. Integration tests will be used to generate scope for security scanners and assess endpoints that require authorization.
2. Once integration tests are finished and we have generated scope for scanners, the next step is to use a tool like OWASP ZAP to scan the application for vulnerabilities.
3. After OWASP ZAP has scanned the application, the next step is to use a tool like Burp Suite Professional to perform further testing.
4. With the application fully tested using OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite Professional, the next step is to deploy it to a production environment.
5. Finally, it is important to generate reports on the results of the security testing process. Reports can be generated using the reporting functionality built into each testing tool. Reports should be stored in a secure location, such as a protected Amazon S3 bucket, and should be accessible to all members of the development team.

When To Implement Automated Security Testing on the Project

Based on our experience, we gather real-world use cases of automated security testing and the associated benefits and challenges.

• If the project has strict deadlines, automated security testing can help accelerate the testing process and ensure that security vulnerabilities are identified and addressed quickly without delaying the project timeline, especially for projects involving complex and large-scale applications.
• If projects that follow a CI/CD approach require frequent testing to ensure security measures are in place throughout development, automated security testing can be integrated into the CI/CD pipeline to enable regular scanning of code changes and detect vulnerabilities early in the development cycle.
• If projects need to adhere to regulatory or compliance standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS, they require thorough and regular security testing.If projects involving high-security risks, such as e-commerce platforms, financial systems, or healthcare applications, require thorough security testing, automated security testing can provide comprehensive coverage and help detect vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit.

Remember that automated security testing should not be seen as a replacement for manual security testing but rather as an addition. A combination of automated and manual testing can provide the most effective approach to ensuring the security of a project.

Pro Tips on Automated Web App Security Testing

Automated security testing can significantly improve the security posture of web applications by identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring they are remediated before attackers can exploit them. However, implementing automated security testing requires careful consideration of best practices to ensure the tests are effective, efficient, and integrated with the development process. Below are some key insights application security testing checklist gained from successfully implemented security testing services to remember when implementing automated security testing for web applications:

• Start early in the development lifecycle. Incorporating security testing as early as possible can help identify weaknesses before they become more difficult and costly to remediate. This approach allows developers to catch issues as they arise instead of discovering them after the application has been deployed.
• Test from different perspectives. It's important to approach security testing from multiple perspectives to view potential vulnerabilities comprehensively. Automated security testing tools like OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite Professional offer different types of testing that can be leveraged to provide a holistic view of the application's security.
• Integrate with the development process. Integrating automated security testing with the development process can help ensure vulnerabilities are remediated promptly. This can be done by incorporating security testing into the CI/CD pipeline by leveraging automation tools like GitHub Actions and Jenkins.

• Stay up-to-date on security threats. Automated security testing should complement ongoing education and awareness of emerging security threats. This includes staying up-to-date on the latest attack vectors and techniques threat actors use and regularly updating automated security testing tools and processes.
• Address false positives and negatives. Automated security testing tools can generate false positives and negatives, which can impact the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process. Developing a process for addressing these issues is important to ensure vulnerabilities are identified and remediated on time.
• Prioritize vulnerabilities based on risk. Not all vulnerabilities are created equal. It is important to prioritize them based on their severity and potential impact on the business. This helps organizations focus their efforts on the most critical issues first.
• Test frequently. Security threats and vulnerabilities are constantly evolving. Regularly testing web application security helps to identify new vulnerabilities that may have been introduced since the last test.

Wrapping Up

With the constant news of data breaches and security breaches, the realization that "everything will be broken" is all too real. Unfortunately, many in the industry still practice carelessness regarding security testing in software, leading to widespread vulnerabilities.

Automated security testing provides a more efficient and reliable way to detect vulnerabilities and threats in web applications, saving time and resources in the long run. Organizations can streamline their security testing process and minimize security risks by integrating security testing tools with custom report processing scripts or vulnerability management systems like DefectDojo from OWASP.

It allows faster and more consistent identification of vulnerabilities and weaknesses, reduces costs, and helps businesses comply with regulatory requirements. OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite are powerful tools that can help businesses ensure the security of their web applications.

When it comes to software development and testing at TechMagic, security is always at the forefront of our minds.

FAQs

1. What is security testing in web application with an example?

   Security testing in web applications is the process of identifying and evaluating potential vulnerabilities and threats to the security of a web application. Examples of security testing in web applications include penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and secure code reviews.

2. How to do security testing on web application?

   Security testing involves penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and secure code reviews. Automation tools like OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite Pro can help identify common security issues, while manual testing ensures a deeper assessment of business logic vulnerabilities.

3. Why is web application security testing important?

   Web application security testing helps identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities and threats to your web application's security. By testing your web application's security, you can protect it against attacks, data breaches, and other threats.

4. What is runtime application self-protection (RASP)?

   Runtime application self-protection is a security technology that detects and mitigates threats in real-time within a web application's runtime environment, providing proactive protection against attacks like SQL injection and XSS.

5. What is the difference between web application security testing and mobile application security testing?

   Web application security testing focuses on identifying weaknesses in web-based applications, while mobile application security testing assesses security risks specific to mobile apps, including platform-specific threats like insecure data storage and permissions misuse.