A web application penetration test is a targeted, manual security assessment of a web application with the goal of identifying security-relevant vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and logical flaws before they can be exploited by attackers.
Unlike automated scans, a web application penetration test is performed methodically and in context by experienced penetration testers. The web application is analyzed from the perspective of a real-world attacker. In addition to classic technical vulnerabilities (e.g., injection attacks or improper access controls), the assessment specifically focuses on authentication, authorization, and business logic issues that automated tools are unable to reliably detect.
The test typically follows recognized standards such as the OWASP Testing Guide and the OWASP Top 10, while going beyond them by taking the specific architecture, functionality, and usage of the application into account. The scope and depth of the test are clearly defined in advance (e.g., black-box, grey-box, or white-box approach).
The result of a web application penetration test is a structured report that clearly describes the identified vulnerabilities, assesses associated risks, and provides concrete, technically actionable recommendations for remediation.
A web application penetration test requires more than experience—it needs the precise use of the right tooling. At binsec GmbH, we combine established open-source utilities, commercial solutions, and our own in-house tools to assess the security of web applications end-to-end.
Information Gathering
dig– DNS queries and initial target infrastructure analysis.- binsec.tools – our in-house utilities:
SubDomainFinder– mapping external attack surface via subdomains.CertWatch– certificate transparency and issuance monitoring.
nmap– port and service discovery with version and script-based analysis.
Detection & Documentation
gowitnessandeyewitness– automated screenshots and inventory of discovered hosts and endpoints.wappalyzerand binsec.toolsWebCompScan– detection of frameworks, libraries, and CMS components.
Web Application Testing
curl– targeted requests and reproducible minimal test cases.- Burp Suite Professional – our primary testing platform with extensions like
Autorize,Upload Scanner, and customPythonscripts. ffuf– fuzzing of paths, parameters, and hidden endpoints.nikto– classic vulnerability scanner as a complementary check.
API Testing
- Postman and Bruno – structured collections and reproducible API workflows.
jwt_tool– analysis and manipulation of JSON Web Tokens.sqlmapandsstimap– automated testing for SQL and SSTI injection vulnerabilities.
Cryptography & Transport
- binsec.tools
SSLCheck(plus the standalone CLIsslcheck) – in-depth TLS configuration review. - binsec.tools
HTTPHeaderCheck– analysis of security-relevant HTTP headers.
Scripting & Automation
Python– tailor-made scripts, proofs of concept, and automation for specific test cases.
Conclusion
A successful web application pentest does not rely on a single tool but on the coordinated combination of multiple approaches. This ensures realistic coverage of all relevant attack vectors—from infrastructure and APIs to application-specific logic.
Penetration Testing
FAQ
Our FAQ provides clear answers to common questions – straight from pentesting experts and completely ad-free.
What is a penetration test? What types of penetration tests are there? What is the difference between a vulnerability scan and a penetration test?
How often should a penetration test be conducted? What data protection regulations are necessary for a penetration test?
How to become a Penetration Tester? Should I Learn Kali Linux to Become a Penetration Tester?
Which Tools Does binsec GmbH Use in a Web Application Penetration Test?
What is Red Teaming? How do Red Teaming and penetration testing differ? Who is Red Teaming intended for?
Penetration Testing
Since 2013 we conduct professional penetration test, based on international industry standards and years of experience in penetration testing, red teaming and hacking.
As a company for professional penetration testing, we do some things differently than other pentest provider: As a penetration test firm, we do not sell vulnerability scans as pentest. We do also focus on business security risks. You are looking for a professionally conducted penetration tests? Get the binsec team for your Pentest. Read more about our pentest service.
Contact us
+49 692475607-0