Web Application Penetration Testing

By Gavin Kilgallon on Thursday, 24 July 2025

Cybersecurity around websites is more important than ever, as attacks become more frequent and sophisticated. At ID Studio, we have designed hundreds of websites and take pride in collaborating with numerous clients who manage sensitive and personal information. To better serve their needs, we've established a dedicated team specialising in website penetration testing, ensuring their data remains safe and secure. In this insights article, we'll explore key aspects of penetration testing, examine various security threats, and identify the types of businesses that should seek assistance to protect against attacks and vulnerabilities.

What Is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing, also known as pen testing, is conducted by a professional security team to identify potential or existing vulnerabilities. It can uncover weaknesses in systems such as websites, networks, and applications that can be exploited. If any flaws are found, a detailed report should be provided to the stakeholders.

Five Stages Of A Website Penetration Test

Below, we outline the typical stages ID Studio goes through when conducting penetration testing on a website:

1. Define The Project Scope

Collaborate with the client to define the project's scope and objectives.
Agree on the testing procedures to ensure minimal disruption to work, including the types of tests to be carried out and when they will be undertaken.
Ensure that permission is obtained and signed off by the client before initiating any testing.

2. Gather Website Information

Gather information on the website and its infrastructure. This initial step involves gathering extensive information on the target website and its underlying infrastructure, including domain details, IP addresses, server types, and publicly available data. This allows us to:
- Understand the target: It provides a comprehensive overview of how the website is built, which is essential for identifying potential weaknesses.
- Plan the testing: The collected information helps in formulating an effective testing strategy, determining which areas to focus on, and selecting appropriate testing tools and techniques.
- Simulate real-world attacks: By gathering publicly available information, the penetration testing team can mimic how a real attacker might approach the website, leading to more accurate and relevant vulnerability assessments.
- Identify potential entry points: Details such as server types and open ports can reveal common vulnerabilities associated with specific technologies, guiding testers to possible entry points for exploitation.

3. Perform Vulnerability Testing

Perform manual and automated testing, including techniques such as:
- Injection issues, such as SQL injection.
- Authentication issues, passwords and verifications.
- API weaknesses, ensuring there are no security gaps.
- Misconfigured areas and improper settings.
- Encryption problems, ensuring proper verifications and integrity.

4. Assess Vulnerabilities

Utilise techniques such as SQL injection or brute-force attacks to assess known vulnerabilities and their severity levels.

Session hijacking, which can happen when an attacker takes over a user's session to gain unauthorised access.
Cross-site scripting (XSS), where malicious scripts are injected into web pages viewed by other users.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks aim to make a service unavailable by overwhelming it with excessive traffic.
Privilege escalation, where an attacker acquires higher-level access than they originally had.
Broken access control, when users can access resources or perform actions they shouldn't be able to.

5. Create Report

Draft a report outlining all issues identified and categorise them in order of priority.
Outline the steps that are required to neutralise vulnerabilities and prevent them from recurring.
Provide suggestions for future security enhancements.

Types Of Penetration Testing Services

Penetration testing services aim to identify vulnerabilities and assess the effectiveness of security measures. Listed below are some of the most common types of testing conducted by ID Studio. Each type has a specific purpose, and they are often used in combination with one another:

Black Box Testing: No knowledge of the website and internal workings, similar to an attack from an external source.
White Box Testing: Full access is provided to the website, allowing for a more in-depth analysis.
Grey Box Testing: Limited access and knowledge are provided for testing.
External Penetration Testing: Conducts third-party testing for the website, APIs, DNS, and other related systems.
Internal Penetration Testing: Carries out testing as an insider, looking at internal vulnerabilities such as databases, server communication, etc.
Vulnerability Scanning: Utilises third-party tools to identify vulnerabilities; common tools include Burp Suite and Nessus.
Compliance Testing: Ensuring that businesses meet their regulatory requirements, such as GDPR or HIPAA. Often associated with websites that handle sensitive data.

Why Is Website Penetration Testing Essential

To safeguard personal data, websites handling sensitive information are often legally required to conduct penetration testing. The financial penalties resulting from a data breach can be significantly overshadowed by the negative public backlash and damage to the brand's reputation.

Below are several types of websites that ID Studio has worked with and why pen testing is important to each of them:

eCommerce websites

Protects customers' sensitive information, including credit card details and personal data.
Reduces the risk of downtime from ransomware or cyberattacks.
Helps businesses comply with statutory requirements such as PCI DSS.

Financial services

Assists in safeguarding sensitive financial information and personal details often held by financial institutions.
Stops fraud through account takeovers.
Ensures that businesses are compliant with industry regulations.

Educational

Helps to protect student information and records.
Due to the increased reliance on IT systems for education, cyberattacks often disrupt students' education and school operations.

Government

Helps to protect sensitive information such as tax records and IDs.
Downtime of government websites can be highly disruptive, affecting millions of people.
Some government websites may contain sensitive national security information.

Health Industry

Adhere to regulatory compliance standards, such as GDPR.
To safeguard patients' privacy, particularly regarding personal health information.
Downtime resulting from a cyberattack could disrupt hospital operations.

Corporations

Regulatory compliance for regulations such as the PCI-DSS.
Cyberattacks can cause delays or shutdowns in business operations, potentially resulting in millions of dollars in costs.
Brand image and reputation can be harmed through cyberattacks.
Pen testing helps maintain trust in your website, especially in industries such as eCommerce.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the penetration testing take?

A website penetration test typically takes 1-2 weeks, depending on the project's scope and complexity.

Will it disrupt the running of my business?

A well-planned penetration test should not disrupt business operations, as experienced testers minimise impact and are fully aware of the business workings.

Where can the pen testing be conducted?

Penetration testing can be conducted remotely for web applications or on-site for physical or network assessments. We will discuss with you what works best for you.

How often should I partake in penetration testing?

Conduct penetration testing annually or after significant system changes, with quarterly tests for high-risk organisations often the norm.

How much does a penetration test cost?

Costs range depending on the scope, complexity, and resources required to complete the project.

Why Choose Our Agency for Penetration Testing?

At ID Studio, our penetration testing team has extensive experience, industry-recognised qualifications, and in-depth expertise in website security. To learn how we can protect your website from cyberattacks, please contact our friendly team for more information.