Web Application Penetration Testing

Expert-led, manual web application penetration testing, by consultants who think like attackers.

Your web application is one of your most exposed attack surfaces. Our CREST-accredited consultants test it the way a real attacker would, manually, methodically, and without relying on automated tools to do the thinking for them. The result is deeper coverage, fewer false positives, and findings that actually mean something.

Web Application Test Overview

What Is A Web Application Penetration Test?

A web application penetration test is a structured, expert-led security assessment of an application accessible via a browser or API. Our consultants simulate real-world attack scenarios to identify vulnerabilities that automated scanners routinely miss, from logic flaws and broken access controls to complex authentication bypasses and injection vulnerabilities that only become apparent through human analysis.

Web applications are often the front door to your most sensitive data and business-critical functionality. A breach can mean regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and loss of client trust. Rigorous manual testing is the most reliable way to understand your true exposure before an attacker does.

Types Of Web Applications

The Web Applications We Test

We test the full spectrum of web-based applications, including:.

Corporate & Transactional Websites

Including e-commerce platforms handling payment and customer data.

Client, User & Supplier Portals

Applications with authenticated access and sensitive data flows.

Corporate Management Software & Intranets

Internal tools often overlooked in security programmes.

APIs & Microservices

REST, GraphQL, SOAP, and custom API architectures increasingly targeted by attackers.

Web Application Test Coverage

What Our Web Application Testing Covers

Our testing is aligned with OWASP and industry best practice, and scoped specifically to your application, not applied generically. Every assessment is conducted manually by our consultants, supported by specialist tooling where appropriate, to ensure we go beyond what any automated solution can surface.

Authentication & Session Management

> Login mechanisms, MFA, session tokens, and account lockout controls
> Account enumeration, brute force exposure, and lockout bypass
> Password reset flows and credential storage weaknesses

Authorisation & Access Control

> Broken object-level authorisation across all user roles
> Horizontal and vertical privilege escalation paths
> API endpoint access controls and unauthenticated data exposure

Injection Vulnerabilities

> SQL, command, LDAP, and XML injection across all input vectors
> Headers, cookies, and API parameters tested manually, not just form fields
> Second-order injection vulnerabilities
> Exploitation validated to confirm real-world impact, not theoretical risk

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

> Reflected, stored, and DOM-based XSS across all application entry points
> Filter bypass techniques and encoding weaknesses missed by scanners
> Content Security Policy implementation and browser-side defence effectiveness

Business Logic Flaws

> Workflow abuse, price manipulation, and unintended state transitions
> Trust boundary testing between user roles and integrated third-party services
> Vulnerabilities identifiable through understanding application behaviour

OWASP Top 10

> Full manual coverage of the industry-standard web application risk benchmark
>Testing aligned to the latest OWASP methodology & attacker techniques
> Findings mapped to OWASP classifications for compliance and audit reporting

Need OWASP ASVS-Aligned Reporting?

Our web application penetration tests can be delivered against the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS). Whether you need ASVS Level 1, 2, or 3 coverage, we'll scope and report against the standard in a format your team can act on and your auditors will accept.

Web Application Test Approach

How We Approach Web App Testing

Our web application tests are delivered remotely, simulating a real-world attack. Engagements can follow a number of different approaches, guided by your requirements and priorities:

Black Box

Black box testing mimics a real-life attack scenario, where we have basic knowledge of the web application, but have no access to the source code or any admin/user credentials. Black box assessments are typically used by clients who wish to find out if a malicious threat could gain access to a web application from the outside.

White Box

We are provided with source code, architecture documentation, and user credentials before testing begins. This approach assumes some level of attacker access and allows for deeper, more thorough coverage, particularly effective for identifying vulnerabilities in application logic and code-level weaknesses.

Grey Box (Recommended)

This is our preferred approach to web application penetration testing, as we believe it provides the best value test in terms of results. It is a hybrid approach (combining both white box and black box testing elements) and provides a security overview of the application from both the outside and the inside.

Our Test Process

Putting Your Web App To The Test

Every web app penetration test goes through a rigorous process to ensure you get the best possible results. Below we outline the key stages our testing goes through:.

Understand Your Requirements

We start every engagement by understanding your application, your environment, and what a successful test looks like for you. Our team will work with you to scope the assessment precisely, identifying which functionality, user roles, and areas of the application should be prioritised, before putting forward a bespoke proposal.

Manual, Expert-Led Testing

Your test is carried out by directly employed consultants with deep specialism in web application security. We use industry-standard tooling to support our work, but every finding is the result of manual investigation, not automated output. This means higher quality findings, greater coverage and results you can act on with confidence.

Reporting Tailored To Your Organisation

Our reports are written by humans, not generated by a tool. Technical findings are written with full exploitation detail and clear remediation guidance. Executive summaries give leadership and compliance stakeholders the overview they need. Where required, we can integrate with your existing ticketing systems or provide findings in-test for critical vulnerabilities.

Post-Test Remediation Support

We don't disappear when the report is delivered. Our consultants remain available to answer questions, assist with remediation prioritisation, and can provide fix checks to verify that vulnerabilities have been successfully resolved. Where compliance evidence is required, we can provide additional documentation to support audit requirements.

Contact Us

Find Out More About Our Web Application Penetration Testing

Ready to put your web application security to the test? Our team are on hand to provide you with the information you need. Please fill out the form below and one of our team will be in touch shortly to discuss your requirements.

Web Application Insights

The Latest Insights From The Pentest Team

Our consultants don’t just test, they research and publish. Here’s what they’ve been writing about.