Hidden Risks in Modern Web Applications
Your web application is the digital heart of your business. However, with every new feature, every API connection and every JavaScript framework, complexity also increases – and with it the vulnerability to risks that go far beyond simple configuration errors.
Vulnerable Databases & APIs
A single vulnerability in data processing, such as a classic SQL injection or an insecurely configured API, can be enough to give attackers full access to sensitive user data, customer lists or internal business secrets.
Incorrect Authentication
Can attackers take over the sessions of active users? Can rights management be escalated so that a normal user suddenly gains admin privileges? Errors in authentication and session management are a critical gateway.
Ausnutzbare Geschäftslogik
These are the errors that no automated scanner can find. Can the price of a product in the shopping cart be manipulated? Can payment processes be circumvented or premium features unlocked without authorisation? We uncover these costly logical errors.
Our testing philosophy: a 360-degree view of your application
An effective web penetration test goes far beyond simply working through checklists. We view your application as a holistic system and analyse it on three crucial levels to ensure that no vulnerability remains undetected.
Level 1: Technical vulnerability analysis
This is the foundation of our work. We check your application for all known and widespread technical vulnerabilities that are often the gateways for attacks. In doing so, we strictly adhere to established standards such as the OWASP Top 10 and the Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS). This includes, among other things, an intensive search for:
- Injection attacks (SQL, NoSQL, Command)
- Cross-site scripting (XSS) in all its variants
- Insecure handling of authentication and sessions
- Errors in access control (broken access control)
Level 2: Business logic analysis
This is where a real penetration test differs from an automated scan. We take the perspective of a creative, motivated attacker and try to manipulate the intended functionality of your application. We ask questions such as:
- Can prices in the shopping basket be changed retrospectively?
- Can one user access another user’s data (IDOR)?
- Can premium features be unlocked without payment?
Identifying these often unique logical errors protects your business model from fraud and abuse.
Level 3: Configuration & Infrastructure Review
Your application is only as secure as the environment in which it runs. That is why we also analyse the configuration of the web server and the technologies used. This includes:
- Checking TLS/SSL encryption
- Analysing the implemented HTTP security headers
- Searching for disclosed information (e.g. in error pages or comments)
- Ensuring that no outdated or vulnerable components are used.
This in-depth, multi-layered analytical approach is at the heart of our security assessments.
In Practice
From Safety Checklist to Competitive Advantage
Challenge:
A fast-growing B2B SaaS company faced a dilemma: continuous development of new features was crucial for growth, but every new line of code carried the risk of undiscovered vulnerabilities. The challenge was to maintain a high pace of development without compromising application security and the protection of sensitive customer data.
Solution:
Instead of a one-time audit, we established a strategic partnership for continuous security. After each major feature release, we perform a targeted web penetration test that focuses specifically on the new functionalities and their integration into the existing architecture. This makes it possible to identify and fix security vulnerabilities early in the development process.
Result:
Through regular testing, the customer has created a verifiable security baseline for their web application. Not only can they launch new features with peace of mind, but they also actively use our independent test reports as a selling point. This has enabled them to gain the trust of large, security-conscious enterprise customers who demanded proof of proactive and continuous security measures. Security has thus gone from being a cost factor to a clear competitive advantage.
Our work is based on recognised standards
Yes. The OWASP Top 10 are the essential foundation of every professional web penetration test and form the basis of our analysis. However, our test goes far beyond this: we also follow other standards such as the more comprehensive OWASP ASVS (Application Security Verification Standard) and place a special focus on business logic errors that are unique to your application and not covered by any standard.
Yes, absolutely. Our methodology and tools are explicitly designed to analyse the complex client-side logic and intensive API communication of modern JavaScript frameworks. We understand the specific risks of SPAs, such as DOM-based cross-site scripting (XSS), insecure token storage, or problems in state management logic.
Yes, a thorough examination of the API endpoints used by the web application is an integral part of the process. Often, the most critical vulnerabilities, such as privilege escalation or data leaks, lie precisely in this API communication. However, for an even deeper, comprehensive analysis of your REST or GraphQL interfaces, we recommend a dedicated API penetration test.
That depends entirely on your objectives. A black box test (without code access) perfectly simulates an external attacker. However, a white box test (with code access) is significantly more efficient and thorough when it comes to finding systematic errors in the architecture and implementation. We will advise you in a free initial consultation on which approach offers the highest value for your specific project and budget.
Ready to put your web application to the test?
Contact us for a free, no-obligation initial consultation, during which we will analyse your requirements:
Founded by experts. Driven by your safety.
We are not an anonymous agency. Lutra Security was founded by four IT security experts with a shared mission: to proactively protect companies and make complex security solutions understandable and accessible. Your security is personally guaranteed by the founders.
David Schneider
Emanuel Böse
Konstantin Weddige
