Web Application Security Testing (WAPT)

Our Mobile and Web Team

We have a dedicated team of IT Specialists who focus on web application cyber security assessment. All our specialists are fully accredited with several years of experience in reviewing application design, code, and features, across various platforms such as Java, PHP, Ruby on Rails, C++, ASP, ASP.Net, etc. Have a mobile app? Not to worry, our specialists are highly trained in performing detailed tests across Android, iOS, and Blackberry platforms to make sure your users have a safe and pleasant experience.

Backed by over 20 years of experience in information security, we have conducted web application tests within a vast range of industries including, but not limited to, Pharmaceutical, Banking and Finance, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Healthcare (HIPAA), Telecommunications, Aviation and Insurance

Our Web Application Security Assessment Methodology

At Cybernetic Global Intelligence (CGI), our Web Application Cyber Security Assessment methodology is designed to identify, assess, and validate security threats across both custom-developed web applications and third-party or vendor-supplied applications, including platforms with minimal or no customisation.

Our methodology follows a structured, risk-based approach and is aligned with globally recognised web application security testing and penetration testing standards, ensuring consistent, repeatable, and defensible assessment outcomes.

Standards-Aligned, Risk-Based Approach

Our web application security testing methodology is built upon leading industry frameworks and best-practice guides, including:

• OWASP Top 10 – Identifying the most critical and commonly exploited web application vulnerabilities
• Threat Modelling methodologies (STRIDE and DREAD) – Systematically identifying, categorising, and prioritising application security threats
• OWASP Software Assurance Maturity Model (OpenSAMM) – Assessing and improving secure software development and governance practices
• Open-Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSTMM) – Ensuring a comprehensive and methodical security testing approach
• Web Application Security Consortium (WASC) Threat Classification – Enhancing vulnerability coverage and classification accuracy

What Our Methodology Delivers

By combining manual ethical hacking techniques with automated vulnerability assessment tools, our web application penetration testing methodology delivers:

• Identification of OWASP Top 10 and business logic vulnerabilities
• Validation of authentication, authorisation, and session management controls
• Assessment of input validation, API security, and backend services
• Risk-based prioritisation aligned to business impact and exploitability
• Actionable remediation guidance for development and IT teams

Our approach supports compliance with ISO/IEC 27001, PCI DSS, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, APRA CPS 234, Essential Eight, and other regulatory and industry requirements.

Each engagement concludes with a clear, executive-ready web application security report, providing both technical detail and board-level risk visibility.

White Box Testing

White Box Testing, also known as Source Code Security Testing, is a comprehensive web application security assessment conducted with full visibility into an application’s source code, system architecture, APIs, and internal logic. This approach enables a deeper and more accurate identification of security weaknesses that may not be visible through external or black box testing alone.

At Cybernetic Global Intelligence (CGI), our White Box Testing services are delivered by certified ethical hackers and application security specialists to identify vulnerabilities arising from insecure coding practices, logic flaws, weak error handling, and insecure integrations—before applications are released into production.

White Box Testing is particularly effective in identifying internal threat vectors and attack scenarios where adversaries may have partial or full knowledge of an application’s internal workings, such as compromised developers, insider threats, or advanced persistent attackers.

Why White Box Testing Is Critical

Application vulnerabilities can exist not only within custom code but also in third-party libraries, frameworks, APIs, and software components. Conducting White Box Testing allows organisations to identify and remediate security flaws early in the software development lifecycle (SDLC), reducing the risk of exploitation post-deployment.

Key Advantages of White Box Testing

Clean and Secure Code

White Box Testing enables detailed source code review to identify insecure coding patterns, poor error handling, hard-coded credentials, insecure dependencies, and logic flaws that could be exploited by attackers.
Early Vulnerability Detection
Identifying vulnerabilities during development significantly reduces the cost and impact of remediation compared to fixing issues after an application is publicly exposed.

Professional, Independent Assessment

Engaging external web application security experts ensures an unbiased, in-depth assessment conducted using advanced application security tools, including static code analysers, debuggers, and fault-injection techniques that may not be available to internal teams.

Compliance and Best-Practice Alignment

White Box Testing supports compliance with OWASP, ISO/IEC 27001, PCI DSS, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and Secure SDLC best practices, providing assurance to auditors, regulators, and stakeholders.
Each White Box Testing engagement concludes with a clear, risk-rated report outlining identified vulnerabilities, exploitability, business impact, and prioritised remediation recommendations for development and security teams.

Black Box Testing

Black Box Testing is a form of web application penetration testing that evaluates the security of an application from the perspective of an external attacker with no prior knowledge of the application’s source code, architecture, or internal logic. This approach accurately simulates real-world cyber-attacks to determine how a malicious actor could compromise your web application.

At Cybernetic Global Intelligence (CGI), our Black Box Testing services are conducted by certified ethical hackers using advanced manual and automated techniques to rigorously test applications against a wide range of attack scenarios. By treating the application as a “black box,” we deliver an unbiased, attacker-centric assessment that mirrors how real cyber criminals target publicly accessible systems.

Black Box Testing is particularly effective for identifying externally exploitable vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and weaknesses that may be overlooked during development or internal testing.

What Black Box Testing Evaluates

• OWASP Top 10 web application vulnerabilities
• Authentication and access control weaknesses
• Session management and cookie security
• Input validation and injection attacks (SQLi, XSS, CSRF)
• API and backend service exposure
• Security misconfigurations and data leakage

Key Advantages of Black Box Testing

Real-World Attack Simulation

Black Box Testing provides a realistic view of how an attacker with no internal access or privileged information could exploit your application, helping validate the strength of perimeter and application-level security controls.
Improved Security and Risk Reduction Independent testing by qualified security specialists identifies vulnerabilities early, allowing organisations to remediate security gaps before applications go live or are exploited.

Enhanced Trust and Credibility

With growing consumer and regulatory focus on data protection and privacy, Black Box Testing helps build customer confidence, brand credibility, and trust by demonstrating a commitment to secure web applications.

Efficient and Non-Intrusive Testing

Black Box Testing does not require access to source code or internal documentation, making it non-intrusive and suitable for sensitive or proprietary environments. Testing can be scaled across multiple testers to deliver thorough results within tight timelines.

Compliance and Assurance

Black Box Testing supports compliance with OWASP, ISO/IEC 27001, PCI DSS, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, APRA CPS 234, and Essential Eight requirements by validating externally exposed attack surfaces.

Clear, Actionable Reporting

Each Black Box Testing engagement concludes with a comprehensive, executive-ready penetration testing report, including risk-rated findings, proof of exploitation (where applicable), and prioritised remediation recommendations.

Grey Box Testing

Grey Box Testing is a hybrid form of web application penetration testing that combines elements of both Black Box and White Box Testing. It provides testers with limited knowledge of the application’s internal architecture, workflows, or credentials, enabling a more targeted and efficient assessment while still maintaining a realistic attacker perspective.

At Cybernetic Global Intelligence (CGI), our Grey Box Testing services are delivered by certified ethical hackers to identify vulnerabilities that impact end-to-end data flows, application logic, integrations, and interoperability across development, operating, and production environments.

Grey Box Testing is particularly effective for uncovering security issues related to authentication, authorisation, data handling, API interactions, and system compatibility.

What Grey Box Testing Evaluates

• End-to-end application workflows and data flows
• Authentication and role-based access control
• API and integration security
• Business logic vulnerabilities
• Environment and configuration inconsistencies
• OWASP Top 10 web application vulnerabilities

Key Advantages of Grey Box Testing

Balanced Security Assessment

Grey Box Testing delivers a balanced and realistic security assessment by simulating an attacker with partial system knowledge, such as a compromised user account or insider-assisted threat.

Enhanced Risk Detection

Limited internal visibility allows testers to focus on high-risk application components, improving the detection of logic flaws and data exposure issues while reducing false positives.

Improved Security and Safety

Independent testing by qualified cyber security specialists helps identify and remediate vulnerabilities before applications are deployed or exposed to real-world attacks, reducing the risk of breach and downtime.

Increased Trust and Credibility

As organisations face growing scrutiny around data protection and privacy, Grey Box Testing helps demonstrate due diligence, providing confidence to customers, regulators, and stakeholders that applications are securely designed and tested.

Compliance and Best-Practice Alignment

Grey Box Testing supports compliance with OWASP, ISO/IEC 27001, PCI DSS, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, APRA CPS 234, and Essential Eight, and fits seamlessly into secure SDLC and DevSecOps practices.