How do you perform a web application security assessment with a limited scope and budget?

"You can break down the penetration test into six key steps: 1 -Plan the test and create templates for what you’ll need ideally, a checklist, because let’s face it, we all forget things sometimes. 2 - Document all the technical details, whether with screenshots or whatever helps make the documentation clearer. 3 - Write everything down without worrying about grammar at this stage—focus on the essential details, not whether you missed a comma or two. 4 - Categorize the information based on how critical it is to the system and the level of risk it presents. 5 - Now, it’s time to go back to step 3 and catch those commas or potential risks you might have missed on the first pass. 6 - Perform a double (but not triple!) verification check."

In one of my recent engagements, I worked on a web application security assessment with a constrained budget and timeline. We prioritized open-source tools like OWASP ZAP and SQLmap for vulnerability scanning and exploitation, which proved invaluable in detecting SQL injection and XSS vulnerabilities. We also leveraged manual inspection using Burp Suite's free edition for intercepting and manipulating HTTP requests, which added depth to our automated findings. By combining these tools, we achieved comprehensive coverage without exceeding our budget, demonstrating that robust assessments are possible with the right approach.

You actually have access to a variety of free, open-source tools for this purpose, and the way you utilize them plays a crucial role in performing effective penetration testing. There are many approaches you can take, but it’s the expertise of the individual that truly makes the difference. While these free tools provide you with the capability to conduct a penetration test, only an expert—or someone who knows where the vulnerabilities lie—can give you meaningful feedback on how risky your system really is.

There’s a great tool called Docker Bench for Security that helps identify vulnerabilities in your Docker files, as well as highlight certain files that may require your attention. Some of the insights it provides include information about ports that might have been left open, which could potentially be exploited to compromise or hack your system.

The fact that many companies leave their doors wide open can lead to some pretty serious issues. Back in 2006, some of the tech giants got hit by a virus called Mydoom, which basically created “backdoors” — or to be more technical, left several ports open. Rival companies and hackers were pulling information from these vulnerabilities for years without anyone noticing. Nowadays, there are free tools like Nmap that help you keep all these systems in check.

Testing for vulnerabilities doesn't have to be expensive to be effective. In a past project, my team and I used a blend of free tools and manual testing methods to uncover several high-risk vulnerabilities in a client's e-commerce web application. We started with OWASP ZAP for automated vulnerability scanning, which flagged issues like insecure cookies and weak session management. We then used SQLmap to uncover potential SQL injection points and Burp Suite to manually test for CSRF and logic flaws. Despite our limited resources, this approach enabled us to provide the client with actionable insights and helped secure their platform without overextending their budget.

One key consideration when working with limited scope and budget is managing expectations. In my experience, it’s important to clearly communicate to stakeholders that the assessment will focus on the most critical assets and attack surfaces, ensuring that the budget is spent where it matters most. For instance, during an assessment for a healthcare web application, we concentrated our efforts on the user authentication and data processing modules, as they were most critical to the business. By being transparent about what we could and could not cover, we built trust with the client and ensured that the security investment was both targeted and efficient.