In the world of cybersecurity, conducting testing without a methodology is like looking for a needle in a haystack. This article will explore the basic concepts of web security and how the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide (WSTG) serves as the main compass for security researchers.

1. Web Application Security Fundamentals

Before getting into the technicalities, we must understand the risk ecosystem through four main pillars:

A. Web Application Security Testing

This is not just "trying to break in." It is a systematic process to assess how strong an application's defenses are. The goal is to maintain the CIA Triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.

B. Vulnerability

Simply put, this is a weakness. It could be a bug in the code, a misconfiguration, or the use of outdated plugins. (give examples)

C. Threats

Potential negative events that could harm assets. Threats are actors or methods that will attack vulnerabilities.

Example: SQL injection is a threat, while unfiltered input fields are the vulnerability.

D. Testing

Active validation process. In the context of security, testing means conducting controlled attack simulations to determine the real impact of a vulnerability.

2. OWASP Testing Methodology (WSTG)

Why should we follow the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide (WSTG)? Because it is the "Bible" for security auditors around the world.

The OWASP Web Security Testing Guide (WSTG) is the world's most comprehensive framework for web security testing. This methodology divides testing into stages, from Information Gathering to Client-side Testing.

Why WSTG?

• Systematic: Ensuring that no gaps are overlooked (from headers to databases).
• Repeatable: Test results can be repeated and validated by other auditors.

2. Understanding the 12 Categories of OWASP WSTG Methodology

This methodology is designed so that testing is conducted in layers (Defense in Depth). The following are the details of the categories:

1. Information Gathering

The initial stage for this is the "reconnaissance" stage. Auditors do not attack immediately, but rather gather as much information as possible to build a map of the strengths and weaknesses of the target application infrastructure.

• What is being tested? Auditors look for the technology used (Tech Stack), network structure, subdomains, and even hidden files that may provide clues about how the application works.
• Case Study: Web Server & Framework Fingerprinting Knowing that the server uses an old version of Apache or a specific version of PHP is crucial. If that version has a published vulnerability (CVE), then the auditor has found a way in.

Tools Used:

• Nmap: The industry standard for mapping open ports and detecting OS/Services.
• WhatWeb / Wappalyzer: To identify CMS, JavaScript libraries, and web servers.
• Dig (Domain Information Groper): To view DNS records and domain infrastructure configuration.

Example Practice & Tool Results: Scenario A: Service Discovery with Nmap The auditor wants to know what services are running on the target server other than web (HTTP/HTTPS).

• Command:

nmap -sV -p 80,443,8080,21 target.com

Tool Results:

PORT     STATE  SERVICE VERSION
80/tcp   open   http    Apache httpd 2.x.x1 ((Ubuntu))
443/tcp  open   ssl/http Apache httpd 2.x.x1
21/tcp   open   ftp     vsftpd 3.x.x

• Analysis: The server uses Apache 2.x.xx. The auditor will immediately check whether this version of Apache has any unpatched security vulnerabilities. The openness of port 21 (FTP) is also an additional audit target.

Scenario B: Technology Profiling with WhatWeb The auditor wants to quickly find out the "insides" of the application through the terminal.

• Command:

whatwebhttps://target-kampus.ac.id

Tool Results:

https://target-campus.ac.id [200 OK] Apache[2.x.xx], 
HTTPServer[Ubuntu Linux][Apache/2.4.41], 
PHP[8.x.x], WordPress[6.x.x], JQuery[3.x.x]

• Analysis: The auditor knows that the application uses PHP 8.x.x and WordPress 6.x.x. This information narrows down the choice of audit tools (for example, using WPScan because it is definitely WordPress).

2. Configuration and Deployment Management Testing

This category aims to ensure that the entire application ecosystem — from web servers and databases to frameworks — has been configured with strict security standards.

• What is being tested? Auditors look for human errors such as default credentials that have not been changed, unnecessary but active server features, and technical files that should not be accessible to the public.
• Case Study: Exposed Sensitive Files Developers often forget to delete metadata folders such as .git or environment files such as .env. These files often contain "royal keys" such as database passwords, API keys, or the entire source code structure of the application.

Tools Used:

• Dirsearch: A Python-based tool for performing brute force attacks on hidden directories and files at high speed.
• GoBuster: A similar tool written in Go, very fast and efficient for mapping server folder structures.
• Nikto: A highly reliable web vulnerability scanner for finding dangerous default configuration files.

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario A: Searching for Configuration Files with Dirsearch The auditor suspects that technical files have been left behind in the server's root folder.

• Command:

python3 dirsearch.py -u https://target-store.com -e php,txt,env,bak

Tool Results:

[14:20:05] 200 -   1KB - /.env
[14:20:08] 200 -   5KB - /config.php.bak
[14:20:12] 301 -   0B  - /.git  ->  REDIRECT TO: https://target-store.com/.git/

• Analysis: The 200 OK status on /.env is a critical finding. Auditors can open the URL in a browser and view the database password in plain text. The open /.git folder also allows attackers to download the entire application source code.

Scenario B: Server Configuration Audit with Nikto The auditor wants to check whether any default installation files are still active.

• Command:

nikto -h https://target-toko.com

Tool Results:

+ /phpmyadmin/: phpMyAdmin directory found.
+ /server-status: Apache server-status found. This yields sensitive information.
+ /info.php: PHP information page found.

• Analysis: Finding /info.php (the result of the phpinfo() function) provides detailed information about the OS version, CPU architecture, and PHP module configuration used. This information is very useful for attackers to devise more specific attack plans.

Poor configuration is a "back door" that is often left wide open. "Even code that is written very securely will be useless if the entrance to the database (via the .env file) is left open to the public."

3. Identity Management Testing

This category aims to ensure that the entire application ecosystem — from web servers and databases to frameworks — has been configured with strict security standards.

This category focuses on how applications manage the user identity lifecycle, from registration to deletion, as well as how the system distinguishes one identity from another.

• What is being tested? Auditors check for vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to guess valid usernames, register with fake identities, or exploit user roles.
• Case Example: User Enumeration A condition where an application provides different responses for registered and unregistered usernames. Attackers use this to collect a list of valid accounts as targets for subsequent attacks.

Tools Used:

• Burp Suite (Intruder): The most standard tool for fuzzing login or forgotten password fields.
• WPScan: Specifically for WordPress-based websites.
• Metasploit Framework: Has special modules for scanning various services.

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario: Testing the "Forgot Password" Feature The auditor enters several emails into the forgot password feature and observes the server's response using Burp Suite.

Tool Results (HTTP Response):

• Inputuser-ada@mail.com -> Response: "The password reset link has been sent to your email." (HTTP 200)
• Inputuser-palsu@mail.com -> Response: "Email not found." (HTTP 404)
• Analysis: This difference in response confirms the existence of a User Enumeration vulnerability. Attackers can enter a list of thousands of emails and filter only those that respond with "sent," thereby obtaining a list of real users.

Scenario: Testing WordPress via Terminal Using WPScan to retrieve a list of users via the internal API.

• Command:

wpscan - url https://target.com - enumerate u

Tool Results:

• Analysis: Without needing to log in, auditors can obtain users' real names. This proves that identity management on the application is not secure because it leaks sensitive information to the public.

Risk Impact: Identity leakage (Enumeration) facilitates targeted phishing attacks and provides specific targets for credential stuffing attacks.

4. Authentication Testing

Authentication is the process of verifying a user's identity. Testing in this category aims to ensure that only authorized users can log into the system and that the "gateway" mechanism has no loopholes that can be exploited.

• What is being tested? Auditors test the strength of password policies, account recovery mechanisms (for forgotten passwords), and the system's resistance to automated attacks that attempt to guess user credentials.
• Case Study: Brute Force Attacks & Lack of Account Lockout Many applications forget to implement the Lockout feature (temporary account lockout). Without this feature, an attacker can try thousands of password combinations for a single username without ever being stopped by the system.

Tools Used:

• Burp Suite (Intruder): The main tool for performing automated attacks (automated HTTP requests) with various password lists (wordlists).
• THC-Hydra: A very fast tool for performing brute force attacks on various protocols (HTTP, FTP, SSH, etc.).
• OWASP ZAP (Fuzzer): A free alternative for performing automated testing on login parameters.

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario: Brute Force Login using Burp Suite Intruder Auditor captures the login request and sends it to the Intruder menu to test thousands of passwords against the admin user.

• Process: 1. Capture POST requests to /login.php. 2. Determine the position of the payload in the password parameter. 3. Enter a wordlist of popular passwords (such as rockyou.txt).
• Tool Results (HTTP Response):

Payload          Status    Length
password123      200 OK    4500  (Failed)
123456           200 OK    4500  (Failed)
qwerty           200 OK    4500  (Failed)
admin@2024       302 Found 150   (SUCCESSFUL!)

• Analysis: The difference in Status Code (from 200 to 302) and Length (response length) indicates that the password admin@2024 was successfully accepted by the server. Since auditors can attempt hundreds of times without being blocked, the system is considered vulnerable to Brute Force attacks.

Strong authentication is the first line of defense. "Authentication isn't just about how complex a user's password is, but how firmly the system handles suspicious login attempts."

5. Authorization Testing

Authorization is a mechanism that determines user privileges after they log into the system. This test is crucial to ensure that a user cannot exceed their designated access rights (e.g., User A viewing User B's data (horizontal), or a regular user becoming an admin (vertical)).

• What is being tested? Auditors test whether there are any loopholes that allow horizontal (between users of the same level) or vertical (from lower to higher levels) access rights to be increased.
• Case Study: IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference) This is a very common authorization vulnerability. It occurs when an application grants direct access to an object (such as a file or database) based on user input without double-checking whether the user has rights to that object.

Tools Used:

• Burp Suite (Repeater): The best tool for manually changing request parameters and seeing the results immediately.
• Autorize (Burp Suite Extension): A specialized plugin that automatically detects authorization vulnerabilities by comparing responses from two different account levels.
• PwnFox: A browser extension for managing different sessions in different tab colors, making it easier to test between accounts.

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario: Exploiting IDOR on Customer Invoices The auditor logs in as User A (ID: 100). When viewing the invoice, the URL that appears is https://toko.com/invoice/view?id=8821. The auditor suspects that this ID number is sequential.

• Process: 1. Capture the request in Burp Suite. 2. Send the request to Repeater. 3. Change the value id=8821 to id=8820 (User B's ID).

Tool Results (HTTP Response):

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: text/html

<html>
  <body>
    <h1>Invoice #8820</h1>
    <p>Customer Name: Budi Santoso</p>
    <p>Address: Jl. Melati No. 5</p>
    <p>Total Bill: Rp 1,500,000</p>
  </body>
</html>

• Analysis: Since the server returns a 200 OK response and displays Budi's (User B) data to User A, the application is considered to have an IDOR vulnerability. The server only checks whether the ID exists, but forgets to check "Does User A have permission to view ID 8820?".

Authorization is about restrictions. "Authorization issues are often more dangerous than authentication, because one small hole here can expose all user data in the database without the need for brute force."

6. Session Management Testing

After the user successfully passes the authentication process, the server will provide a Session ID (usually in the form of a cookie). This token keeps the user "logged in" without having to type their password on every page. This test ensures that the token is not easily guessed, does not leak, and is properly destroyed when it is no longer needed.

• What is being tested? Auditors test the session lifecycle, starting from how random the token value is, how it is sent (securely or not), to when the token expires (timeout).
• Case Example: Insecure Logout Many applications only delete cookies on the browser side when users press the "Logout" button, but forget to delete the session data on the server side. As a result, if an attacker manages to steal the Session ID, they can still access the account even though the original owner thinks they have logged out.

Tools Used:

• Burp Suite (Repeater & Sequencer): Repeater is used to test whether old tokens can still be used, while Sequencer is used to test how random (entropy) the token value is.
• Cookie Editor: A browser extension for viewing, modifying, and deleting cookies manually.
• OWASP ZAP: Has a session analysis feature to view token generation patterns.

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario: Testing Session Validity After Logout The auditor wants to verify whether the session is actually destroyed by the server after the logout process.

• Process: 1. The auditor logs in and captures a request that requires access (e.g., /my-profile) using Burp Suite. 2. The auditor clicks the Logout button on the website. 3. The auditor returns to Burp Suite Repeater and resends the /my-profile request that was captured earlier, using the old Session ID.

Tool Results (HTTP Response):

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: text/html

<html>
  <body>
    <h1>Welcome Back, User A!</h1>
    <p>Email: userA@mail.com</p>
  </body>
</html>

• Analysis: Since the server still returns a 200 OK response and displays profile data (it should return a 302 Redirect to the login page or a 401 Unauthorized response), this proves that the Session ID remains active on the server side. This is a high risk because it allows Session Hijacking attacks to persist for a long time.

Session Management is about time control. "A session ID is a duplicate key that the server gives you. If that key is not withdrawn after you finish using it (log out), then anyone who finds that key can enter your house at any time."

7. Input Validation Testing

Modern web applications rely heavily on user input (login forms, search fields, comment fields, etc.). This test aims to ensure that the application does not simply "trust" what users type, but rather filters and sanitizes harmful characters.

• What is being tested? Auditors try to enter special characters or programming commands (payloads) into input fields to see whether the server will execute the commands or reject them.
• Case Study A: SQL Injection (SQLi) The attacker enters database commands into the form. If successful, the attacker can steal the entire contents of the database, alter data, or even delete it.

Tool: SQLmap (Automated database detection and exploitation).

• Case Study B: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) The attacker inserts JavaScript code into the application. This code will later run in the browser of other users who view the page, often used to steal cookies or perform phishing.

Alat: Burp Suite (Repeater/Intruder) & XSSer.

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario 1: Detecting SQL Injection with SQLmap

The auditor found a suspicious URL parameter: https://toko.com/produk.php?id=10.

• Command:

sqlmap -u "https://toko.com/produk.php?id=10" - dbs

Tool Results:

[INFO] GET parameter 'id' is vulnerable.
[INFO] the back-end DBMS is MySQL
available databases [3]:
[*] information_schema
[*] db_toko_online
[*] mysql

• Analysis: Since SQLmap successfully displayed the database list, this proves that the id parameter is not filtered. Auditors can proceed to pull data from the users table to retrieve password hashes.

Scenario 2: Testing Stored XSS with Burp Suite

The auditor attempted to insert a script in the comment section of the user's profile.

• Process: The auditor enters the payload <script>alert(document.cookie)</script> into the comment field and captures the request in Burp Suite.
• Tool Results (When the page is reloaded): The browser displays a pop-up window containing the auditor's Session Cookie value.
• Analysis: The application is vulnerable to Stored XSS. The danger is that if the Admin views this profile, the Admin Session Cookie will be executed and can be stolen by attackers to take over the Admin account without a password.

Input Validation is about "Never Trust User Input." "A secure web application should assume all data coming from users is malicious until proven clean through strict validation on the server side."

8. Error Handling Testing

This test aims to ensure that the web application handles error conditions (such as incorrect input, database failures, or files not found) in a secure manner. An ideal application will only provide generic error messages to users, while technical details are recorded in the server's internal logs.

• What is being tested? Auditors deliberately try to trigger errors (for example, by entering illegal characters or accessing non-existent pages) to see if the application leaks sensitive technical information.
• Case Study: Verbose Error Messages Conditions in which the application displays Stack Trace (code execution sequence), framework version, or SQL query snippets when a failure occurs.

Tools Used:

• Burp Suite (Repeater): Used to send payloads that trigger errors (such as single quotes ') and observe the raw response.
• OWASP ZAP: Has a passive scanner that automatically flags any stack traces or database error messages in server responses.
• Ffuf / Dirb: Used to find error pages such as 404, 403, or 500 that may not be configured correctly (server default pages).

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario: Triggering an SQL error via the URL Auditor attempts to insert a single quote (') into the ID parameter to corrupt the database query structure.

• Process: Access

https://toko.com/produk.php?id=10

Tool Results (HTTP Response):

HTTP/1.1 500 Internal Server Error
...
Fatal error: Uncaught mysqli_sql_exception: You have an error in your SQL syntax; 
check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version...
in /var/www/html/includes/db_connect.php on line 128
Query: SELECT name, price FROM products WHERE id = '10''

• Analysis: The application leaks the server folder path (/var/www/html/…), the database connection file name (db_connect.php), and the SQL query structure. This information is very valuable for attackers to construct targeted SQL injection attacks.

Error messages should be user-friendly, but "silent" to attackers. "In web security, the honesty of an application when an error occurs is a vulnerability. A secure application should be able to say 'An error has occurred' without explaining 'Why and where' the error occurred to the public."

9. Cryptography Testing

Cryptography is at the heart of data confidentiality on the internet. This test aims to ensure that the encryption implementation (such as HTTPS/TLS) on web applications is strong enough to protect sensitive data from eavesdropping or manipulation by third parties.

• What is tested? Auditors examine the encryption algorithms used, key length, SSL/TLS certificate authenticity, and protocols supported by the server.
• Case Study: Use of Deprecated Protocols Many servers still support older protocols such as SSLv3 or TLS 1.0. These protocols have critical security flaws (such as POODLE or BEAST attacks) that allow attackers to decrypt data that should be confidential.

Tools Used:

• SSLyze: A very fast Python-based tool for analyzing SSL/TLS server configurations.
• Testssl.sh: A very popular and comprehensive command line script (CLI) capable of detecting almost all types of cryptographic vulnerabilities.
• Qualys SSL Labs (Web-based): A web-based alternative for automatically assessing (grading) the quality of SSL certificates.

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario: Scanning TLS Protocols with Testssl.sh The auditor wants to check whether the target server still supports old, vulnerable versions of TLS.

• Command:

./testssl.sh https://target-kampus.ac.id

Tool Results:

Testing protocols (via sockets)
SSLv2      not offered (OK)
SSLv3      not offered (OK)
TLS 1.0    offered (NOT OK) - Deprecated
TLS 1.1    offered (NOT OK) - Deprecated
TLS 1.2    offered (OK)
TLS 1.3    offered (OK)

VULNERABILITIES
BEAST (CVE-2011-3389)      VULNERABLE
POODLE, SSL (CVE-2014-3566) NOT VULNERABLE

• Analysis: The server was found to support TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1. In addition, the server was found to be vulnerable to BEAST attacks. This information indicates that user data (such as login passwords) is at risk of being intercepted if the attacker is on the same network (e.g., public WiFi).

Weak cryptography is equivalent to no cryptography at all. "Encryption is a lock on your data. If you use an old version of the lock (TLS 1.0), an attacker doesn't need to find the key; they can simply use a technical 'crowbar' to break it."

10. Business Logic Testing

Business Logic Testing focuses on how an application function can be misused by manipulating legitimate workflows. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because the application code may be technically sound (no SQLi or XSS), but the procedural logic is flawed.

• What is being tested? Auditors test developers' assumptions about how users should interact with the application. Auditors will attempt to perform actions out of sequence, manipulate parameter values, or skip certain steps.
• Case Example: Price Manipulation A user changes the price of a product from positive to negative in the shopping cart, so that when checking out, the user's balance increases instead of decreasing.

Tools Used:

• Burp Suite (Proxy & Repeater): A must-have tool for capturing requests and modifying data before it reaches the server.
• Browser Developer Tools: To manipulate form elements on the client side.
• Human Logic (Manual Testing): This is the most important "tool" because machines do not know that buying an item for -100 Rupiah is illogical from a business perspective.

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario: Price Manipulation of Goods in E-Commerce The auditor attempts to purchase a laptop priced at Rp 15,000,000. When pressing the "Add to Cart" button, the auditor captures the data in Burp Suite.

• Process: 1. Capture the POST request to /cart/add. 2. View the parameters: item_id=101&qty=1&price=15000000. 3. The auditor changes the value price=15000000 to price=1 or -500000.

Tool Results (HTTP Response):

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "status": "success",
  "message": "Item successfully added at the price of Rp 1"
}

• Analysis: Since the server accepts the price without double-checking the original price database, the application has a Business Logic vulnerability. Attackers can purchase luxury goods at any price they want.

Business logic is the last line of defense that automated tools often overlook. "Vulnerability scanners can find unlocked doors, but only human auditors can realize that the system allows users to take items from the store without paying for them."

11. Client-Side Testing

Client-side testing focuses on code execution (usually JavaScript) that occurs directly within the user's browser. The danger is that if this code is not secure, attackers can manipulate the display, steal session data, or redirect users to malicious sites without touching the server database at all.

• What is being tested? Auditors check how applications store data locally in browsers, how applications handle inter-window communication (postMessage), and whether any part of the JavaScript code executes user input unsafely.
• Case Study A: DOM-based XSS occurs when JavaScript on the page retrieves data from a source that can be controlled by an attacker (such as a URL) and passes it to a function that can execute code (such as innerHTML or eval()).
• Case Study B: Sensitive Data in Local Storage Developers often store sensitive data such as access tokens or profile information in localStorage. The problem is that data here does not have the same protection as cookies (HttpOnly), so it can be easily stolen if there is even the slightest XSS vulnerability.

Tools Used:

• Browser Developer Tools (F12): The main tool for checking the Console, Sources (JavaScript), and Application tab (to view Local Storage/Cookies).
• Burp Suite (DOM Invader): An advanced feature in Burp Suite that automatically detects DOM-XSS vulnerabilities by tracking data flow (source to sink).
• Mantras / JSNice: To perform de-obfuscation or beautify hard-to-read JavaScript code (minified code).

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario: Finding Tokens in Local Storage The auditor is checking how the application stores sessions.

• Process: The auditor opens a browser, presses F12, then goes to the Application -> Local Storage tab.
• Tool Results (Browser Display): Under the target domain name, the following key was found: user_session_token with the value eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ….
• Analysis: Since session tokens are stored in localStorage, an attacker who successfully inserts a line of JavaScript code (via XSS) can retrieve this token using the localStorage.getItem('user_session_token') command and send it to the attacker's server.

Scenario: Detecting DOM-based XSS via URL The application has the following code:

document.getElementById('welcome').innerHTML = "Halo " + decodeURIComponent(window.location.hash);

• Process: The auditor changes the URL to:

https://target.com/#<img src=x onerror=alert(1)>

Tool Result (Browser): The browser immediately displays a pop-up alert.

• Analysis: The JavaScript code takes anything after the hash sign (#) in the URL and inserts it directly into the HTML. This is a very dangerous DOM-XSS vulnerability because it does not pass through the server at all.

The world of web security has shifted. "DonPractical Examples & Tool Results:'t be fooled by strong servers. If the client side (user's browser) is not secured, attackers can rob your users right in front of their eyes using JavaScript code they trust."

12. API Testing

An API is a communication bridge between systems. This test aims to ensure that each API endpoint is secure from data manipulation, as APIs often provide direct access to databases without going through a strict graphical interface.

• What is being tested? Auditors examine how the API handles data requests, whether there is protection against mass data retrieval, and whether the data schema (JSON/XML) can be manipulated to corrupt server logic.
• Case Example: Mass Assignment A condition in which an attacker adds additional parameters in an API request to change data that should not be changed (such as account status or balance).

Tools Used:

• Postman / Insomnia: Alat utama untuk menyusun, mengirim, dan mendokumentasikan permintaan API.
• Burp Suite (Repeater): Digunakan untuk memodifikasi header (seperti JWT) dan isi (body) dari request API secara real-time.
• Kiterunner: Alat khusus untuk melakukan brute force mencari endpoint API yang tersembunyi (Practical Examples & Tool Results:seperti /api/v2/debug).

Practical Examples & Tool Results:

Scenario: Mass Assignment Attack on Auditor Profile attempts to change account status to "admin" via profile update API.

• Normal Request (via Postman):

PUT /api/user/update {"name": "ahan", "email": "ahan@mail.com"}

• Auditor Manipulation (via Burp Suite): The auditor adds the is_admin parameter that is usually found in the database:

{"nama": "ahan", "email": "ahan@mail.com", "adalah_admin": true}

Tool Results (HTTP Response):

{
  "status": "success",
  "data": { "id": 101, "name": "Raihan", "is_admin": true }
}

• Analysis: The API accepts these additional parameters and immediately updates the database. This is a critical vulnerability that allows ordinary users to grant themselves admin privileges.

Why Use WSTG?

There are three main reasons why the cybersecurity industry mandates the use of this methodology:

1. Consistency & Standardization: Different auditors will provide equivalent results because they follow the same procedures. This makes it easier for developers to understand the reports.
2. Extensive Testing Coverage: WSTG ensures that we don't just focus on popular vulnerabilities (such as SQLi), but also check for "silent" yet fatal vulnerabilities such as Business Logic and Configuration Management.
3. Resource Efficiency: With step-by-step guidance, auditors don't have to guess what to test next. This saves audit time and costs.

Conclusion

Security testing is not about how many tools we have, but how deeply we understand the application's workflow. With reference to the OWASP WSTG, an auditor not only provides a list of issues, but also provides a clear mitigation roadmap to strengthen the overall security of the web application.

Stay Secure!

References

• https://owasp.org/www-project-web-security-testing-guide/v42/
• https://owasp.org/www-project-web-security-testing-guide/latest/4-Web_Application_Security_Testing/00-Introduction_and_Objectives/README
• https://haxoris.com/testing-methodologies/wstg