Enhancing Web Application Security Through Penetration Testing for a SaaS Company

Client Profile

A fast-growing SaaS company providing cloud-based business management solutions needed to ensure its web application was secure against cyber threats. The platform handled sensitive customer data, financial transactions, and API integrations, making it a high-value target for attackers.

Challenges Faced

Before undergoing Web Application Penetration Testing (WAPT), the company identified several security concerns:

Potential vulnerabilities in authentication and session management, increasing the risk of account takeovers.

Weak API security, exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access.

Injection vulnerabilities (SQL, XSS, and CSRF) that could compromise user data.

Compliance concerns with GDPR, OWASP Top 10, and ISO 27001.

Insufficient logging and monitoring, making it difficult to detect and respond to threats.

Our Approach

To fortify the company’s web security posture, we conducted a comprehensive Web Application Penetration Testing (WAPT) engagement, identifying vulnerabilities and providing remediation strategies.

Scoping & Threat Modeling

We collaborated with the client to define:

  • Scope of testing (Web Application, APIs, Third-Party Integrations, Cloud Environments).
  • Threat models specific to web applications, such as Broken Access Control, Injection Attacks, and Business Logic Flaws.
  • Testing methodologies (Black Box, Gray Box, and White Box testing).
Security Testing Execution

Using industry-standard frameworks such as OWASP Top 10, NIST 800-53, and PTES, we performed an in-depth web penetration test, covering:

  • Authentication & Authorization Testing – Evaluating login security, password policies, session expiration, and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • Broken Access Control Testing – Identifying improper role-based access controls (RBAC) and privilege escalation risks.
  • SQL Injection (SQLi) Testing – Attempting to exploit database queries to extract, modify, or delete sensitive data.
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) & Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Testing – Assessing how the application handles untrusted user input to prevent attacks.
  • API Security Testing – Checking for unauthorized data access, improper rate limiting, and insecure authentication.
  • Business Logic Flaws Testing – Identifying flaws in workflows that could be exploited for fraud or bypassing security checks.
  • Insecure File Upload Testing – Detecting malicious file execution vulnerabilities.
  • Cloud Security Assessment – Evaluating cloud misconfigurations, weak IAM policies, and exposed storage buckets.
Findings & Risk Assessment

Following the penetration test, we compiled a detailed security report highlighting:

  • Critical, High, Medium, and Low-risk vulnerabilities, along with their business impact
  • Proof-of-Concept (PoC) exploits, demonstrating how an attacker could exploit weaknesses.
  • A prioritized remediation roadmap to help the company fix vulnerabilities efficiently.
Remediation Support & Secure Coding Best Practices

To ensure the web application remained secure, we provided:

  • Secure coding guidelines for developers to prevent common web vulnerabilities.
  • Hands-on remediation support, assisting in fixing authentication and API security flaws.
  • Web application firewall (WAF) recommendations to detect and block real-time threats.
  • Re-testing of high-risk vulnerabilities to confirm successful mitigation.
Compliance & Continuous Security

After implementing security fixes, the company achieved:

  • Stronger web application security posture, eliminating critical vulnerabilities.
  • Compliance readiness for GDPR, ISO 27001, and OWASP ASVS.
  • Secure API integrations, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data.
  • Improved incident detection & response through better logging and monitoring.
Results Achieved

Within six weeks, the company successfully:

  • Eliminated critical security flaws, including SQLi, XSS, and Broken Access Control.
  • Hardened authentication mechanisms, implementing MFA and secure session management.
  • Implemented security best practices in development (SDLC), reducing future risks.
  • Established a regular penetration testing cycle, ensuring continuous security improvements.
Conclusion

By leveraging our Web Application Penetration Testing expertise, we helped the SaaS company proactively identify vulnerabilities, enhance security controls, and achieve compliance with industry regulations. Our structured approach, from threat modeling to remediation, ensured the company was well-prepared against web-based cyber threats.

Need Web Application Penetration Testing?

If you’re looking to secure your web applications, APIs, and cloud integrations, reach out to us today for a customized penetration testing engagement.

COE Security LLC

COE Security is a leading cybersecurity services provider, offering comprehensive solutions to address the evolving threat landscape. We have a proven track record of helping organizations of all sizes mitigate risks, strengthen defenses, and recover from cyberattacks. Our team of experienced cybersecurity professionals possesses deep expertise in the latest technologies and best practices, enabling us to deliver tailored solutions that meet your unique security needs.

We offer a wide range of services, including:
Security Services
  • Application Penetration Testing – Assessing the security of applications by simulating real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities.
  • Mobile Application Penetration Testing – Evaluating the security of mobile applications on Android and iOS to detect potential risks.
  • Web Application Penetration Testing – Identifying and mitigating security flaws in web applications to prevent cyber threats.
  • Thick Client Penetration Testing – Testing desktop applications to uncover security gaps that could be exploited by attackers.
  • API Penetration Testing – Ensuring the security of APIs by detecting vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorized access or data leaks.
  • Network Penetration Testing – Evaluating network infrastructure for weaknesses that hackers could exploit to gain access.
  • Hardware Penetration Testing – Identifying security flaws in hardware components that could compromise overall system security.
  • Operational Technology Security Testing – Protecting critical industrial control systems from cyber threats and potential disruptions.
  • Cloud Penetration Testing – Assessing cloud environments for vulnerabilities to ensure the security of cloud-based assets.
  • AWS Penetration Testing – Conducting security assessments for AWS environments to detect and mitigate risks.
  • GCP Penetration Testing – Evaluating security risks in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to safeguard cloud assets and infrastructure.
  • Azure Penetration Testing – Identifying vulnerabilities in Microsoft Azure cloud environments to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Alibaba Penetration Testing – Ensuring the security of Alibaba Cloud infrastructures against evolving cyber threats.
  • AI & LLM Penetration Testing – Assessing security risks in artificial intelligence (AI) and large language model (LLM) applications.
  • Red Teaming – Simulating advanced attack scenarios to test an organization’s cyber resilience against real-world threats.
  • Social Engineering Service – Identifying human-related security weaknesses through phishing, impersonation, and other social engineering tactics.
  • Product Penetration Testing – Evaluating security vulnerabilities in software and hardware products before deployment.
  • IoT Security – Securing connected devices to prevent them from becoming entry points for attackers.
  • DevSecOps & Secure Software Development – Embedding security into the software development lifecycle.