Web Application Security Testing: What QA Teams Should Check

When testing a web application, it’s easy to focus on whether everything works as expected. But QA teams also need to think about what happens when someone tries to use the application in a way they shouldn't.

That’s where web application security testing comes in.

Here are a few areas QA teams should always check.

Test What Users Can Access

A user should only be able to see and change what they are allowed to. Try different user accounts and check whether someone can access another user's data or restricted features.

Don't Rely Only on the Frontend

A button being hidden or disabled doesn't make something secure. Test the API directly and see whether restricted actions can still be performed by changing the request.

Check Authentication and Sessions

Test more than just the login screen. Password resets, logout, session expiration, MFA, and old session tokens can all reveal security issues.

Test Unexpected Input

Applications receive all kinds of data. QA should check how the system handles unexpected, invalid, or potentially harmful input, both through the interface and directly through APIs.

Look at What the Application Reveals

Error messages, API responses, cookies, browser storage, and URLs can sometimes expose information that shouldn't be visible. Make sure the application only reveals what is necessary.

Security Is Part of Quality

Security testing doesn't have to be a separate step at the end of development. By adding security checks to everyday QA, teams can catch problems earlier and build more reliable software.

At TENTON, we believe quality and security should be considered throughout the software development process, not just before release.

Building a web application? Let's talk.