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Penetration Testing
Mid Level
How do you perform a web application penetration test?
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SituationWeb application pentesting is the most common type of security assessment.
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TaskDescribe the methodology for testing web applications.
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ActionPhases: 1) Reconnaissance (technology fingerprinting, directory enumeration, sitemap analysis), 2) Authentication testing (credential attacks, session management, MFA bypass), 3) Authorization testing (IDOR, privilege escalation, access control), 4) Input validation (SQLi, XSS, SSRF, XXE, command injection), 5) Business logic (workflow bypass, race conditions), 6) Configuration (security headers, CORS, TLS). Tools: Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nikto, SQLmap, ffuf.
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ResultDescribing a structured methodology shows maturity. Mentioning both automated scanning and manual testing techniques demonstrates comprehensive assessment capability.
💡 Interview Tips
- Use specific examples from your experience — generic answers are immediately detected
- Mention tools, frameworks, and standards by name to demonstrate hands-on knowledge
- Connect your answer to business outcomes — security exists to protect business value
- If you lack direct experience, describe how you would approach the scenario methodically