Penetration Testing Guide
Learn how to manually test AI-generated applications for security vulnerabilities. This guide covers the complete penetration testing methodology for vibe-coded apps.
Why Manual Testing Matters
AI-generated code often contains logic flaws and business logic vulnerabilities that automated scanners miss. Manual penetration testing is essential for finding complex security issues before attackers do.
Penetration Testing Checklist
Follow these 12 steps to perform a thorough penetration test. Items marked as critical should be tested before launch.
Reconnaissance and scoping
Define testing boundaries, gather information about your application architecture, and identify all entry points.
Authentication testing
Test login mechanisms, password reset flows, session management, and multi-factor authentication if implemented.
Authorization testing
Verify that users can only access resources they are authorized to view. Test for privilege escalation vulnerabilities.
Input validation testing
Test all input fields for SQL injection, XSS, command injection, and other injection vulnerabilities.
API endpoint testing
Test REST/GraphQL endpoints for authentication bypass, rate limiting, and data exposure issues.
Session management testing
Test session token generation, expiration, and secure transmission of session identifiers.
File upload testing
Test file upload functionality for malicious file uploads, path traversal, and unrestricted file types.
Business logic testing
Test application-specific logic for flaws that could lead to unauthorized actions or data manipulation.
Client-side security testing
Test for sensitive data exposure in client-side code, insecure API keys, and client-side validation bypass.
Error handling testing
Verify that error messages do not expose sensitive information like stack traces or database details.
Rate limiting testing
Test API endpoints and authentication mechanisms for rate limiting to prevent brute force attacks.
Documentation and reporting
Document all findings with severity ratings, reproduction steps, and remediation recommendations.
Common Vulnerabilities to Test For
Broken Authentication
CriticalWeak password policies, insecure session tokens, or missing MFA can lead to account takeover.
Injection Flaws
CriticalSQL injection, NoSQL injection, or command injection from unvalidated user inputs.
Sensitive Data Exposure
HighAPI keys, tokens, or user data exposed in client-side code or API responses.
Security Misconfiguration
MediumDefault credentials, verbose error messages, or improperly configured security headers.
Related Resources
Automate Your Security Testing
While manual penetration testing is crucial, automated scans can catch common vulnerabilities quickly. Run VibeEval on your app to complement your manual testing efforts.
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