Security Testing

What Is Security Testing?

Security testing evaluates how well a software application protects data and maintains functionality against malicious attacks. It focuses on identifying vulnerabilities, threats, and risks to prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and system misuse.

Security testing answers questions such as:

• Is sensitive data properly protected?
• Can unauthorized users gain access?
• Are there vulnerabilities attackers could exploit?
• How resilient is the system against common attack techniques?

Why It Matters	Who Performs It	When It Occurs
Prevents data breaches and cyberattacks Protects sensitive user and business data Ensures compliance with security standards and regulations Builds user trust and protects brand reputation Reduces financial and legal risks A system that works correctly but is insecure can cause severe damage to users and organizations.	Developers Information Security team (help perform assessments)	During development After system integration Before releases and production deployment After major code or infrastructure changes

Typical Security Testing Techniques

1. Vulnerability Scanning
   • Automatically scans systems for known vulnerabilities.
     • See ServiceNow Knowledge Base articles KB0014866 and KB002180.
   • Purpose: Identify security weaknesses early
   • Examples:
     • Outdated libraries
     • Misconfigured servers
2. Penetration Testing (Pen Testing)
   • Simulates real-world attacks to exploit vulnerabilities.
   • Purpose: Assess real attack scenarios and impact
   • Examples:
     • Attempting unauthorized access
     • Exploiting injection flaws
3. Authentication & Authorization Testing
   • Verifies access control mechanisms.
   • Purpose: Ensure only authorized users access resources
   • Examples:
     • Login bypass attempts
     • Role-based access validation
4. Security Configuration Testing
   • Checks system configurations for weaknesses.
   • Purpose: Prevent misconfigurations that expose systems
   • Examples:
     • Default credentials
     • Open ports and services
5. Input Validation Testing
   • Tests how the system handles unexpected or malicious input.
   • Purpose: Prevent injection attacks and data corruption
   • Examples:
     • SQL injection
     • Cross-site scripting (XSS)
6. Risk Assessment & Threat Modeling
   • Identifies potential threats and prioritizes risks.
   • Purpose: Focus on the most critical vulnerabilities
   • Examples:
     • Data flow analysis
     • Attack surface evaluation

Key Takeaways

• Security testing protects systems from threats and vulnerabilities
• Must be integrated throughout the development lifecycle
• Should simulate real-world attack scenarios
• Essential for any application handling sensitive or critical data