Security testing evaluates software for vulnerabilities that could expose data, allow unauthorized access, or disrupt service. Unlike functional testing, which verifies intended behaviour, security testing probes for unintended behaviour — what the system allows that it should not.

The OWASP Top 10: Where to Start

The OWASP Top 10 is the industry-standard list of the most critical web application security risks. QA teams should understand at minimum:

• Broken access control — users reaching data or actions beyond their permissions (the most common finding)
• Injection — SQL, command, or template injection through unvalidated input
• Cryptographic failures — sensitive data stored or transmitted without proper encryption
• Insecure design — missing security controls at the architecture level
• Security misconfiguration — default credentials, verbose errors, open cloud storage
• Authentication failures — weak session handling, missing brute-force protection

Security Tests QA Teams Can Run

1. Access control checks — log in as a low-privilege user and attempt admin URLs, other users' record IDs, and restricted API endpoints
2. Input validation probes — special characters, oversized payloads, and script tags in every input field
3. Session tests — verify logout invalidates sessions, tokens expire, and password changes terminate other sessions
4. Error handling review — confirm failures never leak stack traces, queries, or internal paths

Automating Security Checks

Several security verifications fit naturally into automated regression suites: asserting that unauthenticated requests to protected endpoints return 401, that role-restricted pages reject lower roles, and that security headers are present. API request steps with status assertions — supported natively in TestInspector — make these access-control regression tests straightforward to maintain alongside functional coverage. Run them in the pipeline as described in our CI/CD testing strategy guide.

Tooling Layers

• SAST (static analysis) — scans source code for vulnerable patterns (Semgrep, SonarQube)
• DAST (dynamic analysis) — probes the running application (OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite)
• Dependency scanning — flags known-vulnerable libraries (Dependabot, Snyk)
• Penetration testing — human experts attempting real attack chains; required for compliance regimes like SOC 2 and PCI DSS

Where QA Fits

QA teams are not penetration testers, but they are the first line of defence: they know the application's roles, data flows, and edge cases better than anyone. A QA team that routinely tests access control and input validation catches the majority of OWASP Top 10 issues before a formal security review. For the broader QA foundation, see our complete software testing guide.

Frequently Asked Questions: Security Testing

What is the difference between security testing and penetration testing?
Security testing is the broad category; penetration testing is a specific form where experts simulate real attacks. QA-level security testing (access control, input validation) complements but does not replace professional pen testing.

Can security testing be automated?
Partially. Dependency scans, static analysis, and access-control regression tests automate well. Business-logic vulnerabilities and chained attacks still require human testing.

How often should security testing happen?
Automated scans on every build; access-control regression with every release; full penetration testing annually and after major architectural changes.

What should QA test first for security?
Broken access control — it is the most common vulnerability class and the one QA is best positioned to catch, since it only requires testing the app with different roles and other users' IDs.

Need security-aware QA coverage for your application? Explore Astaqc's software testing services or contact us.