Web Application Penetration Testing
Manual testing of authentication, session handling, access control, business logic and injection flaws in your web apps, mapped to the OWASP Top 10 and OWASP WSTG.
Penetration testing
Penetration Testing Services Find the gap before it is exploited.
Manual, certified penetration testing for web applications, APIs, mobile apps, networks and cloud — scoped to what you need to protect and the compliance obligations you need to meet, for organisations in Pakistan and worldwide.
- OSCP certified team
- CEH certified team
- CISSP certified team
- ISO 27001 LA / LI certified team
Offensive security view
Find the gap before it is exploited.
What is penetration testing?
What is penetration testing and why do you need it?
Penetration testing (often called a pen test or ethical hacking) is an authorised, simulated cyberattack against your systems. Our testers use the same techniques as real attackers to find vulnerabilities, safely exploit them to prove their impact, and show you exactly how to fix them.
Unlike an automated vulnerability scan, a penetration test is led by people. Scanners are good at spotting missing patches; they cannot understand your business logic, chain several low-risk issues into a serious breach, or test whether one customer can read another customer's data. That is where most real-world compromises happen, and where manual testing earns its value.
Organisations commission penetration tests to protect customer data before a launch, to answer enterprise security questionnaires, to meet ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC 2 or regulator requirements, and to give leadership an honest, evidence-based view of cyber risk. If you need broader coverage of many systems at lower depth, see our vulnerability assessment (VAPT) service.
Types of penetration test
Types of penetration testing we perform
Choose one test or combine several. Every engagement is manual, follows recognised standards (OWASP, PTES, NIST SP 800-115) and is tailored to your environment.
API Penetration Testing
REST and GraphQL APIs tested for broken object-level authorisation, mass assignment, rate-limit bypass and data exposure, following the OWASP API Security Top 10.
Mobile App Penetration Testing
Android and iOS apps tested on device and at the API layer for insecure storage, weak transport security, reverse-engineering risk and backend abuse (OWASP MASVS).
External Network Penetration Testing
Your internet-facing perimeter — firewalls, VPNs, mail, remote access and exposed services — tested the way an outside attacker would approach it.
Internal Network & Active Directory Testing
An assumed-breach test from inside your network: lateral movement, privilege escalation and Active Directory attack paths to domain admin.
Cloud Penetration Testing
AWS, Azure and Google Cloud reviewed for exploitable IAM misconfiguration, exposed storage, weak network controls and paths to sensitive data.
Red Team Assessment
Goal-based, longer-running attack simulation across people, process and technology to test detection and response, not just vulnerabilities.
AI & LLM Security Testing
Prompt injection, data leakage, insecure tool use and jailbreak resistance in AI assistants and LLM-powered features.
Scoping
Questions we ask when scoping your test
A short scoping call turns these answers into a written proposal with a clear price and timeline. Having them ready speeds things up.
- Which applications, IP ranges, cloud accounts or APIs are in scope, and which are explicitly out of scope?
- Is this a black-box, grey-box or white-box test — will testers receive credentials, documentation or source code?
- Which user roles should be tested (anonymous, standard user, administrator, tenant-to-tenant)?
- Is testing driven by a compliance requirement such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC 2 or a client security questionnaire?
- Can testing run against production, or is a staging environment that mirrors production available?
- Are there testing windows, change-freeze dates or fragile systems we need to work around?
Our methodology
How our penetration testing process works
A structured, repeatable process gives you consistent results and evidence auditors accept.
1. Scoping and rules of engagement
We agree targets, test type, accounts, testing windows, emergency contacts and written authorisation before any testing starts.
2. Reconnaissance and attack-surface mapping
We enumerate hosts, subdomains, endpoints, roles and technologies to understand how the target can be reached and abused.
3. Vulnerability discovery
Automated scanning is used for coverage, then every relevant area is tested manually — business logic and access control flaws are found by people, not scanners.
4. Controlled exploitation
Findings are safely exploited to prove real impact and remove false positives. Anything that could affect stability is agreed with you first.
5. Post-exploitation and impact analysis
Where in scope, we show how far an attacker could go: privilege escalation, lateral movement and access to sensitive data.
6. Reporting and debrief
You receive the written report and a walkthrough call with the testers so your developers and leadership understand each finding.
7. Remediation retest
After you fix the issues, we retest them and issue an updated report showing which findings are closed.
Timeline
How long does a penetration test take?
Typical durations are below; your proposal states the exact number of testing days for your scope.
Single web application or API
5–10 working days of testing, depending on the number of roles, endpoints and complexity.
External network perimeter
3–5 working days for a typical small-to-medium set of internet-facing hosts.
Internal network / Active Directory
5–10 working days, depending on network size and objectives.
Report delivery
Usually within 5 working days of the end of testing; critical issues are reported immediately during testing.
Sample report
What a penetration test report includes
One report written for two audiences: leadership and auditors get the summary and risk picture, engineers get everything they need to reproduce and fix each issue. Ask us for a redacted sample report.
Executive summary
Plain-language overview of overall risk, key findings and business impact for leadership and auditors.
Scope and methodology
Exactly what was tested, when, from where and how — the evidence auditors and customers ask for.
Severity-rated findings
Each finding rated with CVSS and business context: Critical, High, Medium, Low or Informational.
Proof and reproduction steps
Screenshots, requests and step-by-step reproduction so your team can confirm and fix each issue.
Remediation guidance
Specific, developer-ready fixes and references, not generic advice.
Retest results
An updated status for every finding after you remediate, so you can show issues are closed.
Retesting is included. When your team has fixed the findings, we retest them and reissue the report with each issue marked as resolved, so you can show customers and auditors that the risk is closed.
Who tests your systems
Certified penetration testers
Your test is carried out by AeroVerix team members holding recognised offensive-security and governance certifications. Certificate details are available on request.
OSCP
Offensive Security Certified Professional — hands-on, exam-proven exploitation skills.
CEH
Certified Ethical Hacker (EC-Council) — ethical hacking methodology and tooling.
CISSP
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (ISC2) — security architecture and governance.
ISO 27001 LA / LI
ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor and Lead Implementer — mapping findings to ISMS controls.
Penetration testing cost
How much does a penetration test cost?
Every test is priced on its scope, so there is no one-size price. These are the factors that decide it — after scoping you receive a written quote before any testing starts.
Scope size
The number of applications, user roles, API endpoints, IP addresses or cloud accounts.
Test depth
Black-box, grey-box or white-box; a quick external check or an in-depth assumed-breach test.
Complexity
Custom business logic, multi-tenant platforms and payment flows need more manual testing time.
Environment
Testing windows, production-only systems or on-site requirements can extend the engagement.
Compliance evidence
Mapping results to ISO 27001, PCI DSS or SOC 2 controls and attestation letters.
Retesting
Number of retest rounds needed after remediation.
Penetration testing for compliance
Penetration testing for compliance and assurance
Penetration testing produces evidence that stands up to customer, auditor and regulator scrutiny. We map findings to the controls you are assessed against. Related: SOC 2 readiness and ISO 27001 & GRC.
ISO 27001
Evidence for technical vulnerability management and control effectiveness (Annex A 8.8, 8.29).
PCI DSS
Internal and external penetration testing and segmentation testing required by Requirement 11.4.
SOC 2
Independent testing evidence that supports the Security trust services criteria.
SBP & PTA requirements
Supports security testing expectations for regulated sectors in Pakistan.
DORA & NIS2
Supports ICT risk and resilience testing obligations for EU-regulated entities.
FAQ
Penetration testing frequently asked questions
What is penetration testing?
Penetration testing is an authorised, simulated attack on your applications, networks or cloud environment. Certified testers find vulnerabilities, safely exploit them to prove real impact, and give you a prioritised report explaining how to fix them.
What is the difference between a vulnerability scan and a penetration test?
A vulnerability scan is automated and lists potential weaknesses, including false positives. A penetration test adds manual testing by experienced testers who confirm which issues are exploitable, chain them together, and find logic and access-control flaws that scanners miss.
How much does a penetration test cost?
Cost depends on scope (number of applications, roles, endpoints or IP addresses), test depth, complexity, testing windows and any compliance reporting you need. After a short scoping call we send a written proposal so you know the full cost before testing starts.
How long does a penetration test take?
A single web application or API usually takes 5–10 working days of testing, an external network test 3–5 days, and an internal or Active Directory test 5–10 days. The report normally follows within 5 working days, and critical issues are reported immediately.
What does a penetration test report include?
An executive summary, the exact scope and methodology, every finding with a CVSS-based severity rating, screenshots and reproduction steps, developer-ready remediation guidance, and — after you fix the issues — retest results showing which findings are closed.
Is retesting included?
Yes. Once your team has fixed the reported issues, we retest them and update the report so you have evidence that the vulnerabilities are closed for auditors, customers or regulators.
Will penetration testing disrupt our systems?
Testing is planned to avoid disruption. We agree testing windows and rules of engagement in advance, avoid destructive techniques unless you approve them, and keep an emergency contact open throughout the engagement.
How often should we run a penetration test?
At least once a year, and after any significant change such as a major release, new infrastructure or a cloud migration. Standards such as PCI DSS require annual testing and testing after significant changes.
Do you provide penetration testing outside Pakistan?
Yes. AeroVerix Security is based in Pakistan and tests remotely for organisations worldwide, including the Gulf, UK, Europe and the US, aligning reports to the standards that apply in your market.
Ready to scope your penetration test?
Tell us what you need tested. We reply with scoping questions and a written proposal.
Request a Quote