In cybersecurity, automated security testing refers to the use of software tools and scripts to automatically assess the security of applications, networks, and systems. It involves running pre-defined tests to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that attackers could exploit.

Key Goals:

• Efficiency: Automating repetitive security tasks saves time and resources compared to manual testing.

• Early Detection: Automated tests can be integrated into the development process (e.g., CI/CD pipelines) to identify vulnerabilities early on.

• Increased Coverage: Automated tests can cover various attack scenarios and potential vulnerabilities.

• Consistency and Repeatability: Automated tests ensure consistent testing methodologies and eliminate human error.

Common Types of Automated Security Tests:

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST): Analyzes source code, byte code, or binaries for security flaws without executing the code.

• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST): This method tests running applications to identify vulnerabilities in their behavior and responses.

• Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST): Combines elements of SAST and DAST, analyzing code and application behavior simultaneously.

• Software Composition Analysis (SCA): Identifies known vulnerabilities in open-source components and libraries used in the application.

• Network Security Testing: Scans networks for device vulnerabilities, configurations, and protocols.

• Penetration Testing: Simulates real-world attacks to identify weaknesses in systems and applications.

Automated security testing is a crucial component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. Automating repetitive tasks and early detection of vulnerabilities helps organizations improve their security posture and reduce the risk of successful attacks.

ThreatNG, with its comprehensive suite of external attack surface management, digital risk protection, and security rating capabilities, can significantly enhance automated security testing and vulnerability management. Here's how ThreatNG can help, how it works with complementary solutions, and specific examples based on its investigation modules:

How ThreatNG Helps with Automated Security Testing

• Continuous Monitoring: ThreatNG continuously monitors the external attack surface for new vulnerabilities, exposures, and threats, providing real-time alerts and enabling proactive remediation.

• Superior Discovery: ThreatNG's advanced discovery capabilities identify all internet-facing assets, including unknown or forgotten ones, ensuring comprehensive security testing coverage.

• Vulnerability Assessment: ThreatNG assesses the susceptibility of discovered assets to various attacks (BEC, phishing, ransomware, etc.), providing prioritized vulnerability insights for automated testing.

• Intelligence Repositories: ThreatNG leverages dark web intelligence, compromised credentials data, and known vulnerability databases to inform automated security testing tools and prioritize high-risk areas.

• Integration with Existing Tools: ThreatNG can integrate with existing security testing tools (e.g., SAST, DAST, penetration testing platforms) to enhance their capabilities and provide a more holistic view of security posture.

Working with Complementary Solutions

ThreatNG complements existing security solutions by providing external context and threat intelligence that internal tools may miss. For example:

• SAST/DAST: ThreatNG identifies external-facing web applications and APIs, which can be fed into SAST/DAST tools for targeted code analysis and vulnerability scanning.

• Penetration Testing: ThreatNG's vulnerability assessments and dark web intelligence can inform penetration testing efforts, focusing on high-risk areas and potential attack vectors.

• Vulnerability Management: ThreatNG's continuous monitoring and vulnerability prioritization capabilities enhance vulnerability management programs by providing real-time insights and actionable intelligence.

Examples based on ThreatNG's Investigation Modules

• Domain Intelligence

  • DNS Intelligence: Identify misconfigured DNS records that could lead to subdomain takeover vulnerabilities.

  • Exposed API Discovery: Discover exposed APIs that may not be adequately secured, allowing for automated API security testing.

  • Known Vulnerabilities: Identify known vulnerabilities in web servers and applications, enabling targeted patching and remediation.

• Social Media

  • Posts with Links: Analyze social media posts for potentially malicious links that could be used in phishing campaigns.

• Sensitive Code Exposure

  • Exposed Public Code Repositories: Identify code repositories containing sensitive information, such as API keys or passwords, that can be used for automated credential-stuffing attacks.

• Search Engine Exploitation

  • Susceptible Files: Discover sensitive files (e.g., configuration files, backups) exposed via search engines, enabling automated testing for unauthorized access.

• Cloud and SaaS Exposure

  • Open Exposed Cloud Buckets: Identify misconfigured cloud storage buckets containing sensitive data, allowing automated data exfiltration testing.

• Dark Web Presence

  • Associated Compromised Credentials: Detect compromised credentials related to the organization, enabling automated password spraying attacks to assess account security.

By leveraging ThreatNG's comprehensive capabilities and integrating them with existing security testing tools, organizations can significantly improve their automated security testing efforts, proactively identify and remediate vulnerabilities, and enhance their overall security posture.