Security testing is no longer an optional step reserved for specialized teams. Every QA engineer should be capable of executing core security test cases that validate critical aspects of an application's defense mechanisms. While not every tester needs to perform full-scale penetration testing, a foundational set of test cases can reveal the majority of common vulnerabilities that plague modern systems.
1. Input Validation Testing
One of the first test cases involves input validation. QA engineers should test whether all form fields, query parameters, and headers properly sanitize inputs to prevent injection attacks. This includes testing for SQL injection, command injection, and cross-site scripting. Closely related is output encoding, which prevents untrusted data from being rendered directly to users without proper escaping. Together, these tests cover a large portion of the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.
Input Validation Test Scenarios
- SQL Injection: Test database queries with malicious SQL payloads
- Command Injection: Attempt to execute system commands through input fields
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Test for reflected, stored, and DOM-based XSS vulnerabilities
- Output Encoding: Verify proper escaping of untrusted data in user interfaces
- Boundary Testing: Test input limits, special characters, and malformed data
2. Authentication and Session Management
Authentication and session management form another critical area. Testers should validate that weak passwords are rejected, sessions expire after inactivity, and authentication tokens cannot be reused. Attempting to bypass authentication through parameter manipulation or replaying session cookies can reveal serious flaws. Similarly, authorization testing ensures that users cannot access resources or APIs beyond their privilege level, a common issue known as Broken Access Control.
Authentication Test Cases
- Password Strength: Test weak password rejection and complexity requirements
- Session Management: Verify session expiration and secure token handling
- Authentication Bypass: Attempt parameter manipulation and session replay attacks
- Multi-Factor Authentication: Test MFA implementation and bypass attempts
- Account Lockout: Verify protection against brute-force attacks
3. Authorization and Access Control
Authorization testing ensures that users cannot access resources or APIs beyond their privilege level. This includes testing for horizontal privilege escalation (accessing other users' data) and vertical privilege escalation (accessing administrative functions). QA engineers should verify that role-based access control (RBAC) is properly implemented and that users cannot manipulate parameters to gain unauthorized access.
Authorization Test Scenarios
- Horizontal Privilege Escalation: Attempt to access other users' data or resources
- Vertical Privilege Escalation: Try to access administrative or elevated functions
- Role-Based Access Control: Verify proper RBAC implementation and enforcement
- Parameter Manipulation: Test for IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference) vulnerabilities
- API Authorization: Validate API endpoint access controls and permissions
4. Data Encryption and Protection
Another vital test case concerns data encryption. QA engineers should confirm that sensitive information, such as passwords or personal data, is encrypted both in transit and at rest. Testing should verify the use of HTTPS, secure cipher suites, and proper key handling. Additionally, error message handling should be tested to ensure that system errors do not disclose sensitive implementation details or stack traces that could assist attackers.
Encryption Test Cases
- HTTPS Implementation: Verify SSL/TLS configuration and certificate validation
- Data at Rest: Test encryption of stored sensitive data and database protection
- Cipher Suites: Validate use of secure cryptographic algorithms and configurations
- Key Management: Test secure key storage, rotation, and handling practices
- Error Handling: Ensure error messages don't leak sensitive system information
5. File Upload Security
File upload features warrant specific attention. Testers should attempt to upload malicious files, scripts, or oversized payloads to check for improper validation and storage. This includes testing for file type validation, content scanning, and secure storage practices. QA engineers should also verify that uploaded files are stored outside the web root and that file execution is properly restricted.
File Upload Test Scenarios
- Malicious File Upload: Attempt to upload executable files, scripts, and malware
- File Type Validation: Test bypassing file type restrictions and MIME type spoofing
- Oversized Payloads: Test file size limits and storage capacity handling
- Path Traversal: Attempt directory traversal attacks through file uploads
- Storage Security: Verify secure file storage and execution restrictions
6. Logging and Monitoring
QA should verify that the system enforces strong logging and monitoring, ensuring that suspicious activities such as failed login attempts or privilege escalation attempts are captured. This includes testing log integrity, log retention policies, and the ability to detect and alert on security events. Proper logging is essential for incident response and forensic analysis.
Logging and Monitoring Tests
- Security Event Logging: Verify logging of failed logins, privilege changes, and suspicious activities
- Log Integrity: Test log tampering prevention and integrity verification
- Log Retention: Validate log retention policies and secure log storage
- Alert Generation: Test security alert triggers and notification systems
- Forensic Capability: Ensure logs provide sufficient detail for incident investigation
7. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Protection
Other essential tests include verifying protection against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), ensuring proper use of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers, and testing rate-limiting to prevent brute-force attacks or denial-of-service attempts. CSRF protection is particularly important for state-changing operations and should be tested across all sensitive functions.
CSRF Protection Tests
- CSRF Tokens: Test CSRF token generation, validation, and enforcement
- Same-Site Cookies: Verify proper cookie attributes and cross-origin protection
- State-Changing Operations: Test CSRF protection on all sensitive functions
- Origin Validation: Verify proper origin and referer header validation
- Token Reuse: Test CSRF token uniqueness and one-time use policies
8. Content Security Policy (CSP) Testing
Ensuring proper use of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers helps prevent XSS attacks and other code injection vulnerabilities. QA engineers should test CSP implementation, verify that policies are properly configured, and ensure that legitimate functionality is not broken by overly restrictive policies.
CSP Test Cases
- CSP Header Presence: Verify CSP headers are present and properly configured
- Policy Enforcement: Test that CSP policies are enforced and violations are logged
- XSS Prevention: Verify CSP effectiveness against XSS attack vectors
- Legitimate Functionality: Ensure CSP doesn't break legitimate application features
- Policy Granularity: Test appropriate policy granularity and specificity
9. Rate Limiting and DoS Protection
Testing rate-limiting to prevent brute-force attacks or denial-of-service attempts is crucial for application availability and security. QA engineers should test various rate limiting scenarios, including login attempts, API calls, and resource-intensive operations.
Rate Limiting Tests
- Brute-Force Protection: Test login attempt rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms
- API Rate Limiting: Verify API endpoint rate limiting and quota enforcement
- Resource Protection: Test protection against resource exhaustion attacks
- IP-Based Limiting: Verify IP-based rate limiting and blocking mechanisms
- Graceful Degradation: Test application behavior under rate limiting conditions
10. API Security Testing
API testing also deserves focus, confirming that endpoints enforce authentication and reject unvalidated input. This includes testing API authentication mechanisms, input validation, error handling, and proper HTTP status codes. QA engineers should also verify API documentation security and test for information disclosure through API responses.
API Security Test Cases
- Authentication Enforcement: Test API endpoint authentication requirements
- Input Validation: Verify API input validation and sanitization
- Error Handling: Test API error responses and information disclosure
- HTTP Methods: Verify proper HTTP method usage and restrictions
- API Documentation: Test API documentation for security information disclosure
Implementing and Automating Security Test Cases
Running these ten core test cases regularly allows QA teams to uncover critical vulnerabilities early and consistently. Over time, these cases can be automated in CI/CD pipelines to ensure continuous protection. Security test cases should evolve alongside the application, adapting to new technologies and threat patterns. By mastering these fundamental tests, QA engineers can dramatically improve software resilience and play a pivotal role in safeguarding users and business data alike.
Automation and Evolution Strategies
- CI/CD Integration: Embed security tests into continuous integration pipelines
- Test Automation: Automate repetitive security test cases for consistent execution
- Continuous Monitoring: Implement continuous security monitoring and alerting
- Threat Adaptation: Regularly update test cases to address emerging threats
- Team Training: Ensure QA teams stay current with security testing best practices
Building a Comprehensive Security Testing Strategy
These ten security test cases form the foundation of a comprehensive security testing strategy. QA engineers should integrate these tests into their regular testing cycles, ensuring that security is considered alongside functionality. By consistently executing these test cases, QA teams can identify and address vulnerabilities before they reach production, significantly reducing security risks and improving overall application security posture.
Strategy Implementation
- Regular Execution: Include security test cases in every testing cycle
- Risk Prioritization: Focus on high-risk areas and critical business functions
- Documentation: Maintain comprehensive security test documentation and procedures
- Collaboration: Work closely with development and security teams
- Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and enhance security testing practices
Conclusion
Security testing is an essential responsibility for every QA engineer. By mastering these ten core security test cases, QA professionals can significantly improve application security and protect users from common vulnerabilities. These tests cover the majority of security issues found in modern applications and provide a solid foundation for building secure software.
Regular execution of these test cases, combined with automation and continuous improvement, enables QA teams to play a crucial role in application security. As threats continue to evolve, these fundamental test cases provide a reliable framework for identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities throughout the software development lifecycle.
Ready to enhance your security testing capabilities? SecureCodeCards.com provides comprehensive training resources and practical tools to help QA engineers master security testing techniques and build more secure applications. Explore our articles on secure coding for testers and early vulnerability detection to further strengthen your security testing expertise.