IMPETUS OPS

Penetration testing enables organizations to uncover vulnerabilities that might otherwise go unnoticed and assess their potential technical and business impact. By identifying and addressing these weaknesses proactively, companies can significantly reduce the likelihood and potential impact of a successful attack.

Because applications and infrastructures change constantly - new features ship, libraries and cloud services evolve, fresh CVEs emerge (especially with AI as facilitator) - penetration testing should be performed on a regular cadence and after any significant change or security event.

Routine assessments reduce the exposure window between releases, validate that previous fixes remain effective, and surface newly introduced risks before attackers can exploit them.

Tools can't understand business logic. My approach puts the auditor at the center, supported by tools, not vice versa. Automation accelerates routine checks, while manual testing targets complex logic and hidden functionalities - where human insight adds the most value.

Deep exploration of application logic via human reasoning helps uncover how legitimate features might be misused or abused and how minor weaknesses could be chained to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Standards-backed. Experience-driven. The assessment methodology is grounded in trusted standards like OWASP WSTG, PTES, and CWE. KEV and EPSS scores are consulted to define real-world risk accuracy. Backed by real-world engagements and bug bounty research, findings are interpreted with the judgment that frameworks alone cannot provide.

Testing engagements are structured, yet flexible - starting with pre-engagement, reconnaissance (passive/active), vulnerability identification, exploitation, post-exploitation, reporting, debrief and retest.

WSTG: Web Security Testing Guide
PTES: Penetration Testing Execution Standard
CWE: Common Weakness Enumeration
KEV: Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
EPSS: Exploit Prediction Scoring System

Threat actors continuously search for vulnerabilities, misconfigured roles, exposed endpoints, exploitable input fields, and any other weaknesses that can be leveraged.

• "Could a malicious user escalate privileges, leak PII, inject arbitrary commands, or exploit a logic flaw?"
• "Can a user access another tenant's data, bypass a paywall, or manipulate pricing logic?"
• "Could an attacker take over a customer account without ever knowing the password?"

These are some of the questions penetration testing answers - before attackers do.

The numbers make the case.

• In 2024, over 40,000 CVEs were published (+38% vs 2023). [1]
• On average, 108 new vulnerabilities disclosed daily. [2]
• 768 CVEs were exploited in the wild in 2024 - up 20% year-over-year. [3]
• 23.6% of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities were exploited before public disclosure. [3]
• Time from CVE disclosure to confirmed exploitation dropped from 2.3 years (2018) to 20 hours (2026). [4]

An unsecured system could lead to costly consequences:

• Average global cost of a data breach hit $4.44M in 2025. [5]
• In the US, average breach costs reached $10.22M in 2025. [5]
• Healthcare PII breaches average $7.42M per org in 2025. [5]

Takeaway: paradigm change. Consider your exposed surface as constantly under attack.

A Penetration Test can be conducted from different perspectives based on the prior knowledge level of the auditor.

• Black Box (External): No prior knowledge or credentials. Simulates an external attacker.
  • "What happens if a stranger attacks my app without credentials?"
• Gray Box (Authenticated - Recommended): Credentials provided. Simulates insider threats or compromised accounts. Deep exploration of business logic.
  • "What could a malicious user do using/abusing exposed functionalities?"
• White Box (Full Access): Complete access to source code, architecture, and documentation.
  • "Are there vulnerabilities buried in my codebase that no external scan would ever surface?"

• 1-hour debrief call: every finding explained in plain language for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• One full retest to verify all findings.
• 30-day feature review: one targeted reassessment of an isolated feature or fix shipped post-delivery.
• Findings tracker: asset, vulnerability, severity, owner, remediation status - ready to hand directly to your development team.
• Detailed remediation guide for every finding.
• Short exploitation videos* for complex vulnerabilities.
• Attack path diagrams*: high-level visual maps of how individual vulnerabilities chain into a realistic multi-step attack.
• Post-Exploitation Session*: if initial access is identified during testing and the client agrees, the environment is explored to evaluate the full extent of potential impact.

*Where applicable.

• Quote in 24h - You share a short description of your web application (3-minute form). Within 24 hours you receive an initial proposal with scope, timelines, and indicative pricing.
• Intro Call - A short call to refine the scope, align expectations, and clarify technical details. If the scope changes on the call, the quote is revised accordingly - up or down. You never move forward on a number that doesn't reflect the actual work.
• Formalities - The service agreement is finalized so everyone knows exactly what is included and what is not.
• Authorization to test - You provide written authorization and required access (URLs, test accounts, VPN or IP whitelisting). This keeps the engagement fully legal.
• Testing starts - The web application penetration test begins according to the agreed scope and dates. You receive interim updates if critical issues are found, so your team can start fixing before the final report.
• Debrief - You receive the final report and walk through every finding on a call. Severity, impact, and remediation priorities are explained clearly for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Retest - Once your team has addressed the findings, one full retest is included at no extra cost to verify that vulnerabilities have been properly fixed and no regressions were introduced.