What does the pentest report include?

The report includes a description of vulnerabilities, risk assessment, impact on the application or business, remediation recommendations, and a list of items for re-testing.

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Pentests • Web Apps • API • Networks

Penetration testing for web applications and networks

Q: How long does a penetration test take?

Time depends on the application scope, number of user roles, and available environments. A small test can take a few working days; a broader pentest covering the application, API, and infrastructure requires a separate plan.

Q: Is pentesting safe for a live application?

Scope and intensity are agreed before the test begins. For production environments, more cautious scenarios are used, while riskier techniques are better performed on a test environment.

Q: How does a security audit differ from a pentest?

A security audit reviews configuration, processes, and risks across the environment. A pentest practically tests whether specific vulnerabilities in an application, API, or network can be exploited.

Penetration testing for web applications and APIs lets you verify whether login, authorisation, and infrastructure hold up under real attack techniques.

A pentest doesn't end with a list of bugs. Fifth Ace focuses on clear security testing, a readable report, business impact analysis, and re-tests after remediation.

Ask about a pentest Start with a security audit

Scope of penetration testing

Depending on your needs, a pentest can cover a web application, API, admin panel, infrastructure components, publicly exposed services, or the internal network. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities, privilege escalation paths, and configuration errors.

Web and API Login, authorisation, user data, business logic flaws, and service exposure.

Web applications Forms, roles, sessions, file uploads, client and admin panels.

Network and hosts Services, ports, segmentation, legacy protocols, and asset visibility.

Most commonly tested areas

Login, session, and password reset mechanisms.
User permissions and access control.
Business logic flaws in the web application.
API security, tokens, and integration endpoints.
Misconfiguration of publicly exposed services.
Asset visibility in the local and internal network.
Data exposure, tokens, and API surface.

What you receive after the test

Clarity is the priority. The pentest result should give a clear picture: where the vulnerability is, how it could be exploited, and which fixes make the most business sense.

A list of vulnerabilities with priorities.
Description of the impact on the organisation or service.
Remediation recommendations and re-test plan.
Option to confirm improvement after fixes are deployed.

Pentest process

01 Scope definition

Application, API, user roles, test environment, and testing windows.

02 Security testing

Manual analysis of logic, configuration, access controls, and vulnerabilities.

03 Report and consultation

Priorities, business impact, examples, and remediation recommendations.

04 Re-test

Verification that fixes closed the vulnerabilities without introducing new side effects.

Who is a pentest for

A business publishing a new web application or client portal.
A team after major changes to login, API, or permissions.
A system owner who wants to verify risk before a client conversation.
A small business that needs practical testing without a large security team.

What a standard pentest does not cover

Scope should always be agreed before the start. A standard web application pentest does not have to cover all company systems, social engineering, or load testing.

Phishing attacks on employees without a separate agreement and scenario.
DDoS tests, performance tests, or aggressive production load testing.
Source code review when the scope is a black-box test only.
Deploying fixes on the application side unless separate support is agreed.

FAQ

Common questions about penetration testing

How long does a penetration test take?

It depends on the application size, number of roles, and API scope. A small web app pentest can take a few working days; a larger scope requires a separate estimate and schedule.

What does the report include?

The report describes vulnerabilities, risk level, an example exploitation scenario, remediation recommendations, and the order of actions before re-testing.

Is pentesting safe for a live application?

Yes, if scope and rules are agreed before the start. Riskier techniques are best performed on a test environment, while production is tested more carefully within agreed windows.

How does a security audit differ from a pentest?

An audit reviews configuration, processes, and risks. A pentest practically checks whether specific vulnerabilities can be exploited in the application, API, or infrastructure.

Want to test the resilience of your application or network?

Tell us what needs to be tested and the business context. That makes it easier to define the right scope.

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