Security Testing Protocols

Most product founders (or aspiring founders) think cybersecurity is something that can be added on as we go. In 2024, 68 % of breaches involved a non‑malicious human element, like misconfigurations or coding oversights. Security isn’t a checkbox at launch; it’s a mindset woven into every sprint, every pull request, every architectural decision. Here’s a playbook we, at GrayCyan, have developed: 1️⃣. Threat Model Upfront Before you write a single line of code, map out your attack surface. What data are you storing? Who could target it, and how? A lightweight threat model (even a few whiteboard sketches) helps you prioritize controls around your riskiest assets. 2️⃣. Secure Design Patterns Adopt proven patterns—like input validation, output encoding, and the principle of least privilege—right in your prototypes. Whether it’s microservices or monolithic apps, enforcing separation of concerns and privilege boundaries early means fewer surprises down the road. 3️⃣. Shift‑Left Testing Integrate static analysis (SAST), dependency scanning, and secret‑detection tools into your CI/CD pipeline. Automate these checks so that every pull request tells you if you’ve introduced a risky dependency or an insecure configuration—before it ever reaches production. 4️⃣. Continuous Code Reviews Encourage a culture of peer review focused on security. Build short checklists (e.g., avoid hard‑coded credentials, enforce secure defaults) and run them in review sessions. Rotate reviewers so everyone gets exposure to security pitfalls across the codebase. 5️⃣. Dynamic & Pen‑Test Cycles Complement static checks with dynamic application security testing (DAST) and periodic penetration tests. Even a quarterly or biannual pen‑test will surface issues you can’t catch with automated scans—like business‑logic flaws or subtle authentication gaps. 6️⃣. Educate & Empower Your Team Run regular “lunch‑and‑learn” workshops on topics like OWASP Top 10, secure cloud configurations, or incident response drills. When developers think like attackers, they write more resilient code—and spot risks early. 7️⃣. Plan for the Inevitable No system is 100 % immune. Build an incident response plan, practice it with tabletop exercises, and establish clear escalation paths. That way, when something does go wrong, you move from panic to precision—minimizing impact and restoring trust. At GrayCyan, we partner with founders (and upcoming founders that have amazing product ideas) to embed these practices as we build apps. If you’re ready to turn security from an afterthought into your competitive advantage, let’s connect. Drop a comment or send us a DM, and let’s bake trust into your next release. #DevSecOps #SecureByDesign #SecureDevelopment #DataProtection #TechStartups GrayCyan AI Consultants & Developers

🔍 Exploring Testing Coverage Gaps in Web3 Security Audits 🔍 In the world of Web3, a comprehensive security audit goes beyond simply checking for known vulnerabilities. It involves assessing testing coverage gaps—unexamined areas within the code-base that could potentially harbor unknown risks. Identifying and addressing these gaps is fundamental to achieving a robust security posture. Here’s a closer look at why testing coverage gaps matter, where they often appear, and how we address them to ensure the highest level of security for decentralized applications (dApps), DeFi protocols, and blockchain infrastructure. 🤔 Why Testing Coverage Gaps Matter Testing coverage gaps are critical because even a single unchecked function or module can become a gateway for attackers. Web3 applications often involve complex, interconnected systems, from smart contracts and oracles to external APIs and multi-chain bridges. In such intricate architectures, a seemingly minor gap can lead to vulnerabilities that threaten the entire system. ⚠️ Common Areas Where Coverage Gaps Appear Testing coverage gaps are more likely to appear in the following areas: 1️⃣ Less-frequently accessed code paths: Functions or logic that are only called under specific conditions (e.g., edge cases in state changes, low-liquidity scenarios) are often missed during routine testing. 2️⃣ Third-party integrations: Interactions with external systems, such as oracles, liquidity pools, and token contracts, are often assumed to be secure. However, if these integrations are not fully examined, they may expose the project to risks, especially if assumptions about their behavior don’t hold. 3️⃣ Upgradeable or modular contracts: For projects utilizing proxy contracts or other upgradeable mechanisms, coverage gaps may appear when testing focuses on core functionality without evaluating upgrade mechanisms or new modules that could introduce vulnerabilities. 4️⃣ Low-priority functions: Functions that seem “innocuous” or low-priority, like administrative functions, may be overlooked. These often include set-up functions or rarely used contract management actions, which can sometimes be exploited if they aren’t properly secured. Testing coverage gaps represent a critical, yet often underestimated, aspect of Web3 security. By systematically identifying and addressing these gaps, we provide our clients with an uncompromisingly thorough audit that strengthens their security posture and mitigates risks. 🌐 As Web3 ecosystems become increasingly interconnected and complex, the need for complete and exhaustive testing is essential. It’s not just about catching the obvious flaws but accounting for every interaction, function, and dependency—no matter how minor it may seem.

🔒 API Security Testing Cheatsheet 1. Overview Purpose: Ensure APIs are secure from vulnerabilities and attacks. Scope: Applies to all APIs, including REST, GraphQL, SOAP, etc. 2. Common API Vulnerabilities 💉 Injection Attacks: SQL, NoSQL, Command Injection 🔑 Broken Authentication: Weak passwords, token validation issues 🔒 Sensitive Data Exposure: Insecure data transmission, improper encryption 🚫 Broken Access Control: Unauthorized access to resources ⚙️ Security Misconfigurations: Default settings, unpatched systems 💀 Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Injecting malicious scripts 🧩 Insecure Deserialization: Untrusted data deserialization 📦 Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities: Outdated libraries, frameworks 🔍 Insufficient Logging & Monitoring: Lack of proper logging and monitoring 🔄 Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF): Exploiting server requests 3. Testing Tools 🔧 OWASP ZAP: Open-source web application security scanner 🛠️ Burp Suite: Integrated platform for performing security testing 📬 Postman: API development and testing tool 🧼 SoapUI: Tool for testing SOAP and REST APIs 🔍 Nikto: Web server scanner 🕵️ Arachni: Web application security scanner ✅️ APIsec Automate API Security Testing tool https://www.apisec.ai/ 4. Testing Techniques 📄 Static Analysis: Reviewing code for vulnerabilities without executing it 🔄 Dynamic Analysis: Testing the application while it is running 🛡️ Penetration Testing: Simulating attacks to identify vulnerabilities ⚡ Fuzz Testing: Providing invalid, unexpected, or random data to the API 🔎 Code Review: Manual inspection of the source code for security issues 5. Best Practices 🔒 Use HTTPS: Encrypt data in transit 🧼 Validate Inputs: Sanitize and validate all inputs to prevent injection attacks 🛡️ Implement Authentication: Use strong authentication mechanisms ⏳ Rate Limiting: Prevent abuse by limiting the number of requests 📉 Error Handling: Avoid exposing sensitive information in error messages 🔍 Logging and Monitoring: Implement comprehensive logging and monitoring 🔄 Regular Updates: Keep software and dependencies up-to-date 🗝️ Access Control: Ensure proper access controls are in place 📌 This cheatsheet provides a concise overview of key points for API security testing. Need more details or have questions? 💫 Learn more about API Security Best Practices at APIsec University Register to access free resources and training: (https://lnkd.in/gEGDRpBa) #APIsecU #APISecurity #Cybersecurity #APITesting #TechTalk #APIsecUniversity #APIsecAmbassador #DigitalSecurity #APIdefenders #VulnerabilityTesting #Hacking #DevSecOps #API #APISecure #APIsec #ContinuousLearning #BestPractices

Secure critical IoT/PT and ICS deployments with device and network security testing including breach and attack simulation - Securing critical infrastructure including ICS/OT and IIoT/IoT deployments requires solutions that emulates cyberattacks to protect connected devices and the networks of which they are connected. Safety, up-time/continuity and security, are critical for organizations operating large fleets of mission-critical connected devices, such as manufacturing, complex global and regional operations, healthcare and utilities. Yes, device manufacturers are responsible for security fixes, however these typically lag actual risks/attacks and zero days…enterprises need time to take vulnerable devices offline or replace them before they are compromised. Often these updates must be tested…and tested over time. Our personal experience is that some of these updates can be mission affecting with negative results. Therefore, testing networks and devices against multi-stage attacks — including ransomware infections, lateral movement, phishing attempts, protocol fuzzing, and data exfiltration — is vital. BLUF: To harden IIoT/IoT devices, use a device security test tool to subject them to low-level protocol fuzzing and upper-layer application attacks. Thoroughly test chipsets and network stacks to find flaws in Ethernet, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® Low Energy, LoRa, CAN bus, and cellular interfaces. Utilize specialized field and lab testing for OT devices that can ‘break’ if tested see our blogs on OT/ICS testing. At the same time, network security teams must continuously assess firewalls, endpoint security, and properly correlated SIEM/SOAR tools to prevent configuration drift and detect alerts. Use a breach and attack simulation(s) tool(s) to emulate multi-stage network attacks, reveal gaps in coverage, and identify remediations. Without these, security tool updates can inadvertently cause blind spots or vulnerabilities. Critical infrastructure and IIoT/IoT deployment security solutions require enterprises to secure critical OT/ICS/IIot/IoT deployments with both manual (RedTeam/PurpleTeam) and automated security testing and breach and attack simulation. These ideally should emulate multi-stage cyberattacks with your teams, scan for vulnerabilities, and mitigate risk with a systematic and  ever-expanding list of security assessments, audits, and test plans. Harden networks, protect connected devices, and stay ahead of emerging threats with Cyberleaf Defense in Depth and Pen Testing designed for your IoT and Critical Infrastructure Security Assessment.   If you like this post – please follow Cyberleaf on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/e6txch76 and contact us directly for free assessments and a real conversation on Cyber Security.   Be safe out there!