The Crucial Role of QA Engineers in Ensuring Software Security
Quality Assurance Engineers: Safeguarding Software Security and Navigating Career Heights in the Digital Landscape
Introduction:
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) play a crucial role in connecting and enabling the functionality of various software Apps.
Just like development is getting upgraded with multiple new technologies like web sockets, microservices, and serverless computing, the role of QA is also evolving. Traditional QA methods, while essential, may not fully address the emerging security challenges in this rapidly changing technological landscape
Security API testing is a response to this transformation.
So, by using security API testing, you can prevent expensive issues and keep your users' data safe, just like having a protector for your software.
A Good example:
When we talk about traditional QA, it's like making sure a car runs smoothly and is comfortable inside. But security API testing goes further. It's like checking if the car has a strong lock, armored windows, and an alarm system to keep it safe from thieves. This extra protection stops bad things from happening, like break-ins, and keeps your car (or in this case, your software) and your reputation safe.
But How? Is there any checklist for testing? How can I move my knowledge from traditional QA to new-age QA?
Why & How:
WHY QA Engineers Play a Pivotal Role in Security:
Early Bug Catching: QA engineers spot security issues before they harm your software.
Cost-Savings: Fixing issues early is cheaper than post-deployment disasters.
User Trust: Secure software wins user confidence.
Legal Safety: Compliance with data protection laws is a must.
Reputation Shield: QA engineers protect an organization's reputation.
HOW QA Engineers Can Enhance Software Security:
Security Training: Equip QA engineers with security knowledge.
Vulnerability Detection: Actively seek and report security problems.
Collaboration: Engage with development and security teams.
Specialized Testing: Create targeted tests for security holes.
Compliance Checks: Ensure legal compliance with data protection.
Career Advancement Opportunities:
Specialization: QA engineers with expertise in security testing can specialize in this high-demand field. They can become security testing specialists, furthering their careers.
Leadership Roles: QA professionals with security knowledge can move into leadership positions, such as QA managers or security officers, overseeing security efforts in organizations.
Industry Recognition: Specializing in security testing can lead to recognition within the industry as a security expert, enhancing one's professional reputation.
HOW in Detail:
Security API testing Guide for QA:
Let’s say a new API is developed by a developer and you are responsible for deploying the API to Production.
As a new-age QA, you are not only responsible for testing if the API works as documented, but you are also responsible for detecting security issues which reduces the risk of security breaches, data leaks, and other potential disasters.
With Quality, you should also ensure the safety of the API
Step 1: Understanding how API works
This means knowing how the API works, like where it gets information and how it sends it out.
Along with documentation, talk with the developer, and product manager to understand the functionality of the API
Example: Imagine the API is like a restaurant's kitchen. You need to know how the kitchen works, where the ingredients come from, and how the food is cooked and served.
Step 2: Security Standards and Guidelines
Think of this like a rulebook for a game. Just as a game has rules to make sure it's fair and fun, there are security rules and guidelines to make sure your digital world is safe
Check with your company’s security team if there are any security guidelines that developers need to follow
Make sure that the Guideline is being followed
We will be sharing generic Security Standards and Guidelines in the future.
Please subscribe to Nullfort's Journal for more such content.
Step 3: Authentication and Authorization
Test Valid and invalid credentials and check for response, with invalid credentials API should respond with an authentication error.
Test the authorization part of the API to ensure that users have access only to the resources and actions they are permitted to use.
For example, if a user should only be able to view their own data, attempt to access another user's data to verify that the API restricts access.
In the case of RBAC(Role-Based Access Control), create multiple users and verify if they can only access the granted functionality.
Try to access records outside the user's scope or range.
For example, test if an admin user can access privileged functions that regular users cannot.
.The API should respond with authorization errors in these cases where the user is not allowed to access the data.
If the API manages user sessions, test the session handling mechanisms to ensure they are secure and that sessions expire appropriately.
If API uses temporary tokens, make sure they are created and expired correctly to prevent unauthorized misuse
Step 4: Input Validation:
This is like checking the ingredients before cooking. You want to make sure you're not using something that could make the food taste bad or even hurt someone.
Similarly, input validation checks the information you put into the API to make sure it's safe and won't harm the system.
Check for following
Email Address Validation: only valid email addresses are accepted.
Password Strength Check
Date Format Validation
File Upload Validation: Verify that uploaded files are of the expected type
String Length Validation: Check that text inputs, like names or comments, don't exceed a certain length to prevent buffer overflow or other issues.
SQL Injection Prevention
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Prevention
Regular Expressions
Whitelist Filtering: Accept only known, safe characters and reject any input that contains unexpected or dangerous characters.
Step 5: Output Encoding
In the context of QA security API testing, encoding means making sure the information the API sends back is safe and doesn't cause problems when it's displayed or used.
Example 1 - HTML Encoding: Imagine you have a user review with a comment like this: "This product is <strong>amazing</strong>!" If the API doesn't encode this text properly, it might display the "strong" tag as actual HTML, making it bold. This could be a problem because a malicious user could insert harmful code. With proper HTML encoding, the comment displays as text and doesn't try to execute any code.
Example 2 - URL Encoding: Consider a user-submitted link: "https://example.com/search?query=<script>alert('Hacked')</script>". Without proper encoding, this link could be a security risk. It might try to execute a script that could harm a user's computer. With URL encoding, the link becomes safe, like this: "https://example.com/search?query=%3Cscript%3Ealert(%27Hacked%27)%3C/script%3E". It's now just plain text and doesn't run any code.
Example 3 - SQL Encoding: When retrieving data from a database, the API should properly encode data to prevent SQL injection. For instance, if a user's name is "O'Connor," without encoding, the single quote (') in the name could disrupt the database query. Proper encoding ensures that the name is handled safely.
Step 6: Rate Limiting
Think of rate limiting per user like a fair playground where everyone gets an equal turn on the swings. In QA security API testing, it means that each user is allowed to make a certain number of requests within a specific time frame.
For example, a user might be allowed to make 10 requests per minute. If they try to make more requests than that, they might have to wait or be denied further access for a while. This ensures that no single user can overwhelm the API, keeping it responsive and available for everyone
Test for rate limiting and ensure that the API can handle high traffic without degradation or vulnerabilities.
Step 7: Data Privacy
Verify that sensitive data is handled securely, stored appropriately, and not exposed in API responses.
The API needs to keep sensitive data, like your personal messages or payment information, safe from hackers.
Step 8: HTTPS Usage
Confirm that data transmission is encrypted using HTTPS (SSL/TLS).
The API endpoint should start with "https://"
Step 9: HTTP Methods
Ensure that only necessary HTTP methods are allowed (e.g., POST, GET, PUT, DELETE) and that they are used correctly.
Example: An API should only let you post new comments, not delete others' comments.
Step 10: API Security Headers
Check for the presence of security headers like Content Security Policy (CSP), Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) headers, etc.
Add extra protection to the API to stop bad guys from causing trouble.
Reference: Link
Step 11: File Uploads
If the API supports file uploads, verify that they are checked for malware and other security risks.
Step 12: Third-party Dependencies:
Assess the security of third-party libraries and dependencies used in the API.
Imagine you're testing a car, and some of the parts you use are made by other companies. In QA security API testing, third-party dependencies are like those parts.
These are tools or pieces of code created by other developers that your API relies on.
How to Check Third-party Dependencies in QA Security API Testing:
Version Control: Ensure you're using the latest and most secure version of the third-party library
Security Scanning: Use automated security scanning tools to check the third-party code for known vulnerabilities
If your team is not responsible for running security scanning, make sure the Development or Security team of the company is taking the ownership
A blog for the article “Security Scanning for Developers“ is coming next month. Please subscribe to get notified
Documentation Review: Read the documentation of the third-party library to understand any potential security considerations or configuration options.
Access Control: Limit the permissions and access rights that third-party dependencies have within your API.
Vendor Reputation: Research the reputation and security practices of the third-party vendor or developer. Reliable and reputable sources often have better security practices.
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