DAST Testing Methodologies

Automated scanning represents the most common DAST approach. Tools crawl applications to build site maps, identify input points, and systematically test each parameter with various payloads. This automation enables comprehensive testing of large applications with minimal human intervention. Scanners typically include thousands of test cases covering OWASP Top 10 and beyond, ensuring broad vulnerability coverage.

Guided testing combines automation with human intelligence. Security professionals configure scanners with application-specific information like valid credentials, business logic flows, or custom attack vectors. This semi-automated approach improves coverage of complex applications while maintaining efficiency. Guided testing proves particularly valuable for applications with multi-step workflows or complex state management.

Manual dynamic testing remains important for sophisticated vulnerabilities. While automated tools excel at finding common issues, human testers better understand business logic, can chain multiple minor issues into significant vulnerabilities, and adapt to unique application behaviors. Manual testing often follows automated scanning to dig deeper into potential issues and reduce false positives.