Model
Map roles, data paths, trust boundaries, and likely abuse cases.
Approach
Authorization is a control, not paperwork after the fact.
Every engagement starts with ownership validation and a signed scope. The method then follows the system and agreed objectives.
Before testing
Establish the boundary and the response path.
- Named authorizing party and asset ownership
- In-scope hosts, applications, accounts, APIs, and roles
- Explicit exclusions and prohibited techniques
- Testing windows, rate constraints, and production protections
- Emergency contacts, stop conditions, and incident handling
Written permission required
A discovery call, purchase order, or access credential alone is not authorization to test. Work begins only after the parties approve a written rules-of-engagement document.
During testing
Coverage with judgment.
Tooling helps map and repeat. Human testing validates exploitability, business impact, chaining, and false positives.
Exercise
Test agreed paths with production-aware constraints and evidence capture.
Validate
Confirm findings manually and minimize unnecessary access to sensitive data.
Escalate
Report critical conditions through the agreed channel instead of waiting for the final report.
Evidence standard
Reproducible enough to fix. Restrained enough to protect.
Finding evidence is limited to what demonstrates the condition and impact. Sensitive data is minimized, redacted where possible, and handled through agreed channels.
Method references
Testing may draw from OWASP Web Security Testing Guide, OWASP API Security Top 10, NIST SP 800-115, provider guidance, and attack-surface-specific techniques. These references guide coverage; they are not presented as certifications.
Severity
Severity combines technical exploitability with the client’s business context. CVSS may inform scoring, but priority also reflects exposed data, privilege, blast radius, detectability, and realistic attack paths.