What are the best practices for addressing false positives in Penetration testing for web applications?

1 What causes false positives?

False positives can have different causes, depending on the type and scope of the penetration test, the tools and techniques used, and the characteristics of the web application. For instance, a tool or method may not account for the specific context or logic of the web application, generating too much noise or traffic that triggers defensive mechanisms or rate limits. Additionally, it could have bugs or errors that affect its accuracy or reliability. Furthermore, it might not follow best practices or standards for web application security testing, such as those outlined by OWASP Testing Guide or NIST SP 800-115. And finally, it might not have enough information or access to perform a comprehensive or valid scan and thus rely on assumptions or defaults.

3 How to reduce false positives?

The second step to address false positives is to reduce them. Reduction involves minimizing the occurrence or impact of false positives by improving the quality and efficiency of the penetration test, the tools and techniques used, and the web application itself. This can save time and resources by avoiding unnecessary or redundant tests, checks, or reports, as well as focus on the real and relevant vulnerabilities that pose a risk to the web application and its users. Additionally, reduction can enhance the credibility and value of the penetration test and its findings, as well as improve the security and functionality of the web application and its components. To do this, it's important to plan and scope the penetration test properly; select and configure tools and techniques appropriately; follow best practices and standards for web application security testing; communicate with stakeholders; and fix or mitigate true vulnerabilities identified by the penetration test.