Testing Authentication Systems

1. Understanding Authentication Testing

TypeDetail
UnitFunctions (hash, token verify)
IntegrationLogin flow end-to-end
SecurityPen test, fuzzing
Property-basedInvariants under random input

2. Implementing Login Testing

Example: Playwright

test("login + protected route", async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto("/login");
  await page.fill("[name=email]", "test@example.com");
  await page.fill("[name=password]", process.env.TEST_PWD);
  await page.click("button[type=submit]");
  await expect(page).toHaveURL("/dashboard");
  await expect(page.locator("h1")).toContainText("Welcome");
});

3. Testing Password Reset Flow

CaseExpected
Valid email200, email sent
Unknown email200 (no enumeration)
Expired token410 or error page
Reused token410
Weak new password422

4. Implementing Session Testing

ScenarioVerify
Idle timeoutSession expires after N min
LogoutToken invalidated, cookie cleared
Concurrent sessionsPer policy (allow / single)
Session fixationNew ID issued post-login

5. Testing Token Validation

TestExpected
Expired token401
Tampered signature401
alg=noneRejected
Wrong audience401
Revoked token401

6. Implementing MFA Testing

TestDetail
Wrong codeReject, counter++
ReplayUsed code rejected
Time skew±1 step tolerated
Backup codesOne-time use

7. Testing Authorization Rules

Example: Jest authz tests

describe("orders authorization", () => {
  it("owner can read own order", async () => {
    expect(await can(owner, "read", order)).toBe(true);
  });
  it("other user cannot read", async () => {
    expect(await can(stranger, "read", order)).toBe(false);
  });
  it("admin can read any", async () => {
    expect(await can(admin, "read", order)).toBe(true);
  });
});

8. Using Security Testing Tools

ToolPurpose
OWASP ZAPDAST
Burp SuiteManual + auto pentest
SQLMapSQL injection
NucleiTemplate-based vuln scanning
Semgrep / CodeQLSAST

9. Implementing Automated Security Scans

CI StageTool
Pre-commitgitleaks, secret scan
BuildSAST (Semgrep, Snyk Code)
After deployDAST (ZAP), Nuclei
RuntimeRASP, anomaly detection

10. Testing Rate Limiting

Example: Burst test

const results = await Promise.all(
  Array(20).fill(0).map(() => fetch("/login", { method: "POST", body }))
);
const codes = results.map(r => r.status);
expect(codes.filter(c => c === 429).length).toBeGreaterThan(10);