<!-- Copyright (c) 2026 defconxt. All rights reserved. -->
<!-- Licensed under AGPL-3.0 — see LICENSE file for details. -->
---
name: implementing-security-testing-automation
description: >-
  Build and maintain automated security testing frameworks including custom scanners, orchestration scripts, result aggregation, and integration with ticketing systems for scalable and repeatable security validation.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: security-testing
tags:
  - automation
  - scripting
  - orchestration
  - custom-scanner
  - integration
version: "1.0"
author: defconxt
license: AGPL-3.0
metadata:
  mitre-attack: ["T1190", "T1059", "T1595"]
  tools: ["python", "bash", "nuclei", "nmap", "jira-api", "slack-api"]
---

# Implementing Security Testing Automation

## Overview

Security testing automation creates scalable, repeatable testing workflows through custom scripts, tool orchestration, result parsing, deduplication, and integration with vulnerability management and ticketing systems.

## Prerequisites

| Tool / Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| `python` | Security tooling |
| `bash` | Security tooling |
| `nuclei` | Security tooling |
| `nmap` | Security tooling |
| `jira-api` | Security tooling |
| `slack-api` | Security tooling |
| Written authorization and rules of engagement | Environment requirement |
| Defined scope with in-scope targets and exclusions | Environment requirement |

## Workflow

### Step 1: Framework Architecture

```bash
# Security testing automation framework structure
cat <<'EOF'
security-testing-automation/
├── config/
│   ├── targets.yaml        # Target definitions
│   ├── scan_profiles.yaml  # Scan configuration profiles
│   └── notifications.yaml  # Alert routing
├── scanners/
│   ├── web_scanner.py      # DAST orchestration
│   ├── infra_scanner.py    # Network scanning
│   ├── cloud_scanner.py    # Cloud security checks
│   └── custom_checks.py    # Custom vulnerability checks
├── parsers/
│   ├── nuclei_parser.py    # Parse Nuclei JSON output
│   ├── nmap_parser.py      # Parse Nmap XML output
│   └── normalize.py        # Normalize findings format
├── integrations/
│   ├── jira_client.py      # Create/update Jira tickets
│   ├── slack_notify.py     # Slack notifications
│   └── defectdojo.py       # DefectDojo API client
├── reports/
│   └── report_generator.py # HTML/PDF report generation
└── orchestrator.py         # Main pipeline runner
EOF
```

### Step 2: Custom Scanner Script

```python
#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""Example: Automated web security scanner orchestrator."""

import json
import subprocess
from pathlib import Path
from datetime import datetime


def run_nuclei_scan(target: str, templates: str, output_dir: Path) -> list[dict]:
    """Run Nuclei scan and parse results."""
    output_file = output_dir / f"nuclei_{datetime.now():%Y%m%d_%H%M%S}.json"
    cmd = [
        "nuclei", "-u", target,
        "-t", templates,
        "-severity", "critical,high,medium",
        "-json", "-o", str(output_file),
    ]
    subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, check=False)
    findings = []
    if output_file.exists():
        for line in output_file.read_text().splitlines():
            if line.strip():
                findings.append(json.loads(line))
    return findings


def deduplicate_findings(findings: list[dict]) -> list[dict]:
    """Remove duplicate findings based on template + host."""
    seen: set[str] = set()
    unique: list[dict] = []
    for f in findings:
        key = f"{f.get('template-id', '')}:{f.get('host', '')}"
        if key not in seen:
            seen.add(key)
            unique.append(f)
    return unique
```

### Step 3: Result Integration

```python
#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""Example: Jira integration for auto-creating vulnerability tickets."""

import json
import os
from urllib.request import Request, urlopen


def create_jira_ticket(finding: dict) -> dict:
    """Create a Jira ticket for a security finding."""
    jira_url = os.environ.get("JIRA_URL", "https://jira.example.com")
    severity_map = {"critical": "Highest", "high": "High", "medium": "Medium"}

    ticket = {
        "fields": {
            "project": {"key": "SEC"},
            "issuetype": {"name": "Bug"},
            "summary": f"[{finding['severity'].upper()}] {finding['name']}",
            "description": json.dumps(finding, indent=2),
            "priority": {"name": severity_map.get(finding["severity"], "Medium")},
            "labels": ["security", "automated-scan"],
        }
    }

    req = Request(
        f"{jira_url}/rest/api/2/issue",
        data=json.dumps(ticket).encode(),
        headers={
            "Content-Type": "application/json",
            "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ.get('JIRA_TOKEN', '')}",
        },
        method="POST",
    )
    with urlopen(req) as resp:
        return json.loads(resp.read())
```

### Step 4: Orchestration Pipeline

```bash
#!/bin/bash
set -euo pipefail

# Main orchestration script
CONFIG_DIR="config"
OUTPUT_DIR="results/$(date +%Y%m%d)"
mkdir -p "$OUTPUT_DIR"

echo "[*] Starting automated security scan pipeline"
echo "[*] Output: $OUTPUT_DIR"

# Phase 1: Infrastructure scanning
echo "[+] Phase 1: Infrastructure scan"
python3 scanners/infra_scanner.py \
  --targets "$CONFIG_DIR/targets.yaml" \
  --output "$OUTPUT_DIR/infra/"

# Phase 2: Web application scanning
echo "[+] Phase 2: Web application scan"
python3 scanners/web_scanner.py \
  --targets "$CONFIG_DIR/targets.yaml" \
  --profile full \
  --output "$OUTPUT_DIR/web/"

# Phase 3: Normalize and deduplicate
echo "[+] Phase 3: Normalize findings"
python3 parsers/normalize.py \
  --input "$OUTPUT_DIR" \
  --output "$OUTPUT_DIR/normalized_findings.json"

# Phase 4: Create tickets for new findings
echo "[+] Phase 4: Create tickets"
python3 integrations/jira_client.py \
  --findings "$OUTPUT_DIR/normalized_findings.json"

# Phase 5: Send notification
echo "[+] Phase 5: Notifications"
python3 integrations/slack_notify.py \
  --results "$OUTPUT_DIR/normalized_findings.json"

echo "[*] Pipeline complete"
```

## Detection

```yaml
title: Security Testing Automation Detection
id: 75957d04-1a6d-45a9-bb07-6d344aaa51f8
status: experimental
description: Detects suspicious activity related to implementing security testing automation techniques in security testing context
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine: "*implementing*security*"
  condition: selection
level: medium
tags:
  - attack.t1190
  - attack.t1059
  - attack.t1595
  - attack.discovery
falsepositives:
  - Authorized security testing tools during scheduled assessment windows
```


**Detection Opportunities**

| Indicator | Source | Detection Logic |
|---|---|---|
| Security Testing Automation Detection | windows/process_creation | Sigma rule (medium) |
| ATT&CK Coverage | MITRE ATT&CK | T1190, T1059, T1595 |

## Verification

- [ ] Authorization documented and scope confirmed
- [ ] All planned test cases executed
- [ ] Evidence collected with timestamps and integrity hashes
- [ ] Findings documented with severity and remediation
- [ ] Report delivered to stakeholders

## References

- [MITRE ATT&CK Framework](https://attack.mitre.org/)
- [PTES — Penetration Testing Execution Standard](http://www.pentest-standard.org/)
- [NIST SP 800-115 — Technical Guide to Security Testing](https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-115/final)
