Burp Suite is a renowned software used in web security for cyber security professionals. This software is based on a Java-based framework. This software is built and maintained by Portswigger.
Burp Suite can be used in various sectors of cybersecurity, such as Application Programming Interfaces (API), mobile applications, and web application security. It can capture HTTP/HTTPS traffic between a web browser and a web server through a proxy chain.
In simpler words, it is similar to an MITM attack. The attacker or a pentester can manipulate the captured requests to find vulnerabilities in the application.
This software is used for bug hunting, penetration testing, and vulnerability scanning.
Editions overview
This software is available in 4 different versions:
- Burp Suite Community
- Burp Suite Professional
- Burp Suite DAST
The community version is designed for every individual who is a cyber security enthusiast.
The professional version comes with some extra features. The price is somewhere between $400 – $500 per licence for a year.
The DAST version (previously known as Enterprise Edition) is for organisations. BurpSuite partnered with SAP for this edition.
For this series of BurpSuite, we will be focusing on the community edition.
Features
The community editions offer a wide range of features for their users.
- Comparer: With the help of Comparer, we can compare two pieces of data (it could be by word or byte). It can easily compare data of varying sizes.
- Decoder: The decoder can decode captured data in encoded payloads before sending it to the victims or hashing the data.
- Intruder: It allows us to go through all URLs or endpoints in the application. Through an intruder, we can perform brute-force attacks or fuzzing endpoints.
- Proxy: Burp Proxy is the first step to working with Burp Suite. Users have to intercept each and every request to work with. Then, we can use other sections of the software (such as intruder, repeater, etc) to modify requests and responses while interacting with web applications.
- Repeater: Repeater allows for capturing, modifying, and resending the same request multiple times. This functionality is particularly useful when crafting payloads through trial and error (e.g., in SQLi – SQL Injection) or testing the functionality of an endpoint for vulnerabilities.
- Sequencer: Sequencer is typically employed when assessing the randomness of tokens, such as session cookie values or other supposedly randomly generated data. If the algorithm used for generating these values lacks secure randomness, it can expose avenues for devastating attacks.
Practical Use Cases for Burp Suite in Pentesting
- Identifying and Exploiting Common Web Vulnerabilities
Burp Suite detects and helps exploit issues like XSS (Cross-Site Scripting), SQLi (Structured Query Language Injection), and CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) by analysing input validation flaws.
- Performing Manual Testing for Authentication Flaws
Using tools like Burp Repeater and Burp Intruder, testers can check for weak password mechanisms or broken session management.
- Using Burp Suite with Other Pentesting Tools
Burp integrates well with tools such as OWASP ZAP, Metasploit, and Nmap, enhancing the overall testing workflow.
Common Mistakes
- Misconfiguring Proxy Settings
Many beginners forget to set up the correct proxy in their browser. Without it, Burp Suite can’t intercept traffic. Always ensure your browser proxy points to 127.0.0.1:8080 and Burp’s CA certificate is installed.
- Ignoring Scanner Results or False Positives
Automated scans may flag false positives — issues that aren’t real vulnerabilities. Ignoring these or trusting them blindly can skew your findings. The best practice is to verify each issue manually using Burp’s manual tools.
- Over-Reliance on Automated Scanning
Burp Scanner is powerful, but no automated tool can find everything. Many vulnerabilities — especially logic flaws and business logic issues — require human analysis. Use automation as a support tool, not a crutch.
Conclusion
Burp Suite is an important tool for a red teamer or a penetration tester. It has everything you need to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. Burp Suite can help to audit from a small website to an enterprise-level organisation.
If you have knowledge about Burp Suite, it will help to strengthen your knowledge and skills to land a job in corporate security testing, bug bounty programs, and ethical hacking.
