Burp Suite: A Reliable Penetration Tester Tool or a Source of Headaches

[Man]

Burp Suite is a well-known tool for pentesters and bug hunters that allows for deep analysis of application security. It has a lot of features and capabilities, but at the same time it can also present serious challenges. What difficulties do pentesters face when using Burp Suite, how to deal with “cracked” versions and are there any alternatives to this tool? Let’s figure it out in this article.

What is Burp Suite and what are its advantages​

Burp Suite is a set of tools for Web Application Security Testing (WAST). It is used by penetration testers and developers to find vulnerabilities in web applications.

​

Key Features of Burp Suite​
Intercepts and analyzes HTTP traffic, allowing you to modify requests and track responses.	Performs automatic scanning of web applications for vulnerabilities (SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting, etc.)	Provides capabilities for manual testing of web applications using dedicated tools and features.
Allows you to repeat and modify HTTP requests, which is convenient for manual testing and debugging.	Conducts penetration attacks using various techniques (e.g. brute force, fuzzing).	Analyzes the unpredictability and randomness of web applications, which helps identify vulnerabilities in authentication and authorization mechanisms.
Decodes and encodes data in different formats.	Compares two HTTP requests or responses to help identify changes and differences.	Allows you to extend functionality using plugins.

Burp Suite is a comprehensive set of security testing tools that features an intuitive interface, making it accessible to both experienced pentesters and beginners. It supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, and has an active user community, allowing for quick resolution of issues and timely support.

Difficulties in using Burp Suite​

Burp Suite is a powerful tool, but it is not perfect. Users encounter some difficulties when working with it.

Alexandra Isabekova.
Expert of the Application Systems Department of Angara Security.

Burp Suite has a wide range of capabilities, but many users face certain difficulties. One of the problems is the complex interface, especially for those who are just starting to use this tool. It takes time to understand all its capabilities, which sometimes slows down the work at the first stages.
It is worth noting that Burp Suite can show slowdowns, especially with active use of Intruder or Scanner, as well as when testing large web applications with many pages. In this case, the tool begins to consume a lot of resources, which affects the performance of the system.

Do not forget about the cost of the Burp Suite Pro license. The free version offers limited functionality, and for full-fledged testing you have to buy a paid version, which is not always affordable for individual specialists or small teams.

Additional problems arise with setting up filters for traffic analysis. Burp Suite collects a huge amount of data, and on large projects, filtering becomes mandatory to get rid of unnecessary "noise". However, proper configuration can take time, which also creates difficulties.

Sometimes there are difficulties with the configuration and setup of the tool, especially for beginners. Also, some functions may be difficult to use, and information about specific vulnerabilities may be lacking.

Zarema Shikhmetova.
Security Analysis Specialist at Gazinformservice.

If you need to scan non-standard ports, you may encounter difficulties with configuring Burp, since the software is mainly designed to work with https/http, then you may need an additional add-on and plugins for analysis.

Basically, many of the difficulties that arise when working with Burp Suite are related to its extensive functionality. A large number of tools makes the software more flexible and customizable for any task. But to use the full potential of Burp, you will need to study its documentation in detail. For example, you can take a course on the portswigger website, where they teach you how to solve problems using Burp.

When analyzing large amounts of data, it may be difficult to filter it, such a process may seem laborious and confusing. But, in addition, when analyzing a large data flow, performance issues may arise.

In addition, some pentesters have reported issues with Burp Suite incompatibility with some web applications, which can lead to incorrect operation of the tool and erroneous results.

Cracked versions of Burp Suite: risk or necessity​

"Cracked" versions of Burp Suite are illegal copies of the program that can be obtained for free without paying for a license. They are used by pentesters and bug hunters who cannot or do not want to pay for an expensive license. But this is a risky step.

Roman Kim.
Security Analysis Expert at BSS-Security.

Using unlicensed versions of software is always a risk. "Cracked" versions of Burp Suite may contain built-in malicious components that threaten the user's security. The likelihood that specialists will rummage through a pirated application and look for "bookmarks" is low. Among the possible threats, the following should be highlighted:

1. Malicious code integration. Pirated versions may contain Trojans, spyware, or backdoors that allow attackers to gain access to the user's system.
2. Data theft: Intercepting and sending compromised data from your device to remote servers is one of the most common tactics used by attackers who distribute pirated versions of software.
3. Lack of updates and support. Pirated versions do not receive official updates, you will need to search for newer versions of the application each time and install them yourself on your personal computer, which increases the risk.

But the problems with malware are just the tip of the iceberg. Newbies in pentesting and development don’t even realize how a hacked Burp Suite can harm them.

Roman Denisenko.
Leading Security Analysis Specialist at the UCSB.

The main risks of using a cracked version of BurpSuite are not even related to the fact that your machine may be sucked into a botnet or infected with ransomware, but that your clients' data, and extremely critical data, may be transferred to the dark side. During a pentest, the BurpSuite project file usually contains a treasure trove of information useful to a hacker: these include 0-day vulnerabilities that can be successfully used on the production version of the product being tested before the pentester provides a report to the customer, and recorded traffic, which may also contain critical information, including the credentials of real users.

The main security recommendation is to not use cracked versions when working with real customers. If there is no other option, make sure that BurpSuite does not send any data to third-party IPs without your knowledge and use a whitelist for it on the firewall. It would also be a good idea to make sure that BurpSuite is not making any unnecessary system calls or trying to do anything outside of its intended purpose, such as scanning your local network or searching your local disk for docx files.

But if the need to use Burp Suite is more important than the risk, it is worth taking care of maximum security. This should be done before installing a cracked version of the software on your device.

Denis Isangulov.
Head of Testing Department NGR Softlab.

If someone still decides to use a cracked version, it is important to create an isolated environment, for example, running it on a virtual machine or in a container. This will help prevent the spread of potential threats to the main system. Updating antivirus software also plays a key role: an active and up-to-date antivirus solution can help detect and block malicious components.

In addition, I recommend analyzing network traffic using special tools to track suspicious activity. This will help identify possible data leaks or attempts to connect to malicious servers. Regular data backups will also not be superfluous, as this will minimize the consequences in case of system infection.

Instead of taking risks, it is worth considering legal software alternatives or similar open-source tools. This is not only safer, but also supports the developers and the community. Using cracked versions may seem attractive, but the risks far outweigh the potential benefits. Security should be a priority in any activity related to data protection.

In general, using cracked versions of programs is an unjustified risk. It is better to buy a licensed version or use free alternatives that will ensure the safety of your system and data.

Alternative instruments​

Burp Suite is undoubtedly the leader in its niche, but there are other worthy tools. For example, OWASP ZAP, Arachni, WebScarab and others.

Dmitry Kalinin.
Head of the Department for Work with Vulnerabilities and Information Security Incidents at Bastion.

Among the alternative tools similar in functionality to Burp Suite, we can highlight:

1. OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy). A free, open-source tool for detecting vulnerabilities in web applications. Offers traffic interception, scanning, and test automation features.
2. Charles Proxy - A commercial web debugging proxy that allows developers to view HTTP and SSL/HTTPS traffic between their machine and the Internet.
3. Caido. A modern tool written in Rust for testing web application security, which is an alternative to such well-known solutions as Burp Suite and OWASP ZAP. It is still quite “raw”, but does not overload the system.

The choice of a specific tool depends on the requirements and tasks of the pentester. Burp Suite is a powerful tool with a wide range of features, but it can be too complex for beginners and expensive for some organizations. Alternative tools are often more affordable and easier to use.

Source