Challenging Logins | Investigate login behavior without prior data or examples | Exploratory Testing

Note: From the below post, "Prompt Template" and "Example Usage" are for you to copy/modify/reuse. The remaining fields are added for you to gain more knowledge about the Prompt. Happy learning!

Challenging Logins | Investigate login behavior without prior data or examples | Exploratory Testing | Zero-Shot Prompt

Purpose
Challenging Logins | Investigate login behavior without prior data or examples | Exploratory Testing | Zero-Shot Prompt

QE Category
Exploratory Testing

Prompt Type
Zero-Shot

Typical SUTs and Quality Phases
Exploratory testing during test design and execution, focusing on login workflows without prior data or examples.

Prompt Template

Role: A maverick exploratory tester probing and challenging the functionality.
Context: Investigate login workflows without prior data.
Task: Generate exploratory scenarios based on Hypothesis and Heuristics.
Focus on:
- Analyzing the system's response to [Login Scenarios].
- Exploring session management during [Login Scenarios].
Instructions: Document failure-prone insights and iterate based on uncovered behaviors so that the output contains good test ideas.
Output: Generate exploratory tests with the following details:
- Test Charter
- Hypothesis
- Challenges
- Test Ideas
- Approximate Timebox
- TODO: Ask the tester to log observations and share results.
Output: Generate exploratory tests with the following details:
- Test Charter
- Hypothesis
- Challenges
- Test Ideas
- Approximate Timebox
- TODO: Ask the tester to log observations and share results.
Output: Generate exploratory tests with the following details:
- Test Charter
- Hypothesis
- Challenges
- Test Ideas
- Approximate Timebox
- TODO: Ask the tester to log observations and share results.

Example Usage

Role: A maverick exploratory tester probing and challenging the functionality.
Context: Investigate login workflows without prior data.
Task: Generate exploratory scenarios based on Hypothesis and Heuristics.
Focus on:
- Analyzing the system's response to unexpected edge cases, such as empty username fields or malformed JSON payloads that bypass input validation.
- Exploring session management during failed login attempts under high latency networks or rapid retries with automated bot-like patterns.
Instructions: Document failure-prone insights and iterate based on uncovered behaviors so that the output contains good test ideas.
Output: Generate exploratory tests with the following details:
- Test Charter
- Hypothesis
- Challenges
- Test Ideas
- Approximate Timebox
- TODO: Ask the tester to log observations and share results.
Output: Generate exploratory tests with the following details:
- Test Charter
- Hypothesis
- Challenges
- Test Ideas
- Approximate Timebox
- TODO: Ask the tester to log observations and share results.

Tested in GenAI Tools
Extensively optimized for ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Perplexity-- delivering reliable and actionable results across leading GenAI platforms.

Customized Prompt Engineering Techniques

Explore how systems behave with incorrect inputs, such as SQL injection or encoded payload attacks that alter system states.
Analyze session behaviors during rapid retries, such as token expiration or overlapping session tokens leading to race conditions.
Investigate malformed login credentials, such as unsupported encoding formats or phishing-style payloads crafted for replay attacks.

Value of the Prompt
Encourages testers to explore login behavior in-depth, uncovering hidden vulnerabilities or unexpected system behaviors, without relying on pre-existing data. It sharpens exploratory testing practices by focusing on hypothesis-driven approaches and delivering innovative test ideas.

Tips and Best Practices

Test login workflows for edge cases with unexpected inputs, such as non-UTF-8 characters or inputs designed to exploit buffer overflows.
Investigate session expirations and failed login attempts for vulnerabilities under high load conditions or during forced system downgrades.
Document unusual behaviors and validate system responses against security and performance protocols to uncover systemic weaknesses.

Hands-On Exercise
Use a social media platform and analyze login behaviors focusing on edge cases, session expiration, and malformed inputs. Start with simple cases like empty fields and advance to sophisticated attempts like bypassing CAPTCHA systems using bot-like patterns.

Appendix and Additional Information

Further Reading: 'Exploratory Software Testing' by James A. Whittaker. This book outlines techniques for hypothesis-driven testing, perfectly complementing this prompt's objectives.
Additional Learning: Investigate login workflows under low bandwidth and high traffic conditions, focusing on how different browsers handle concurrent requests.

Want More?
Challenge your dev team by finding overlooked bugs with exploratory prompts like these. Tweak the inputs for high-risk workflows, such as single sign-on (SSO) or third-party integrations, to discover vulnerabilities faster!

Author
Ashwin Palaparthi

[kkstarratings]

10x Smarter Testing with AI

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