MUTWEB-A testing tool for performing mutation testing of java and servlet based web applications

Abstract

Mutation testing is one of the oldest and unique testing techniques to perform white box testing of software applications. Code coverage becoming an increasing concern in the testing cycle of software, mutation testing technique aids in achieving higher code coverage and unearthing more number of errors at the testing site itself. The parameters like the database connectivity, session management, cookie management, are the beginning point of web application testing failures given the heterogeneity aspects associated with the development of a web application. A detailed account on list of available testing tools for performing mutation testing are presented here. A big bundle of mutation testing tools are still available, however they are not focussing on some of the crucial web vulnerabilities like session and cookie management in web apps. In the current work, a tool to perform mutation testing of web applications is developed and tested to see if desired results are occurring. An architecture of the tool is designed is discussed and presented. A brief analysis on results is presented.