Security Regression Testing
Security regression testing re-verifies previously fixed vulnerabilities and previously validated security controls after a code change, confirming a new release hasn't silently reintroduced an old vulnerability or weakened an existing protection. It's regression testing specifically scoped to security findings.
Security vulnerabilities have a well-documented tendency to reappear — a refactor touches authentication logic and accidentally removes a check that was added specifically to fix a past vulnerability, with nobody on the current team necessarily aware that check existed for a security reason in the first place.
Maintaining a security regression suite — automated tests specifically covering every previously found and fixed vulnerability — closes this gap the same way a functional regression suite prevents old bugs from resurfacing, treating past security findings as permanent test cases rather than one-time fixes.
