85 screens, 36 critical flaws, 100% mitigated. Recruitment tech security mission accomplished.
In the Japanese recruitment sector, data isn’t just information. In our case, data is a career’s worth of trust. When a platform handles a high volume of sensitive user information, including resumes, personal IDs, and private interview records, recruitment tech security isn’t just a feature but the core product.
Our latest investigation began when a Japanese recruitment service reached out with a classic high-stakes dilemma. They had built a robust platform integrated with the LINE messaging app, but as the volume of sensitive data scaled, so did their anxiety about the perimeter.
The business challenges
The client was facing a ‘‘perfect storm’’ of operational and technical friction. In Japan, data privacy isn't just about GDPR-style fines. Culturally speaking, it’s a mandate for discretion.
- The platform was a vault of high-value targets, including thousands of resumes and interview records
- Strict data privacy regulations in Japan left zero room for error
- Integrating with the LINE messaging app created a frictionless experience for candidates but added a complex layer of third-party integration points
To solve this, they needed a partner who understood that modern recruitment tech security requires more than a surface-level scan.
Our client required an engineering partner capable of surgically auditing
how sensitive data moves across complex third-party ecosystems.
Our approach: an 85-screen deep-dive
We didn't just run an automated scan and hand over a spreadsheet. Following our ‘‘investigative’’ methodology, we treated the platform like a crime scene that hadn't happened yet.
First, our senior engineering team performed an intensive 85-screen testing roadmap, tracing the data lifecycle from a candidate’s upload on LINE to the recruiter’s archive.
We focused our investigation on business logic and user permissions within the Ruby on Rails framework. Automated tools often miss “logic” flaws where a user might access data they shouldn’t simply because a permission check was bypassed in a specific edge case.
Lastly, we spent dedicated hours simulating sophisticated attack vectors, such as flawed session management that could allow unauthorized access to private interview notes. This rigorous approach is what defines our standard for recruitment tech security.
Technologies we used
Security Architecture
Compliance
Critical Risk Mitigation
The outcome: 100% mitigation and 36 ‘‘closed’’ cases
The results of our investigation were stark. We identified a total of 36 critical security issues lurking beneath the surface of the business logic.
- The most alarming finds were deep-seated flaws in how the system handled user permissions.
- Working in a tight loop with the client, we ensured that 100% of the 36 critical security issues were successfully mitigated.
- By the end of the engagement, the platform was structurally sound and fully compliant with strict Japanese data privacy standards.
The ‘‘expert-to-expert’’ takeaway
What this project confirmed is that when you integrate with massive ecosystems like LINE, your security is only as strong as your internal business logic. We didn’t provide just a standard Web Application Security Testing service; our team worked hard to deliver a comprehensive upgrade to their overall recruitment tech security posture. The client reclaimed their strategic focus, knowing their 85-screen user journey was fully shielded.
