Penetration Testing is a legal, structured procedure to evaluate the security posture of an organization. This practice simulates an attack against the security infrastructure of the enterprise, such as its network, applications, and users, to identify the exploitable vulnerabilities. It determines the efficacy of the company’s security policies, controls, and strategies. To strengthen the system, penetration testers proactively analyse for design flaws, technical weaknesses, and other vulnerabilities. The results of the vulnerability assessment are then comprehensively documented for executive management and the company’s technical audience.
Along with that, penetration testing ensures an organization’s adherence to compliance requirements, the ability to respond to security incidents, and its employees’ awareness towards increasing security risks. At the end of the penetration testing process, the findings of identified and exploited flaws are passed on to the organization’s IT and network system managers to make strategic decisions and prioritize remediation efforts.
Research (Information Gathering & Reconnaissance) In the initial phase, the penetration tester gathers general information about the security system and in-scope targets, such as systems to be addressed and methods to be used. It also defines the scope and determines the goals before conducting the test.
Another needful role is to gather intelligence – collect network and domain names, or the mail server. This data shows how the target works and its existing and potential weaknesses.
Targeting/Exploiting (Gaining and Maintaining access) The gathered data is then used to locate ports and services. After this, the pen tester conducts the vulnerability assessment to gain a better knowledge of its targeted system. The final part of the phase deals with heavy action – exploitation. Professionals use their expertise to attack and exploit resources.
Use of web application attacks – With the help of various web app attacks, such as cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and backdoors, pen testers look for possible vulnerabilities.
Security analysts then try to exploit these weaknesses by privilege escalation, data breach, traffic interception, and various other acts of bug/vulnerability exploitation. Their actions help in estimating the possible damage a vulnerability can cause.
The primary objective of this phase is to check whether a vulnerability can find a persistent presence in the exploited system or stay long enough to gain in-depth access to the system. APTs are known for their ability to remain in the system for months without raising suspicion.
Documenting and Reporting (Covering tracks) During the post-attack phase, the penetration tester submits a detailed report on all the findings and solutions to eliminate the potential threats.
The result of this phase is then analyzed by the security professionals to configure the WAF settings and other application security solutions, patching the vulnerabilities and protecting the firm against future attacks.
Cross-site scripting (also known as XSS) is a web-based security vulnerability that compromises the interactions a user has with a vulnerable application. The attacker misuses the same origin policy, which allows the segregation of different websites from each other. Under this vulnerability, the attacker impersonates the victim to carry out malicious activities and access the user’s private data. However, if privileged user falls prey to the XSS attack, the entire application might face security compromise.
Brute-force is a form of trial-and-error method attack that requires an attacker to try various password combinations to break into a password-protected security infrastructure. Earlier, XSS used to be a time-consuming method, but with the introduction of bots, the perpetrators can boost their computing power to run such attacks.
Backdoor is an attack method that allows authorized and unauthorized users to bypass normal authentication procedures. This malware type grants remote access to resources within an application, such as databases and file servers. As a result, the threat actor can remotely issue system commands and update malware. Webserver backdoors can launch different types of attacks, including data theft, website defacement, server hijack, DDoS , watering hole, and APT assaults.
Under MITM, the malicious actors place themselves between the source and the targeted systems (usually between a web browser and its server). This attack gives them the ability to intercept or modify communications between the two devices. They can also collect sensitive data by impersonating as either of the devices. Apart from websites, MITM attacks majorly target email communications, DNS lookups, and public Wi-Fi networks. In general, SaaS providers, e-commerce businesses, and users of financial applications are the primary targets.
It is an anomaly that occurs when a program, while writing data to a dedicated buffer overruns its capacity, eventually overwriting adjacent memory locations. In simple words, a container is overflowed with too much data, resulting in replacing the adjacent container’s data with the new information. By using buffer overflows, attackers can modify a computer’s memory to gain control of program execution.
Phishing uses social engineering methods to lure victims into revealing their sensitive data, such as login credentials and credit card numbers. Under this attack, the actor impersonates an authorized entity to steal data through emails and text messages. Attackers send a malicious link with their fabricated message that installs malware on the victim’s system. Malware installation can lead to data theft, denial of service, or ransomware attack.
This form of attack prohibits authorized users from accessing available information systems and devices to disrupt a service temporarily or indefinitely. DDoS can affect emails, websites, online accounts, and several other services on the network.
The common roles and responsibilities of a penetration tester are summarized here Conducting a penetration test and risk assessment on the targeted system. Performing security audits to evaluate whether the organization fits the defined security policies and standards. Ensuring physical security to assess the vulnerability of servers, systems, and various network devices. Analysing drafted security policies to make amendments. Writing thorough reports on the findings of organized penetration tests. Organizing social engineering attacks for employee training and awareness. Redefining procedures to combat advanced threats. Enhancing current hardware and software for better security. Simulating different cybercrimes to identify possible weaknesses in the system.
UNLEASH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL WITH PENETRATION TESTING
Other types of pen test strategies include
Ref links https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/the-types-of-penetration-testing/#gref https://www.techbeamers.com/penetration-test-and-types/#network-service-tests
Penetration testing can be performed in two ways – Automated Penetration Testing and Manual Penetration Testing.
As the name suggests, the tool finds loopholes in a network system. It also helps in auditing and is a widely used packet sniffer.
Nmap (or “Network Mapper”) is a free, licensed, open-source tool for network discovery and security auditing. System and network administrators also use to track network inventory, manage service upgrade schedules, and monitor host or service uptime. With the use of IP packets, Nmap determines what hosts are available on the network, what services they offer (application name and its version), which operating systems they are using (with versions), which packet filters/firewalls are in use, and several other aspects. It is useful for both rapid large network scanning and single host scanning. Nmap supports all major operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. Along with classic command-line Nmap executable, this software integrates an advanced GUI and various utilities, such as Zenmap (results viewer), Ncat (reads, writes, redirects, and encrypts data across a network), Ndiff (compares results), and Nping (a packet generator and response analyzer).
To download this free tool, visit www.nmap.org.
This PERL-powered framework comes with various in-built exploits that help in performing penetrating testing. It is customizable and used internationally.
This powerful tool can probe systematic vulnerabilities on networks and servers. Metasploit framework is used by both cybercriminals as well as penetration testers. Being an open-source framework, it offers the customization feature and can be used with most of the operating systems. The framework allows pen testers to use custom code for finding weak points in a network. After successful threat hunting, this information addresses all the weaknesses and prioritizes solutions.
You can download the package of pen-testing tools from www.metasploit.com.
This is a network scanner that raises an alert on finding flaws in the infrastructure. Nessus is a vulnerability scanning tool that conducts vulnerability assessments and penetration testing engagements, including malicious attacks. The software possesses different scanning capabilities. It can perform scans using plug-ins to perform scans, which then run against each host on the network to spot loopholes. Plug-ins are like individual pieces of code used to conduct individual scan types on specific targets.
Download Nessus from here: www.tenable.com/downloads/nessus.
This simple-seeming tool detects weak passwords and helps to carry out successful dictionary attacks. John the Ripper is a fast and feature-rich tool. It offers several cracking modes and is absolutely configurable to meet one’s needs. It helps in defining the custom cracking modes by using a built-in compiler. JTR enables security professionals to use the same cracker on different platforms.
Get this open-source tool from http://www.openwall.com/john/.
Like Nmap, it works as an actual network protocol and data packet analyzer that monitors network traffic in real-time. Wireshark’s rich feature includes a thorough inspection of hundreds of protocols, which gets updated periodically along with live capture and offline analysis. It is a multi-platform tool that runs on Windows, Linux, OS X, Solaris, FreeBSD, NetBSD, and others. Penetration testers can browse the captured network data either via a GUI or a TTY-mode TShark utility. It can integrate the most powerful display filters available in the industry and offer rich VoIP analysis.
Click here to download Wireshark for free: www.wireshark.org.
Creating a career path in penetration testing
In general expression, people use penetration testing and ethical hacking interchangeably, but there is a fine line between them. Penetration testing is a formal procedure, concentrating on finding vulnerabilities in an organization’s security infrastructure while ethical hacking is an umbrella term. The latter includes an attacker’s tools and TTP (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures). To put it in simple words, penetration testing is a subset of ethical hacking.
To learn more, check out this blog!
What is Penetration Testing? How Does It Differ From Ethical Hacking?
The C|PENT program is a comprehensive course that encompasses an innovative and multi-disciplinary curriculum to help Cyber Professionals polish their skills and gain proficiency in performing effective penetration tests in real-world enterprise network environments.
The program covers advanced windows attacks, how to pen test IoT and OT systems, bypassing filtered networks, how to write your own exploits, single and double pivoting to gain access to hidden networks, how to conduct advanced privilege escalation as well as binary exploitation.
Through performance-based cyber challenges on live Cyber Range, C|PENT Cyber Range provides a hands-on and comprehensive practice based on real-world scenarios to help you gain an edge on penetration tests. The program’s curriculum is designed to help you become a world-class Penetration Tester. If you desire to pursue this program, and ready to take the most difficult cyber challenge, you can visit our Course page to learn more about the CPENT program .
The LPT (Master) program is designed to help you join the ranks of elite pen testers through an extensive curriculum based on rigorous real-world penetration testing challenges crafted by industry experts. The program aims to test your penetration testing skills against a multi-layered network architecture with defense-in-depth controls over three intense levels, each with three challenges. The challenges are time-bound; you will need to make informed decisions while choosing your approach and exploits under intense pressure at critical stages.
Suppose you score 90% on the CPENT live range exam. In that case, you will not only earn the C|PENT certification, but you will also obtain the prestigious Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT) Master Credential.
Find out what it takes to become the best in penetration testing on LPT (Master) course details page.
Become a Penetration Tester Now!
Get certified in the most desired cybersecurity certification!
Penetration testing looks for vulnerabilities in a security system before attackers can exploit them. Organizations need to conduct pen testing regularly because:
The overall time required to conduct a pen test is dependent on the size and complexity of the network. Based on this, the process may take one to four weeks.
A pen test reveals how vulnerable an organization could be, making it a vital process. It’s important that organizations understand why and when to conduct penetration testing.
Learn more with this blog: Why, When, and How Often Should You Conduct a Penetration Test
Organizations need dedicated security analysts, i.e., penetration testers, to maintain downtime of the system and keep them safe from various cybercrimes.
Learn more with this blog: 5 Reasons Why Penetration Testing is Imperative for Your Organization
While the best certification to learn web application penetartion testing would have a very subjective answer, it is important to note that a good certification must be mapped to reputed frameworks such as NICE 2.0, should be recognized by top military agencies like the British Government Communications Headquarter (GCHQ), must be comprehensive in course coverage, provide hands-on training and also make the candidate job ready. One such program that stands apart from the crowd with these parameters is the EC-Council’s Certified Penetration Testing Professional (CPENT).
To know more about the CPENT program, visit https://www.eccouncil.org/programs/certified-penetration-testing-professional-cpent/
The results of the penetration tests differ according to the standards and methodologies they leverage. While Pen Testing methodologies keep changing depending on the endpoint in question, but most of the popular pen testing platforms provide the necessary foundation for a Pen Tester to build their own methodologies from. The popular methodologies and standards in Pen Testing include OSSTMM, OWASP, NIST, PTES and ISSAF.
To know more about these Pen Testing methodologies and standards, visit – https://blog.eccouncil.org/5-penetration-testing-methodologies-and-standards-for-better-roi/
Penetration testers imitate the steps of a threat actor by penetrating the security infrastructure of an organization.
Penetration testing tools can be defined as the programs used to look for security threats in an organization.
Physical penetration testing assesses the efficiency of the existing security controls. The tester looks for vulnerabilities among the physical barriers and controls of the organization.
A penetration test or a pen test is a systematic evaluation of security measures in an IT infrastructure. The pen tester achieves this by safely evaluating the vulnerabilities that may exist in operating systems, services, and applications.
The end goal of penetration testing is to determine the robustness of the network and its ability to withstand any outsider threats. Penetration testing experts go on to work on solutions for any weaknesses that are found during this process.
Read more – https://blog.eccouncil.org/modern-penetration-testers-how-are-they-different/
After successful completion of penetration testing, security analysts document all their findings for technical audiences or involved stakeholders.
Learn more with this blog: The Art of Report Writing by Penetration Testers
The increased use of cloud and web-based applications in organizations has made small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) primary targets for cybercriminals. To secure such systems it is very important to know how to pen test an AWS application. However that involves a different methodology than traditional pen testing, primarily due to system ownership.
To know more about Pen testing an AWS cloud, visit – https://blog.eccouncil.org/all-you-need-to-know-about-pentesting-in-the-aws-cloud/
The EC-Council Licensed Penetration Tester (Master) exam challenge can prove to be the most difficult pen testing course in the world. To pass the 24-hour long rigorous exam, a candidate will need to maneuver web application, network, and host penetration testing tools and tricks in an internal and external context to ultimately own the hosts and exfiltrate data required for the completion of the challenges.
To know more about the best web application pen testing course, visit – https://www.eccouncil.org/programs/licensed-penetration-tester-lpt-master/
Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...
Please share your location to continue.
Check our help guide for more info.