Introduction to Penetration Testing

Anyone that has worked in network security domain or information security domain can probably give you an answer. Penetration testing is a permissive incursion on a computer system, web application or any network device. It is a simulated assault on your network, software, and computer. The attack is performed to bypass the security of the system and to find access points to both data and any privately stored information.  Pen testing can evaluate both the strengths as well as weaknesses of either a single computer system or an entire organizational network of devices.

What is Penetration testing

Penetration testing is an authorized security assessment designed to evaluate how well your organization can withstand cyberattacks. Security experts use the same techniques as hackers to uncover weaknesses in your digital infrastructure.

The goal is not just to find vulnerabilities, but to prove which vulnerabilities are exploitable and what impact they could have on your business.

How Penetration Testing Works

A typical penetration testing process includes:

• Planning & Scoping – Define targets, rules, and objectives
• Reconnaissance – Gather information like an attacker
• Vulnerability Analysis – Identify potential weaknesses
• Exploitation – Attempt to exploit vulnerabilities
• Post-Exploitation – Assess the level of access gained
• Reporting – Detailed report with risk ratings and remediation steps

Pentesting Methodologies

There are three methodologies used in pen testing: black box, white box, and grey box testing.

• Black box methodologies:
  It is the execution of a penetration test without any prior knowledge or collected information about the organizational systems in question. Black box testing simulates a series of actions often Undertaken in real-life cyber attacks on an organization.
•  White box methodologies:
  It is the exact opposite of a black box test. With white box, information is gathered from public or open sources before a penetration test. White box testing is often performed internally prior to and immediately after a developer releases new code or updates to a system. Grey box testing is a combination of both white and grey testing methods.
• Grey box methodologies:
  It gives the testing team the functionality to test from each side of an application, to be precise, the presentation side and the code itself. Grey box pen testing is widely accepted as the most effective method and it is most often used by the security experts. If you hire a third-party penetration service provider to audit your network, they are likely to use grey box testing.

What can be analyzed?

Simply put, everything that is connected to your network. If you have a device that communicates with other devices by using either the internet or an intranet, then it can be tested. Penetration testing services is certainly not limited to hardware alone. The software remains a key focus. Outdated and careless coding has led to the demise of more than one IT professional. Web applications have moved to the forefront of technology in the past few years. And with the rapid development of new apps for both phone and web leading to an increase in attack surface, they have become a prime target for the actors with malicious intent, or as we generally say, the hackers.

OWASP and Penetration Testing

In the context of pentesting, the steps recommended by OWASP are widely accepted. We, at Breachlock, follow the same standard for testing applications. The steps prescribed by OWASP are discussed below.

Step 1: Planning and Investigation

In this step, we determine the scope of the project. This stage not only determines the systems to be scanned but also the testing methods to be utilized for finding exploits.

Step 2: Scanning

In this stage, we use both static and dynamic analysis to find weaknesses. Static analysis tests the code and attempts to predict how it will behave once it is compiled, executed, and implemented. The dynamic analysis examines the system in real time. Dynamic analysis is the most practical way to a penetration test considering that the results are observed as opposed to assumed. Both forms of analysis are used in conjunction to thoroughly gain insights into the threat environment of an organization.

Step 3: Implementing exploit or gaining unintended access

In this stage, we attempt to use specific attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and broken authentication to gain access and acquire data.

Step 4: Setting a permanent state of access

We attempt to establish a permanent backdoor so that access to the system is maintained but it remains hidden from the wary administrator’s eye.

Step 5: Reporting and data analysis

Report prepared under this stage details the specific exploits attempted and those that were successful. We list out the data that was accessed as well as other potential risks to the data. We also provide a list of remediation steps that the customer can implement.

Step 6: Retest

Once the organization has had time to read the report from the previous step and integrate patches, updates, and fixes, we then run a retest to ensure that the exploits are no longer useful and all the suggestions have been implemented.

Contents of our Pen Testing Reports

Following bullet points lay down a basic structure that we follow while drafting our penetesting report.

1. Executive Summary
2. Confidentiality and Disclosure
3. Definition & Table of Contents
4. Introduction
   1. Purpose and Scope of Work
   2. Project Objectives
   3. Assumption
   4. Timeline
   5. Summary of Findings
5. Methodology
6. Findings in detail
   1. Vulnerabilities
   2. Impact
   3. Likelihood
   4. Risk Evaluation
   5. Recommendations for Mitigation
   6. References & Appendices

Conclusion

The idea of conducting a penetration test matches with an old age saying – prevention is better than cure. Number of devices within an organizational premise is increasing exponentially and with the attack techniques of an attacker getting sophisticated than ever, it becomes vital for an organization to minimize the chances of a targeted attack being successful. Since a penetration tester assumes the role of an attacker, conducting penetration tests has now become a necessity.

Looking to ensure the security of your network or web application? Our expert team of penetration testers can help identify vulnerabilities and assess the effectiveness of your security measures. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a more secure infrastructure.

FAQ

What Is the Purpose of Penetration Testing?
The purpose of penetration testing is to:

1. Identify exploitable security vulnerabilities
2. Measure real-world attack impact
3. Validate existing security controls
4. Reduce the risk of data breaches
5. Support compliance requirements

How Often Should Penetration Testing Be Performed?
Organizations should perform penetration testing:

1. At least once per year
2. After major application or infrastructure changes
3. Before compliance audits
4. After a security incident

Is Penetration Testing Required for Compliance?
Penetration testing is commonly required for:

1. SOC 2
2. ISO 27001
3. PCI DSS
4. HIPAA

Author

BreachLock Labs