Penetration Testing Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction to Penetration Testing
Overview
Penetration testing is a systematic process of probing for vulnerabilities in applications and networks. It's an essential component of a comprehensive security program.
Types of Penetration Tests:
- Black Box Testing (No prior knowledge)
- White Box Testing (Full knowledge)
- Gray Box Testing (Limited knowledge)
- External Testing
- Internal Testing
Testing Methodology
Standard Testing Phases
| Phase |
Activities |
Deliverables |
| Planning |
Scope definition, authorization |
Test plan, rules of engagement |
| Reconnaissance |
Information gathering |
Target profile |
| Scanning |
Vulnerability assessment |
Vulnerability report |
| Exploitation |
Vulnerability verification |
Exploitation report |
| Post-exploitation |
Impact assessment |
Risk assessment |
| Reporting |
Documentation |
Final report |
Essential Tools
# Information Gathering
nmap -sV -sC -p- target.com
whois domain.com
dig domain.com
# Vulnerability Scanning
nikto -h target.com
nessus
OpenVAS
# Web Application Testing
sqlmap -u "http://target.com/page.php?id=1"
burpsuite
OWASP ZAP
# Wireless Testing
aircrack-ng
wireshark
kismet
Tool Categories
Essential Tool Categories:
- Network Scanners
- Web Application Scanners
- Wireless Network Tools
- Password Crackers
- Exploitation Frameworks
- Post-exploitation Tools
Testing Techniques
Network Penetration Testing
# Port Scanning
nmap -p 1-65535 -T4 -A -v target.com
# Service Enumeration
nmap -sV --version-intensity 5 target.com
# OS Detection
nmap -O target.com
# Network Vulnerability Scanning
nmap --script vuln target.com
Web Application Testing
| Test Type |
Description |
Tools |
| Authentication |
Testing login mechanisms |
Burp Suite, Hydra |
| Authorization |
Access control testing |
OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite |
| Input Validation |
Testing input handling |
SQLMap, XSSer |
Reporting and Documentation
Report Structure
Essential Report Sections:
- Executive Summary
- Testing Methodology
- Findings and Vulnerabilities
- Risk Assessment
- Remediation Recommendations
- Technical Details
- Appendices
Vulnerability Classification
Risk Levels:
- Critical: Immediate action required
- High: Prompt action needed
- Medium: Planned action needed
- Low: Consider fixing
- Informational: Awareness only
CVSS Scoring:
0.0-3.9: Low
4.0-6.9: Medium
7.0-8.9: High
9.0-10.0: Critical
Best Practices
Testing Guidelines
Important Considerations:
- Obtain proper authorization
- Define clear scope
- Use secure testing environment
- Document all activities
- Handle sensitive data carefully
- Follow ethical guidelines
Safety Measures
# Testing Precautions
1. Backup target systems
2. Monitor system health
3. Have rollback procedures
4. Document changes
5. Maintain communication
6. Follow security policies
# Emergency Procedures
1. Stop testing immediately
2. Document incident
3. Contact stakeholders
4. Implement recovery plan
5. Review and learn
Quality Assurance
| Area |
Checkpoints |
| Documentation |
Accuracy, completeness, clarity |
| Testing |
Coverage, depth, consistency |
| Reporting |
Findings validation, remediation clarity |
| Communication |
Stakeholder updates, incident reporting |