Planning and Reconnaissance
This is the first phase of a penetration testing engagement, which involves gathering information about the target system or network to identify potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors. It is the process of actively searching for and collecting information including identifying the target’s IP address range, network topology, operating systems, applications, services, and users that can be used to identify security weaknesses.
Reconnaissance can be done through various methods, such as social engineering, online searches, and network scanning.
Enumeration
This is the process of collecting information about a system or network, which can then be used by the attacker to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access. In the context of penetration testing, enumeration involves actively probing the target system to identify key pieces of information, such as usernames, passwords, system architecture, network topology, running services and applications, open ports, and other system attributes.
Enumeration is typically carried out after the initial reconnaissance phase of penetration testing, where the tester collects as much information as possible about the target network and its components. The enumeration process uses a range of techniques to extract information about the system, including port scanning, banner grabbing, service and user enumeration, and network mapping.
The results of the enumeration phase are typically used to identify potential attack vectors, but the information can also be used to develop recommendations for improving the security posture of the system, such as patching known vulnerabilities, tightening access controls, and improving network segmentation.
Scanning
In this phase, our experts scan the target system or network for vulnerabilities. This can be done through automated tools or manual methods, such as fuzzing or vulnerability scanning.
The scanning phase usually involves port scanning which means scanning the target system for open ports and identifying the services running on those ports. Banner grabbing is the process of retrieving information about the running service, such as its version number and operating system. Service enumeration involves identifying the types of services running on the target system and their configuration, while user enumeration involves identifying the user accounts on the system and their access levels.
Gaining Access
Once vulnerabilities are identified, our experts will try to exploit them to gain access to the target system or network. There are several ways testers can gain access, including:
Exploiting Vulnerabilities. Testers can use automated tools or manually identify vulnerabilities in the target system or network and exploit them to gain access. This can include exploiting unpatched software or misconfigured services.
Social Engineering. Testers can use social engineering techniques to trick users into revealing their credentials or providing access to the target system or network. This can include phishing attacks, baiting, pretexting, or other techniques.
Password Cracking. Testers can use password cracking tools to attempt to gain access to the target system or network by cracking weak or easy-to-guess passwords.
Brute Force Attacks. Testers can use automated tools to attempt to guess login credentials by systematically trying different username and password combinations until a match is found.
Physical Access. In some cases, testers may be able to gain physical access to the target system or network, such as by gaining entry to a server room or by stealing a device that contains sensitive data.
Maintaining Access
Once a tester has gained access to a target system or network, maintaining that access is important to continue to gather information, perform further exploitation, and test the effectiveness of any implemented security controls. To maintain access, a tester can utilize various techniques such as:
Backdoors. Creating a hidden or undocumented means of accessing the target system or network, such as a hidden user account, a Trojan horse program, or a persistent command and control channel.
Rootkits. A rootkit is a type of malware that is designed to hide its presence on a system by modifying the operating system to remove all traces of the malicious software. This can allow the attacker to maintain access to the system undetected.
Persistence Mechanisms. A persistence mechanism is a technique used to ensure that an attacker’s access to a system or network is maintained over time. This can include creating a service or scheduled task that automatically executes the attacker’s code, or modifying the registry to ensure that the attacker’s code is executed each time the system is booted.
Covert Channels. A covert channel is a method of communicating between two parties in a way that is hidden from detection. This can include using steganography to hide messages within legitimate files or data streams, or using a protocol or port that is normally unused or uncommonly used to avoid detection.
Analysis and Reporting
During this stage, the results of the penetration test are compiled into a comprehensive report that provides an overview of the security posture of the target system, including any vulnerabilities that were discovered, their impact, and recommendations for remediation. The analysis and reporting stage typically includes the following steps:
Vulnerability Analysis. The results of the penetration test are analyzed to identify the vulnerabilities that were discovered and their impact on the target system.
Risk Assessment. The vulnerabilities are assessed in terms of their risk to the target system, considering factors such as the likelihood of exploitation, the impact of a successful attack, and the cost of remediation.
Prioritization. The vulnerabilities are prioritized based on their level of risk, allowing your organization to focus on the most critical vulnerabilities first.
Remediation Recommendations. The report includes recommendations for remediation of the vulnerabilities, including technical details on how to fix them and any associated risks.
Reporting. The results of the analysis are documented in a comprehensive report that is provided to your organization. The report typically includes an executive summary, technical details on the vulnerabilities, and recommendations for remediation.
Remediation
The final phase involves addressing the vulnerabilities found during the penetration testing engagement. The remediation phase typically includes the following steps:
Planning. A plan needs to be developed to address all the identified and prioritized vulnerabilities. This plan may include implementing security patches, changing configuration settings, updating security policies, or improving security awareness training.
Execution. The plan is executed to address the vulnerabilities. This may involve deploying security updates, reconfiguring systems, or implementing new security controls.
Validation. Once the vulnerabilities have been addressed, the systems are retested to validate that the remediation efforts have been successful. This ensures that the vulnerabilities have been properly addressed and the system is no longer vulnerable to attack.
Reporting. A final report is generated that documents the vulnerabilities that were identified, the remediation efforts that were undertaken, and the validation results. This report is used to communicate the results of the testing to management and to ensure that your organization is aware of the vulnerabilities and the steps taken to address them.