Introduction To Penetration Testing

What is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing, also known as pen testing, is a simulated cyber attack on a computer system, performed to evaluate the security of the system. The test is performed to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Penetration testing can be used to test the security of web applications, networks, and other computer systems.

Why is Penetration Testing Important?

Penetration testing is crucial for several reasons:

Identifies security weaknesses before attackers can exploit them.
Helps in understanding the impact and risk associated with potential vulnerabilities.
Ensures compliance with industry standards and regulations.
Improves the overall security posture of the organization.

Types of Penetration Testing

There are several types of penetration testing, including:

External Testing: Focuses on the assets of the company that are visible on the internet, such as the web application, company website, and email servers.
Internal Testing: Simulates an attack by an insider or an attacker who has gained access to an internal network.
Blind Testing: The tester is only given limited information about the target, simulating an external attacker with no prior knowledge.
Double-Blind Testing: Both the tester and the security team are unaware of the test, simulating a real-world attack scenario.
Targeted Testing: Both the tester and the security team work together to conduct the test, providing real-time feedback.

Penetration Testing Methodologies

Several methodologies are used in penetration testing to ensure a thorough and systematic approach:

OSSTMM (Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual): A peer-reviewed methodology for performing security tests and metrics.
OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project): Focuses on improving the security of software through community-led open-source software projects.
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology): Provides a framework for improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity.
PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard): A set of best practices and guidelines for penetration testing.

Example of a Penetration Test

Below is a simple example of a penetration test using the nmap tool to scan a network for open ports:

nmap -sS -p 1-65535 192.168.1.1

Starting Nmap 7.80 ( https://nmap.org ) at 2023-10-05 12:34 UTC

Nmap scan report for 192.168.1.1

Host is up (0.0010s latency).

Not shown: 65530 closed ports

PORT STATE SERVICE

22/tcp open ssh

80/tcp open http

443/tcp open https

3306/tcp open mysql

Nmap done: 1 IP address (1 host up) scanned in 10.85 seconds

In this example, nmap is used to perform a SYN scan (-sS) on all ports (1-65535) on the target IP address (192.168.1.1). The output shows the open ports and their associated services.

Conclusion