Pentesting - Penetration Testing
What is it?
Penetration testing, commonly known as pentesting, is a simulated cyberattack performed by cybersecurity professionals to evaluate the security of a system, network, or application. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by real attackers and to assess the effectiveness of existing security measures.
Pentesting is a critical component of a robust cybersecurity strategy. It helps organisations uncover weaknesses before malicious hackers can exploit them, ensuring better protection of sensitive data and digital assets.
Why is Pentesting important?
Cyber threats are constantly evolving and organisations face risks from malware, ransomware, insider threats, and advanced persistent threats (APTs). Pentesting provides a proactive approach to cybersecurity by:
- Identifying security flaws before attackers do
- Testing the effectiveness of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other defenses
- Ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS
- Enhancing incident response readiness
- Building trust with customers and stakeholders
Types of penetration testing:
Network Penetration Testing
Focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in internal and external networks, such as open ports, misconfigured firewalls, and weak passwords.Web Application Testing
Targets web apps to find issues like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and insecure authentication mechanisms.Wireless Network Testing
Assesses the security of Wi-Fi networks, including encryption protocols and rogue access points.Social Engineering Tests
Simulates phishing attacks or impersonation to test employee awareness and response.Physical Penetration Testing
Involves attempting to gain unauthorised physical access to facilities or hardware.
Pentesting methodologies:
Pentesters typically follow structured methodologies such as:
- Reconnaissance: Gathering information about the target.
- Scanning: Identifying open ports, services, and vulnerabilities.
- Exploitation: Attempting to exploit discovered vulnerabilities.
- Post-Exploitation: Assessing the impact and maintaining access.
- Reporting: Documenting findings, risks, and remediation steps.
Popular frameworks include OWASP, NIST, and PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard).
Tools used in pentesting:
- Nmap: Network scanning and discovery
- Metasploit: Exploitation framework
- Burp Suite: Web application testing
- Wireshark: Network protocol analysis
- John the Ripper: Password cracking
These tools help simulate real-world attacks and uncover hidden vulnerabilities.