Penetration testing, or ethical hacking, is a crucial practice for assessing the security of your systems and networks. But how do you choose the best method for your goals, budget, and resources? In this article, we'll explore some of the factors that can help you decide between different types of penetration testing, such as black box, white box, and gray box.
Black box testing simulates a real-world attack by an external hacker who has no prior knowledge of your system. The tester tries to find and exploit vulnerabilities using publicly available tools and techniques, without any guidance from you. This method can reveal how your system responds to unexpected and malicious input, and how well it protects sensitive data. However, it can also be time-consuming, expensive, and incomplete, as the tester may miss some hidden or complex flaws.
Black box testing is often the most expensive and time consuming method of penetration testing. This would be recommended as the most beneficial type of testing method for a mature organization to validate that external security controls are working to keep out an attacker. If external compromise is achieved, the testing team will then have to evaluate their attack vectors that are available from within the network or system by leveraging that access for further enumeration. While time consuming, this testing method avoids the assumed breach scenario entirely and focuses around that external to internal foothold.
Black box testing Helps us to figure out realistic and unbiased attack surfaces. Determines the vulnerablities in the system that are exploitable without having any understanding of the underlying system. This strategy can be core of security testing.
White box testing, on the other hand, involves a thorough examination of your system's internal structure, logic, and code. The tester has full access to your documentation, source code, configuration files, and credentials, and can use automated tools and manual analysis to identify vulnerabilities. This method can provide a comprehensive and detailed assessment of your system's security, and help you fix the root causes of the problems. However, it can also be costly, intrusive, and unrealistic, as the tester may have more information and privileges than a real attacker.
Performing white box testing is recommended for organizations that are still not categorized as mature. White box testing allows unbiased and third-party review into the security controls under an assumed breach model. This is beneficial to the testing team, as they are able to accomplish more complex testing in the same period of time with a white box engagement. Once findings become minimal, it may be a better ROI to switch to gray box or black box testing methods instead.
Gray box testing is a hybrid approach that combines elements of both black box and white box testing. The tester has some limited knowledge of your system, such as its architecture, functionality, or user roles, but not its source code or credentials. The tester can use this information to focus on the most critical or risky areas of your system, and use a combination of tools and techniques to find vulnerabilities. This method can offer a balance between realism, efficiency, and coverage, and help you prioritize your remediation efforts. However, it can also be challenging, as the tester needs to have the right level of knowledge and skills to perform the test effectively.
Gray box testing makes sense for organizations who have matured enough and verified their internal security controls are working under the assumed breach model of testing. Gray box testing does not provide as much access or information as a white box test, and is most beneficial for testing privilege escalation vectors and publicly available information.
When deciding on the best penetration testing method, there are various factors to consider. These include your objectives, budget, system, and the tester. Do you want to test your system's resilience, compliance, or functionality? Are you looking for a thorough and comprehensive test or a quick and cost-effective one? What kind of system are you testing? How complex, dynamic, or sensitive is it? Who will perform the test? How experienced, qualified, and trustworthy are they? All these questions should be taken into account when selecting the right method for your situation.
To choose the best penetration testing method for your needs, you should define your scope by specifying the boundaries, objectives, and expectations of the test. Consider the risks and benefits of the test, as well as the deliverables and timelines. Evaluate your options by comparing the pros and cons of different methods, and selecting the one that best suits your situation. Consider the trade-offs and compromises involved, and how you can optimize the results of the test. Penetration testing is a valuable practice for improving your system's security, allowing you to enhance its performance, reliability, and resilience against cyberattacks.
I start off engagements using Horizon 3 AI, a comprehensive Autonomous Pentesting as a Service application. I always operate off of an assumed breach scenario, preferring to start my scans on the same subnet as a primary domain controller.