What is Penetration Testing (Pen Testing)?

This post was originally published at https://invenioit.com/security/penetration-testing/

Penetration Testing Definition

Penetration testing is the process of simulating an attack on a network or system to uncover security flaws. The primary goal of “pen testing” is to penetrate a system’s security defenses. It’s a mock cyberattack that uses the same techniques as real attackers to identify and exploit a system’s vulnerabilities. Successful penetration testing helps organizations to understand and address their security weaknesses.

What is penetration testing in the context of ethical hacking and vulnerability testing? Here’s what you need to know.

Pen Testing vs. Ethical Hacking

Penetration testing and ethical hacking both involve simulated attacks on a network or system to uncover vulnerabilities. However, the two strategies differ in scope. Pen testing is typically focused on a single network or system, whereas ethical hacking often employs a broader range of activities to assess the overall security posture of an organization.

Pen Testing vs. Vulnerability Testing

Penetration testing and vulnerability testing share the same goal of identifying security weaknesses, but they use different strategies to carry out those tests. Pen testing involves simulated attacks to attempt to penetrate a network, whereas vulnerability testing identifies security flaws without necessarily exploiting them.

Why is Pen Testing Important??

The primary goal of pen testing is to uncover security weaknesses that could be exploited by real attackers. It’s an important security practice that helps organizations understand their vulnerabilities and proactively fill security gaps.

Pen testing purpose:

·?????? Exploit system vulnerabilities

·?????? Penetrate security defenses

·?????? Identify and report on those security flaws

·?????? Use test findings to eliminate vulnerabilities and strengthen security

The Role of Penetration Testing in Cybersecurity

Routine pen testing is an important cybersecurity strategy because organizations are often unaware of existing vulnerabilities – until it’s too late. Penetration testing puts their security systems to the test by using the same attack techniques of hackers. If the system can be penetrated, then the test is successful: it exposes flaws that companies didn’t know they had, so they can take action before a real attack occurs.

As such, penetration testing plays an important role within a broader cybersecurity strategy that also includes data protection, business continuity & disaster recovery (BCDR) and managed detection & response (MDR).

Pen Testing Compliance & Data Privacy

For many organizations, pen testing compliance is required by regulatory laws for maintaining data security and privacy.

Use case: In healthcare, for example, a pen test helps organizations comply with strict HIPAA laws that ensure the privacy of patient health information (PHI). With routine pen testing, healthcare organizations can determine if their data safeguards could be penetrated by attackers.

What Can You Test in a Penetration Test?

A penetration test can be used to test almost any component of your IT infrastructure, including network security, applications or computer systems. Common examples of what you can test include:

·?????? Internal networks

·?????? External networks

·?????? Cloud environments

·?????? Servers

·?????? Databases

·?????? Web apps

·?????? Mobile apps

·?????? Data backups

·?????? Endpoint devices

What are the Types of Pen Testing?

There are several different types of pen testing. Pen testing techniques can vary significantly in scope, technique and the tester’s familiarity with the system they’re attempting to penetrate. Each type of penetration has its own unique objective and methods, enabling businesses to deploy the right tests for their specific needs.

Examples of common pen testing types include:

·?????? Automated penetration testing: These tests use automated tools and software to uncover vulnerabilities. The key benefits of an automated pen test are speed, ease of testing, comprehensiveness and cost efficiency. ?

·?????? Manual penetration testing: Manual pen tests are carried out by human testers, who manually attempt to “hack” into a network or system.

·?????? Black box penetration testing: In a black box pen test, the tester has no prior knowledge of the system being tested, allowing them to simulate a real-world external attack.

·?????? White box penetration testing: In a white box pen test, the tester has deep insight into the system being tested, giving them a greater advantage at uncovering vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a sophisticated hacker group or an internal threat.

·?????? Gray box penetration testing: In a gray box pen test, the tester has partial knowledge of the system being tested, such as network architecture or login credentials.

·?????? Internal penetration testing: Internal penetration testing carries out a simulated attack from within a company’s network.

·?????? External penetration testing: An external pen test simulates an attack from outside an organization’s network.

·?????? Social engineering penetration testing: These pen tests use social engineering tactics, such as phishing emails, in an attempt to penetrate otherwise secure systems by deceiving human users.

How to do Pen Testing?

There are a few ways to conduct penetration testing. Most commonly, pen tests are performed by automated software, human security specialists or a combination of both. For testing to be effective, it should be thoroughly documented with clearly defined goals, methodologies, outcomes and post-test remediation.

Let’s look at a typical process for pen testing, including prerequisites, recommended tools and testing phases.

1) Pen Test Prerequisites

Before conducting a penetration test, you’ll need the following pen testing prerequisites:

·?????? Planning documentation: Create a formal plan for performing the plan test. Document the scope of the testing, such as the targeted network or systems, and define the goals.

·?????? Pen Testing Tools: If you’re conducting an automated test, you’ll need a robust penetration testing solution such as Vonahi, or complimentary tools for network scanning, vulnerability assessments or password cracking (see pen testing tools below).

·?????? Human testers: If you’re conducting a manual test, you’ll need to identify who performs the pen test, whether it’s an internal or external team, and how much familiarity with your systems the testers should have.

·?????? Requirements and guidelines: Define the pen testing basics, such as the parameters that are required for compliance, data privacy or legal regulations. This is especially important if the test will be performed by a third party.

·?????? Communication plan: Determine how the test findings will be communicated to applicable stakeholders and how security gaps will be resolved.

2) Pen Testing Tools

Organizations can leverage a variety of pen testing tools to support their tests. However, tools vary significantly in purpose and scope, so companies should select solutions according to their specific testing needs and objectives. Below, we’ve listed some of the most common pen testing tools and how they work.

·?????? Automated Penetration Testing: Vonahi Network Penetration Testing is a recommended tool for companies that want to fully automate their pen tests, while also making the testing faster, more accurate and comprehensive. Automated tests are also typically more affordable than manual testing. View Vonahi pricing to evaluate the costs.

·?????? Network Scanning & Mapping: Network scanning applications are commonly used in ethical hacking to identify the structure of the network, scan ports and identify possible entry points.

·?????? Vulnerability Assessments: Vulnerability scanning tools help to identify security weaknesses as a prerequisite to a manual pen test. These tools typically use a database of known vulnerabilities to uncover risks.

·?????? Web Application Scanners: These tools scan a network for vulnerabilities in web applications using a variety of techniques, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF).

·?????? Password Cracking Tools: Since weak credentials are a common entry point for malicious actors, these tools are designed to crack passwords with brute force or other methods.

3) Pen Testing Phases

The process of penetration testing is typically categorized into 5 or more phases. Together, these pen test phases outline the entire testing framework from start to finish, including the pre-testing documentation and post-testing review. Some of these phases apply more to manual pen tests, but the underlying methodology is generally the same regardless of test type.

a.???? Reconnaissance: Gather information on the targeted network or system to determine an attack strategy.

b.???? Scanning: Use pen testing tools to scan the network or system for open ports or other vulnerable entry points.

c.???? Vulnerability assessment: Assess any vulnerabilities or security gaps uncovered during the Reconnaissance or Scanning phases.

d.???? Exploitation: Attempt to penetrate the target network by exploiting the identified vulnerabilities.

e.???? Reporting: Report on the success of the pen test and make recommendations for remediating security gaps.

What are the Benefits of Pen Testing?

The primary benefit of pen testing is identifying and resolving security weaknesses in a company network or computer system. By attempting to penetrate their own security defenses, organizations gain valuable insight into vulnerabilities that could be exploited by real attackers.

Key benefits of pen testing:

·?????? Identifies vulnerabilities & security gaps

·?????? Ensures regulatory compliance

·?????? Enhances security awareness

·?????? Tests a company’s incident response

·?????? Reduces risk of successful attacks

·?????? Prevents damaging security breaches

Best Practices for Pen Testing

1)???? Define scope & objectives: Establish clearly defined objectives prior to each penetration test. Outline what the goals are, which systems will be targeted and how the success of the test will be measured.

2)???? Document all testing phases: Maintain clear documentation on all aspects of the test. Documenting findings is critical for evaluating outcomes, making recommendations for remediation and maintaining compliance.

3)???? Gain authorization: All penetration tests should be authorized by the appropriate stakeholders before testing begins. This is especially critical for tests that pose data privacy risks.

4)???? Use reliable testing tools: Leverage robust penetration testing technology (automated) and/or experienced human pen testers (manual). More sophisticated testing will help to uncover vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.

5)???? Combine automation with human analysis: Today’s automated pen tests are typically faster and more sophisticated. However, the human element is still critical for analyzing the findings and making informed decisions for remediation and cybersecurity investment.

6)???? Prioritize findings: When vulnerabilities are found by a pen test, prioritize the remediation efforts according to the most critical security flaws or the potential impact of a security incident on business operations.

7)???? Schedule repeat testing: Routine testing should be conducted to determine if security gaps have been adequately filled and to test for new vulnerabilities or emerging attack techniques. Use a pen testing schedule to outline how often tests should be performed and by whom.

Industry Standards of Pen Testing

Organizations can leverage several industry standards to inform their penetration testing. These standards outline the methodologies for pen tests to ensure their effectiveness. One of the most comprehensive industry resources is OSSTMM (Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual), which provides a scientific approach to network penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. Other prominent industry standards include PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard) and OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project).

Successful Pen Testing Examples

At Invenio IT, we’ve seen first-hand how penetration testing can prevent dangerous security breaches – and how the lack of testing can lead to devastating cyberattacks. Below are two examples of successful pen testing that helped organizations close security gaps and maintain compliance.

·?????? Insurwave?: This London-based insurance risk management company was using a reactive and costly approach to penetration testing, which left them exposed to potential breaches. Manual pen tests were performed just once a year, at a cost of up to ￡10,000 per test. By transitioning to automated penetration testing from Vonahi, the company was able to implement a monthly testing model that enhanced its security posture while also significantly reducing the cost and complexity of testing.

·?????? W-Industries: As a?provider of instrumentation for the oil and gas industry, W-Industries faced numerous challenges with their pen testing, including difficulties with compliance, costly manual tests, delayed reporting and lack of clarity for remediation. By switching to Vonahi automated pen tests, the company is now able to rapidly conduct tests on demand and generate highly detailed reports on test findings, which also supports compliance. It also vastly improved the company’s security posture over 20,000 endpoints.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does a pen test work?

A pen test works by using automated pen testing software or human testers who attempt to penetrate a system’s security defenses. Testers use similar techniques as real attackers to uncover vulnerabilities and propose steps for remediating security gaps.

2. What are the 7 steps of pen testing?

Seven important steps of pen testing are: 1) Defining the scope of the test, 2) Information gathering and reconnaissance, 3) Network scanning, 4) Assessing vulnerabilities, 5) Penetrating the network, 6) Assessing the security gaps, and 7) Test reporting and remediation of security flaws.

3. How often should businesses perform penetration testing?

Businesses should perform penetration testing at least 1-2 times a year and whenever there are significant changes to infrastructure or applications. Automated pen tests typically enable organizations to conduct pen tests more frequently and at a lower cost than manual testing.

4. What is the most common pen test? Network and web application pen tests are the most common types of penetration testing for businesses today. These are the most common attack vectors targeted by attackers attempting to gain access to a company system.?

5. How long should a pen test take?

Traditional, manual penetration can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on the scope of the test. Today’s automated pen tests from Vonahi are much faster, because they can run numerous tools simultaneously and shorten reporting time to less than a minute.

6. What are pros & cons of pen testing?

The primary advantage of pen testing is uncovering and fixing vulnerabilities that leave a company open to attack. One disadvantage is the potential for disruption to business operations if the test causes system downtime. This is why pen tests should be properly planned and executed in a way that minimizes disruption to the business.