Steps and tools used during penetration testing.
💡 For more specific tests, see Web Applications & APIs, Mobile Applications, Desktop Applications / Thick Clients and Wireless / Wifi Attacks.
Pre-engagement
- For good resources, see:
- Awesome Hacking (GitHub)
- Suggested tools (Bug Bounty Forum)
- Kali Tools (Kali.org)
- For taking notes on ethical hacking: OneNote, WordPress, GitBook, Notion.
Prerequisites
- Contract (client) or form:
- Project name
- Project code for timesheet
- Architecture / Network diagram
- Components in Scope: environment (dev/QA/prod), server name, IP address, URL, connection string
- Approval to do the tests
- Test accounts : 2 users per user profiles, 2 admin users, 1 user for infrastructure scans
- Test type: Black-box, Gray-box, White-box
- Threat Modeling (optional)
- Machine setup: Kali Linux
Methodologies & Frameworks
- The Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSSTMM 3)
- NIST SP 800-115: Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment
- Penetration Testing Execution Standard
- Information System Security Assessment Framework (ISSAF)
Reconnaissance / Passive Information Gathering / OSINT
Gather information about a target without directly interacting with it. Third parties can be used for information gathering. Other definitions include a more permissive approach, like interacting as a normal user would.
Recon tools: ComplianceRank, Dmitry, Discover Scripts, Exiftool, Fierce, Github / Git Client / Gitbook, Gitleaks, Gitrob, Google Hacking Database (GHDB), Maltego, Metagoofil, OSINT Framework, sublist3r, TheHarvester, Trufflehog, WhatWeb, Recon-ng
💡 See Reconnaissance / Passive Information Gathering / OSINT.
Active Info Gathering / Scanning / Enumeration
Tools: IOXIDResolver
- DNS Enumeration
- Live host discovery: Nmap, ping & hping3, SPARTA
- Open ports *: Nmap, Netcat, traceroute
- Scan with infrastructure scanners: Nessus, OpenVAS, Tenable Security Center, Tsunami
- Look for Shares: \\server_name
- Social Media Enumeration
- Network: IOXIDResolver | Nmap | lbd
- Client Fingerprint (browser and OS)
- Social Engineering
* Investigate each open/filtered port. See details for each ports.
Forensics Tools
Database enumeration
- Oscanner in Oracle Database
SSL Certificates
- Qualys SSL Labs – Test strength of SSL Certificates
- Mozilla Observatory – SSL Certificates / Response Headers
Exploits / Attacks / Vulnerabilities
❗ ALWAYS inspect exploit code.
Tools: Exploit DB, SearchSploit, Metasploit, Mingw-w64, Wine
Multiple exploits may exist for a vulnerability, for different target OS versions and architectures.
- Search: SearchSploit | GHDB | National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- Repositories: Exploit DB | SecurityFocus | PacketStorm | Nmap NSE | 0day
- Repositories (not safe): GitHub
- Cross-compiler: Mingw-w64
- Package Python apps into standalone executables: PyInstaller
- CVE
- Databases
- Exploits
- Exploits / Attacks / Vulnerabilities
- Mobile Applications
- Passwords Attacks
- Web Applications & APIs
- Wireless / Wifi Attacks
- Client-side attacks: Microsoft Office Macros | HTML Applications (HTA) | CSV Injection | BeEF | CactusTorch (create infected PDF, .doc, etc.)
- Bypass Antivirus
- Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- Denial of Service (DoS): Low Orbit Ion Cannon
Network Attacks
- Man-in-the-middle (MITM)
- DNS Spoofing Attack: Ettercap
- Spy on traffic / Network Sniffing: Ettercap | Wireshark | Xplico | Port Mirroring
Post-Exploitation
Tools: Metasploit, PowerShell Empire
Privilege Escalation
- Privilege escalation: Unix | Windows
- Impersonation privileges exploits: Juicy Potato, PrintSpoofer
Post-Exploitation
- Post-Exploitation: Unix | Windows
- Data Exfiltration
Lateral Movement Techniques
Phases of lateral movement: reconnaissance, credential/privilege gathering, and gaining access to other computers in the network.
- Credentials & Hashes: Credential reuse, dumping hashes with Mimikatz, Pass-the-Hash
- Kerberos: Kerberoasting, AS-REP Roasting, Pass the Ticket, Overpass the Hash/Pass the Key, MS14-068 (ExploitDB)
- Exploit software or kernel vulnerabilities
- Port Forwarding / Tunneling
Cleanup
- Remove all uploaded files and exploits after a pentest.
Reporting
Bug Bounty Platforms
- Bugcrowd (private bounties at https://bugcrowd.com/company_name)
- HackerOne
- Huntr (for GitHub repositories)
- Open Bug Bounty (formerly XSSposed)
- YesWeHack
- SynAck
- Find security.txt file using gosecuritytxt
### NOT VERIFIED ###
List of Bug Bounty/Crowdsourced Security Platforms:
Detectify - cs.detectify.com
Cobalt - cobalt.io
Zerocopter - www.zerocopter.com
HackenProof - hackenproof.com
Vulnerability Lab - www.vulnerability-lab.com
FireBounty - firebounty.com
BugBounty.jp - bugbounty.jp
AntiHACK - www.antihack.me
Intigriti - www.intigriti.com
SafeHats - safehats.com
RedStorm - www.redstorm.io
Cyber Army ID - www.cyberarmy.id
Yogosha - yogosha.comReporting 0-Day
- Zero Day Initiative – Report 0-day vulnerabilities
Severity Scoring
CVSS
DREAD
Missing Security Controls
- Calculator
- Conference “The Quest for Better Pentest Reports”
- Git Repository for Missing Security Controls