What to Do After Ethical Hacking? Learn Advanced Pentesting Skills with the C|PENT

Ethical hacking is a highly popular cybersecurity skill that creates many opportunities and career paths. If you have already obtained a certification and are wondering what to do after ethical hacking, the next natural step would be to acquire advanced pentesting skills. But what is penetration testing in ethical hacking, and how can you become a penetration tester after obtaining ethical hacking certifications? This article will discuss what to do after ethical hacking, the roles and responsibilities of penetration testers, how ethical hackers can hone their advanced pentesting skills, and more.

Why is Ethical Hacking a Core Cybersecurity Skill?

Ethical hacking is the use of hacking skills and techniques to help organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Ethical hackers use hacking tools and knowledge to assess an IT environment, network, or computer system for vulnerabilities and recommend measures for effective mitigation.

Ethical hacking is a core cybersecurity skill because it helps businesses see their IT ecosystem from an external perspective, putting them in the mind of an attacker. Ethical hackers help companies identify vulnerabilities, improve their defenses, understand various attack methods, and comply with cybersecurity laws and regulations. Ethical hacking is a proactive approach to cybersecurity that can protect organizations from devastating cyberattacks and data breaches.

What are the Most Rewarding Career Options after Obtaining an Ethical Hacking Certification?

Wondering what to do after ethical hacking certifications? There are many highly rewarding professions one can pursue after obtaining an ethical hacking certification, such as:

◉ Penetration Testers: Identify potential vulnerabilities in IT systems, test the security of these systems, and generate reports and recommendations on their findings.

◉ Red Team Members: Simulate a cyberattack against an organization, competing with blue team members whose job is to defend against the attack

◉ Security Architects: Design computer software, networks, and systems with a security-first approach, ensuring these products are protected against threats.

Why is Advanced Penetration Testing an Excellent Option for Ethical Hackers?

With the growing sophistication of cyberattacks (Brooks, 2023), many organizations are looking for skilled penetration testers to help them find and patch security weaknesses. If you are contemplating what to do after ethical hacking certifications, the good news is that pursuing a penetration testing career path is an easy transition.

In fact, the difference between ethical hacking and penetration testing is subtle, and there is a great deal of overlap between the two fields. Penetration testers typically restrict themselves to assessing a specific IT asset or resource, while ethical hackers may carry out many different types of attacks on the entire IT environment.

Advanced penetration testing makes for an excellent option after ethical hacking. It allows ethical hackers to go beyond the basics and learn more about a specific target system, identifying complex vulnerabilities that automated scans may miss. Advanced penetration testing also enables ethical hackers to specialize in a particular field and customize their tests and attacks to business needs and industry requirements.

What are the Responsibilities of a Penetration Tester

The role of a penetration tester includes functions such as:

◉ Defining the scope of the penetration testing process, including the target systems, applications, or networks and the tools and techniques to be used.

◉ Performing reconnaissance on the target, including details such as IP addresses, domain names, operating systems, and potential vulnerabilities.

◉ Using automated and manual techniques to probe the target for weaknesses and misconfigurations that can be exploited during an attack.

◉ Exploiting the discovered vulnerabilities to launch a simulated cyberattack, gaining access to unauthorized resources or data.

◉ Creating reports and documentation on the testing process and offering recommendations to key decision-makers.

How Do You Become a Penetration Tester?

If you’re seeking a path beyond ethical hacking, consider advancing into penetration testing. Both roles involve assessing and fortifying cybersecurity measures, making penetration testing a logical step forward. The relevant penetration testing skills may include:

◉ Knowledge of networking concepts such as TCP/IP, DNS, and network architecture

◉ Operating system proficiency in Windows, macOS, and Linux

◉ Programming and scripting languages such as C/C++, Java, Python, Ruby, and Bash

◉ Analytical and problem-solving skills that enable creative thinking and flexibility

Some—but not all—penetration testers have received formal education in fields such as computer science, information technology, and cybersecurity. Others have broken into penetration testing by accumulating real-world experience in the necessary tools and techniques, and still others have obtained penetration testing certifications such as EC-Council’s C|PENT.

Why Choose the Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT) Credential?

EC-Council’s C|PENT (Certified Penetration Testing Professional) program is an advanced pentesting certification ideal for anyone considering what to do after ethical hacking. The C|PENT educates students on industry best practices for penetration testing tools, techniques, and methods. It is an excellent training for students looking to further their cybersecurity careers via penetration testing and ethical hacking.

The benefits of the C|PENT certification include:

◉ A live practice cyber range for students to test their pentesting skills in hands-on activities

◉ 100 percent mapped with the NICE cybersecurity framework

◉ Blending automated and manual penetration testing techniques

◉ Alignment with more than 15 job roles

Why Should Penetration Testing Be the Next Move for an Ethical Hacker?

Penetration testing shares substantial common ground with ethical hacking, making it a natural progression for those who have obtained a certification and are wondering what to do after ethical hacking. The two fields are highly related and share several skills, tools, and techniques. Let’s examine why advancing to a penetration career can be an excellent move for ethical hackers.

◉ Broadening and deepening your skill set to include a variety of attack techniques and vulnerabilities for specific targets

◉ Gaining real-world experience with an advanced penetration testing range

◉ Providing value to organizations by protecting their IT assets, data, and systems from malicious actors, helping them address and resolve critical security weaknesses

◉ Working in combination with other valuable cybersecurity job roles, including security analysts, red teamers, security architects, and digital forensics investigators

What Skills of an Ethical Hacker are Upgraded in the C|PENT?

The C|PENT program includes 14 theoretical and practical modules for detecting security vulnerabilities.

Students learn about identifying weaknesses in various IT environments, from networks and web applications to the cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In fact, C|PENT is the first penetration testing certification in the world with a curriculum including IoT attacks.

C|PENT covers advanced pentesting skills such as:

◉ Windows and Active Directory attacks, including Kerberoasting and Golden Ticket attacks.

◉ Exploitation of 32-bit and 64-bit binaries

◉ Double pivoting, privilege escalation, and evading defense mechanisms

◉ Writing informative and professional penetration testing reports

Ethical Hacking + Penetration Testing Skills: Why Every Organization Needs Them?

Developing your penetration testing competencies can give you a lethal combination of skills that are highly valuable to organizations of all sizes and industries. These include:

• Proactive security: Both ethical hacking and penetration testing encourage a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Organizations can find and mitigate issues and vulnerabilities before malicious actors discover and exploit them.
• Comprehensive assessment: Penetration testing and ethical hacking can be applied across the entirety of the IT environment. These fields allow organizations to thoroughly assess their networks, applications, and devices.
• Regulatory compliance: Ethical hacking and penetration testing aren’t just a wise idea; they may also be required under data privacy and security laws. Businesses should be familiar with the applicable regulations and how to remain compliant.

Career Benefits of Advanced Penetration Testing

Honing your advanced penetration testing skills is a great way to further your penetration testing career. Penetration testing can be an intellectually rewarding and lucrative career for those with the right combination of skills and experience:

• According to Indeed, the average base salary for penetration testers in the United States is over $119,238 (Indeed, 2024).
• The market research firm MarketsandMarkets estimates that the global penetration testing market will nearly double in just five years—from USD 1.4 billion in 2022 to USD 2.7 billion in 2027 (MarketsandMarkets, 2022).

Achieving your dream penetration testing job is much easier when you choose the right pentesting certification. EC-Council’s C|PENT equips you with advanced pentesting skills through its up-to-date curriculum and hands-on approach, giving students the real-world experience they need to succeed in a penetration testing career.

Source: eccouncil.org

Continue reading

PowerShell Scripting: Definition, Use Cases, and More

PowerShell is a powerful tool for task automation and configuration management, mainly in the Windows operating system. Penetration testers and ethical hackers can use PowerShell scripting to automate many activities.

In simple terms, PowerShell makes it easier to automate and manage tasks on Windows systems, enhancing cybersecurity efforts.

What Is PowerShell?

PowerShell refers to two related Microsoft Windows products: a scripting language and a command-line shell for executing PowerShell scripts. (Microsoft Learn, 2023) First released in 2006, PowerShell was originally developed only for the Windows operating system to replace the Command Prompt. However, it is also available for the macOS and Linux operating systems via the cross-platform PowerShell Core framework.

A PowerShell command is known as a cmdlet: a small, single-purpose program. (Microsoft Learn, 2021) Cmdlets typically use a verb-noun naming pattern, with both words capitalized and separated by a hyphen (e.g., “Get-Process”). While Microsoft provides several built-in PowerShell commands, users can also define their own custom PowerShell commands for various use cases.

PowerShell performs much of the same functionality for Windows as the Bash shell does for Linux operating systems or the Terminal for macOS. Users can interact with PowerShell as an alternative way to navigate the Windows file system or leverage advanced operating system features designed for power users.

What Is PowerShell Scripting?

PowerShell scripting refers to using the PowerShell scripting language to execute tasks in Microsoft Windows. The PowerShell scripting language performs similar functionality to the Bash scripting language for Linux users: it can automate system activities and run programs with scripts that range from simple to complex.

PowerShell is a full-fledged scripting language that supports variables, conditional statements, loops, functions, error handling, and more. This makes it suitable for many use cases (as we’ll see later).

The basic unit of the PowerShell scripting language is the object. PowerShell commands return structured data objects that can be easily manipulated and passed to other commands. Cmdlets can be easily chained together in a complex pipeline, using the output of one cmdlet as the input of another. This makes PowerShell a flexible, extensible, and user-friendly scripting language.

PowerShell ISE (Integrated Scripting Environment) is a software application to help Windows users work with and create their own PowerShell scripts and commands. (Microsoft Learn, 2021) It includes PowerShell script editing, debugging, code completion, and execution. As of PowerShell 6, however, Microsoft is no longer actively supporting PowerShell ISE. Instead, Microsoft recommends that authors of PowerShell scripts should use the Visual Studio Code IDE (integrated development environment) with the PowerShell extension installed.

Some Common Use Cases

PowerShell scripting has many different applications in the fields of IT and system management. The following discusses a few PowerShell scripting use cases.

1. System Administration

System administrators can use PowerShell scripting to handle many of their day-to-day activities. These include:

• Creating, modifying, or deleting user accounts and groups in Active Directory.
• Configuring and managing devices on Windows servers.
• Creating, deleting, and moving files and folders.
• Changing Windows Registry keys and values.

2. Task Automation

PowerShell scripts can automate many manual user actions in Windows, running in the background while human employees focus on higher-level activities. These include:

• Automating repetitive tasks such as data backup, log deletion, and software installation.
• Scheduling tasks to run at specific times or after specific intervals.
• Processing large amounts of files or data in bulk (e.g., moving or renaming all the files in a folder).

3. Configuration Management

It can be used to tweak many aspects of Windows settings and configurations, such as:

• Defining environment variables, system parameters, and network settings.
• Applying configurations to multiple users at once using Group Policy.
• Standardizing Windows configurations across multiple workstations or servers.

4. Monitoring and Reporting

PowerShell scripts can provide visibility into the events within an IT environment. The monitoring and reporting use cases of PowerShell include:

• Collecting, processing, and analyzing data about system performance.
• Searching and filtering Windows logs for specific events or anomalies.
• Automatically generate reports and send them to key decision-makers.

5. Security and Compliance

Last but not least, PowerShell scripting can help organizations ensure that they are properly detecting cybersecurity weaknesses and remaining compliant with laws and regulations:

• Auditing and securing user credentials (e.g., by enforcing password policies).
• Conducting IT security scans and vulnerability assessments.
• Enforcing compliance with data privacy and security regulations and standards.

PowerShell Scripting in Penetration Testing

PowerShell scripting is a powerful tool for organizations and system administrators, especially for security and compliance reasons. In particular, PowerShell scripts are widely used in cybersecurity practices such as penetration testing and ethical hacking.

The role of penetration testers is to probe an IT machine or ecosystem for vulnerabilities by simulating a real cyberattack against it. Penetration testers can use PowerShell scripts to automate many of their activities when scanning for security weaknesses in Windows environments:

• Reconnaissance: Before conducting a penetration test, pen testers perform surveillance on the target, gathering information such as open ports and running services. PowerShell scripts can automate the reconnaissance task, collecting data to help identify the most promising avenues of attack.
• Vulnerability scanning: During a simulated attack, penetration testers scan for many vulnerabilities: SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), insecure direct object references (IDOR), and more. Pen testers can write PowerShell scripts that automate scanning using various cybersecurity tools and libraries.
• Exploitation and privilege escalation: After penetration testers detect security weaknesses, the next step is to exploit them and extend the attacker’s reach throughout the IT ecosystem. PowerShell scripts can help testers escalate privileges, perform lateral movement throughout the network, and exfiltrate sensitive data.
• Reporting and documentation: Once a penetration test is complete, testers need to report their findings to key decision-makers and make recommendations for resolving any vulnerabilities detected. PowerShell scripting can help gather data from multiple sources and generate reports summarizing the vulnerabilities detected and the extent to which they could be exploited.

Source: eccouncil.org

Continue reading

C|PENT vs. OSCP vs. Pentest+

Penetration testing is the act of simulating cyberattacks against an IT system, network, or application by probing for and exploiting its vulnerabilities. Many pen testers have entered the field by receiving a penetration testing certification, leading to comparisons such as C|PENT vs. OSCP or CPENT vs. Pentest+.

Penetration testers need to acquire skills and experience in various domains, from networks and operating systems to programming languages and web applications. For this reason, a growing number of penetration testers are choosing to study pen tester courses such as C|PENT, OSCP, and Pentest+. Certified penetration testers can deepen their ethical hacking knowledge, launch more effective attacks, and advance their career with the right skills.

This raises the question: What is your best penetration testing course? This article will discuss everything you need to know about C|PENT vs. OSCP and C|PENT vs. Pentest+ so you can make an informed decision.

What Does a Penetration Tester Do?

If you’re interested in becoming a pen tester, you might wonder: what does a penetration tester do, exactly? The most common penetration testing roles and responsibilities include:

• Planning and road mapping the attack
• Collecting information and reconnaissance
• Exploiting vulnerabilities with manual and automatic tests
• Reporting on findings and making recommendations to improve security

Penetration testing is highly technical and knowledge-intensive. The knowledge and skills needed to be a penetration tester include:

• Computer networking technologies and protocols
• The three major operating systems (Windows, macOS, and Linux)
• Popular application exploits such as SQL injections and cross-site scripting (XSS)
• Programming and scripting languages such as C/C++, Java, Python, Ruby, and Bash

C|PENT vs. OSCP vs. Pentest+

There are three major penetration testing certifications: EC-Council’s Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT), Offensive Security’s Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), and CompTIA’s Pentest+. This section will give an overview of the three industry certifications.

Course Modules and Labs

C|PENT includes 14 modules with an estimated 40 hours of training. OSCP includes 21 smaller modules on penetration testing topics. Pentest+ students can take the CertMaster Learn for PenTest+ course, which includes an estimated 40 hours of training.

Validity and Recertification

C|PENT requires its certification holders to renew their certification every two years to ensure their skills remain up-to-date. OSCP and Pentest+ do not have any such requirements.

Topics

C|PENT covers a wider range of topics than OSCP or Pentest+. Below are some of the topics covered by C|PENT that are not included in either OSCP or Pentest+:

• Internet of Things (IoT) penetration testing
• OT and SCADA penetration testing
• Cloud penetration testing
• Database penetration testing
• Mobile device penetration testing
• Binary analysis and exploitation
• Penetration testing essential concepts
• Fuzzing
• Perl environment and scripting

Exam Details

C|PENT course graduates must pass a stringent 24-hour proctored exam (optionally broken into two 12-hour exams). These exams thoroughly evaluate students’ ability to solve practical, real-world penetration testing problems.

Job Roles

C|PENT can help prepare students for various cybersecurity job roles that use penetration testing. These include:

• Ethical hackers
• Penetration testers
• Network administrators
• System administrators
• Digital forensic analysts
• Cloud security analysts
• Security operations center (SOC) analysts
• Security engineers
• Security architects

Hands-on Labs

C|PENT includes more than 100 advanced labs to give students hands-on experience with penetration testing. OSCP and Pentest+ also include lab environments for students to practice their pen testing skills.

Learning Environment

C|PENT offers a wide range of learning methods. Students can self-study by watching videos online, synchronous lectures online, or taking the course through a training or education partner in person. Pentest+ is also available online or in person, but OSCP is only available online.

Target Audience

C|PENT is intended for advanced penetration testers who want a complete overview of the field of pen testing. Meanwhile, OSCP is an entry-level pen testing certification, and Pentest+ sits in the middle for intermediate learners.

Standards Mapping

C|PENT maps to cybersecurity standards such as the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Framework. The OSCP and Pentest+ certifications have no such mappings.

Difficulty

C|PENT is a challenging certification that thoroughly covers advanced topics in penetration testing. Despite being less advanced courses, OSCP difficulty and Pentest+ difficulty is also considered high (see below).

Eligibility

C|PENT, OSCP, and Pentest+ do not have any formal eligibility requirements or prerequisites. OSCP encourages students to have a “solid understanding of TCP/IP networking, reasonable Windows and Linux administration experience, and familiarity with basic Bash and Python scripting.” Pentest+ recommends “a minimum of three to four years of hands-on information security or related experience.”

Is C|PENT Worth It?

If you’re wondering, “Is C|PENT worth it?”, the better question might be: “What am I hoping to learn and achieve with the C|PENT certification?”.

The C|PENT program offers comprehensive, rigorous coverage of industry best practices for advanced penetration testing tools, techniques, and methods. C|PENT includes 14 theoretical and practical hands-on modules that teach students to identify weaknesses in various IT environments, from networks and web applications to the cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

In particular, C|PENT covers advanced pen testing skills such as:

• Windows and Active Directory attacks, including Kerberoasting and golden ticket attacks
• Exploitation of 32-bit and 64-bit binaries
• Double pivoting, privilege escalation, and evading defense mechanisms
• Automating cyberattacks with scripting languages
• Writing informative and professional penetration testing reports 

Which Pen Testing Certification is Best for You?

This article has discussed the crucial differences between the C|PENT, OSCP, and Pentest+ certifications for penetration testing. So, which pen testing certification is right for your situation?

The C|PENT certification is best for:

• Cybersecurity professionals who want a complete overview of advanced penetration testing tools, techniques, and methodologies.
• People who want a variety of flexible learning environments, including in-person and online.
• Students who need a reputable, well-established pen testing certification that maps to cybersecurity frameworks such as NICE.

The OSCP certification may be best for:

• Cybersecurity professionals who are new to penetration testing and want to cover only introductory topics.

The Pentest+ certification may be best for:

• Cybersecurity professionals who want an intermediate penetration testing certification, neither too basic nor too advanced.

If the C|PENT certification sounds like the right fit for you, it’s never been easier to begin. Ready to jumpstart your career in the dynamic and rewarding field of pen testing?

Continue reading

What Is the OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities? The List and Mitigation Methods

If you are interested in cybersecurity issues, you’ve probably seen a reference to the OWASP Top 10. But what is OWASP? The Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP) is an online community founded in 2001 that has become highly influential in the realm of web application security. A non-profit group called The OWASP Foundation is the official organization behind OWASP, but it is better known for the contributions of its community members. Comprised of cybersecurity professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts, the community helps craft the OWASP Top 10, a list of the most critical web application security risks.

The OWASP Top 10 was first published in 2003 and is updated every three to four years. As the OWASP Top 10 – 2021 was the first update since 2017, you can expect to see the next version in 2024 or 2025. OWASP also publishes other interesting lists to the cybersecurity community, such as the OWASP Mobile Top 10. The OWASP Top 10 API Security Risks – 2023 is the group’s most recent release, highlighting several broken authentication OWASP discoveries. (OWASP, 2023)

Even though the main OWASP Top 10 hasn’t been updated for a couple of years, each item is still relevant today. Below is a look at the vulnerabilities detailed in the most recent OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities and some potential mitigation methods.

The OWASP Top 10 and Possible Mitigations

The OWASP Top 10 – 2021 follows the organization’s long-standing tradition of grouping known vulnerabilities under broad category headings. In doing so, OWASP says its list represents a consensus of the most crucial web application security risks. (OWASP, 2021) The individual vulnerabilities are called “Common Weakness Enumerations” (CMEs), and each CME is mapped to a category.

For example, under the category of Broken Access Control OWASP collected 34 CMEs. It’s important to keep the CME-category relationship in mind when discussing possible mitigations. While each mitigation listed below is general guidance for the listed category, specific vulnerabilities might be better suited to a mitigation unique to the CME. With that in mind, here are the most recent OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities:

1. Broken access control

Under the category of broken access control OWASP includes any vulnerabilities that fail to restrict user access properly. These weaknesses allow access to resources and actions that users are authorized for. This category rose from fifth place in 2017 to the top spot of the 2021 list of vulnerabilities (OWASP, 2017). This reflects the widespread prevalence of access control issues on the web.

Web developers can fix these vulnerabilities by implementing proper access control based on the user’s role and authorized set of permissions. Additionally, regular access control checks can be added to web code.

2. Cryptographic failures

The cryptographic failures category was known as “sensitive data exposure” on the 2017 OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities. Since cryptography is used to protect data resources, the new category name more accurately reflects the range of problems. Among the issues are weak SSL/TLS implementations, insecure password storage, and the use of older and compromised encryption methods.

Mitigation methods include using stronger encryption protocols and performing regular vulnerability assessments. Older encryption methods should be deprecated in favor of newer protocols.

3. Injection

Previously number one on the OWASP Top 10 SQL injection vulnerabilities are now categorized simply as “injection.” That’s because the category now includes cross-site scripting weaknesses, which was number seven on the 2017 OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities. LDAP injection, XML injection and similar attack vectors are now included in the category.

Possible mitigations include parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection. Input validation can also help with all forms of injection.

4. Insecure design

A new category for the OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities – 2021, insecure design covers any flaws in application architecture that can be exploited. Following application design best practices and implementing threat modeling can minimize design exploits.

5. Security misconfiguration

Like insurance design, security misconfiguration is a broad category. It now includes the XML external entities (XME) category from OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities – 2017.

Unpatched vulnerabilities, unprotected directories, the user of default configurations and unapplied patches are some of the most common security misconfigurations. Following cybersecurity best practices will mitigate nearly all misconfiguration vulnerabilities.

6. Vulnerable and outdated components

Web applications depend on third-party frameworks and libraries, as do the web servers they run on. Failure to apply security patches for these components can leave a web app vulnerable to attacks. Similarly, outdated components that their developers have abandoned can pose significant security risks.

Keep server software and components updated to mitigate these vulnerabilities. Make sure you’re aware of vulnerability announcements by setting up alerts or following component developers on social media.

7. Identification and Authentication Failures

Improper identity management and authentication systems allow malicious actors to pose as other users. Hackers who exploit these vulnerabilities gain access to sensitive data, such as financial records or intellectual property.

Multi-factor authentication within applications and proper identity and access management (IAM) practices can help mitigate vulnerabilities in this category.

8. Software and data integrity failures

Another new category for the OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities list, this includes weaknesses that may arise from insecure software development practices. Insurance DevOps practices and poor database administration are among the bad practices included under this heading. Following industry best practices is the best mitigation against software and data integrity failures.

9. Security logging and monitoring failures

Failure to monitor logs and respond to related alerts lead to vulnerabilities in this category. Suspicious login attempts and other potentially malicious activity goes unnoticed, leading to hackers chipping away at a web app’s security architecture. To mitigate these issues, admins should use properly configured log monitoring and analysis tools.

10. Server-side request forgery

This vulnerability, commonly known as SSRF, opens the door for bad actors to make unauthorized server requests and access sensitive resources. In the worst cases, a hacker may gain full administrative control over a web server and access all data on a system.

To mitigate SSRF attacks, developers should follow web programming best practices such as input validation and whitelisting authorized users.

Learn to Fight the OWASP Top Ten with a C|PENT Certification

Web applications are a part of our everyday lives. The convenience of accessing apps from anywhere and at any time helps streamline business processes and enables a global workforce. However, web application security is full of potential dangers.

That’s why the OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities list is so important. As developers and administrators become more aware of the vulnerabilities, they are more likely to secure their apps. The list provides essential context to the most critical threats and allows cybersecurity professionals to implement a defense. If you’ve wanted to break into the world of cybersecurity to fight vulnerabilities on the OWASP Top Ten, consider the Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT) program from EC-Council.

This hands-on, practical certification course doesn’t just teach you penetration testing. The C|PENT helps you build a strong career by covering key web application security concepts. You’ll learn how hackers evade defense mechanisms and exploit vulnerabilities and then apply your skills to help defend web servers and apps.

Source: eccouncil.org

Continue reading

Wireshark: Packet Capturing and Analysis

Penetration testing is one of the most robust defenses businesses have against cyberattacks. By simulating attacks in a safe, controlled environment, penetration testers can more easily identify vulnerabilities in an IT environment and fix them before malicious actors can exploit them.

The good news is that penetration testers have no shortage of tools, including Wireshark, a packet-capturing and analysis tool commonly used by network administrators and IT security professionals. So, what is Wireshark, and how is it used in penetration testing? This Wireshark tutorial will cover everything you need to know about using Wireshark.

What Is Wireshark?

To answer the question “What is Wireshark?”, you first must understand the concept of a network packet. Network packets are “chunks” or data units sent between two connected devices on a network using protocols such as TCP/IP. Each packet consists of a header containing metadata about the packet (such as its source and destination) and a payload (the actual content of the packet, such as an email or web page).

Wireshark is a free, open-source software application for capturing and analyzing network packets. Wireshark can help users glean valuable insights about the network’s activity and identify issues or threats by capturing and analyzing these packets.

Wireshark Uses

A great deal of Wireshark’s popularity is due to its flexibility and versatility. The Wireshark tool has many use cases, including:

◉ Troubleshooting: Network administrators can better understand the goings-on in their IT environment by analyzing the packets captured in Wireshark. This can help diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve network issues.

◉ Network analysis: The packets captured by Wireshark are helpful for network monitoring and forensics. For example, Wireshark can detect several common network-based attacks, such as port scanning and attacks using FTP, ICMP, or BitTorrent.

◉ Software development: Wireshark helps software engineers during the development and testing process. For example, Wireshark can help debug problems related to unexpected network behavior or performance issues.

◉ Education: The nonprofit Wireshark Foundation supports the development of Wireshark and promotes its use in education programs. Wireshark is a common tool used in penetration testing certifications and training.

Wireshark Features

Wireshark has many valuable features and functionalities, making it an invaluable addition to any IT security professional’s toolkit. The features of Wireshark include the following:

◉ Live packet capture: With Wireshark, users can capture network packets in real-time, giving up-to-the-minute insights about network activity.

◉ Detailed analysis: Wireshark provides various details about the header and contents of each packet, letting users filter the traffic they want to view and analyze.

◉ Support for thousands of protocols: As of writing, Wireshark is compatible with more than 3,000 network protocols, making it useful in a wide variety of applications (Wireshark).

◉ Multi-platform support: Wireshark is compatible with the Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, making it accessible to millions of users interested in networking and IT security.

Using Wireshark in Penetration Testing

Although Wireshark has numerous features and use cases, one of its most popular applications is penetration testing. The ways in which Wireshark is used in penetration testing include:

◉ Network reconnaissance: Penetration testers can use Wireshark to perform reconnaissance: identifying targets such as ports, devices, and services based on the type and amount of network traffic they exchange.

◉ Traffic analysis: Wireshark can run scans on network traffic to detect signals of malicious activity, such as unusual payloads or surges in traffic patterns from a particular location.

◉ Password cracking: Network packets that contain user credentials such as usernames and passwords should use encryption for security. However, penetration testers can attempt to identify and crack these packets to test for vulnerabilities.

◉ Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks: DoS attacks attempt to prevent legitimate users from accessing a server or resource by flooding it with malicious traffic. IT security professionals can use Wireshark to detect DoS attacks and mitigate them by blocking traffic from specific sources or locations.

Packet Capturing in Wireshark

To get started with Wireshark, users must first define what kind of network packets they wish to capture. Packet capturing in Wireshark involves following the steps below:

1. Select the network interface: First, users must select the proper network interface from which to capture packets. This is likely the name of the wired or wireless network adapter used by the current machine.

2. Configure the capturing options: Wireshark users can select from various options when capturing network packets. Users may configure the type of packets to capture, the number of bytes to capture for each packet, the size of the kernel buffer for packet capture, the file name and capture format, and much more.

3. Start the packet capture: Once the capture is set up, users can start the Wireshark packet capture process. Wireshark will automatically capture all packets sent and received by the current machine and network interface using the provided options.

4. End the packet capture: When the process is complete, users can manually or automatically stop packet capture in Wireshark (e.g., after capturing a specified number of packets). The results will be saved to a file for later analysis.

Analyzing Data Packets in Wireshark

After packet capture is complete, users can also perform network packet analysis with Wireshark. First, users should be aware of the various filters and options available in Wireshark. For example, the Wireshark tool can automatically label different types of traffic with different colors (e.g., packets using TCP/IP with one color or packets containing errors with another).

To analyze data packets in Wireshark, first, open the corresponding file that has been saved after the packet capturing process. Next, users can narrow their search by using Wireshark’s filter options. Below are just a few possibilities for using Wireshark filters:

◉ Showing only traffic from a particular port.

◉ Showing only packets that contain a particular byte sequence.

◉ Showing only traffic to a particular source or from a particular destination.

Users can select a given packet in the Wireshark interface to display more details about that packet. Wireshark’s Packet Details pane contains additional information about the packet’s IP address, header, payload data, and more (Wireshark).

Source: eccouncil.org

Continue reading

What is Authentication Bypass Vulnerability, and How Can You Prevent It?

Authentication — the ability of users to prove who they say they are — is fundamental to cybersecurity. By authenticating their identity, users can access restricted resources they need to do their jobs.

Unfortunately, authentication methods aren’t always foolproof. When malicious actors can pass themselves off as legitimate users, this attack is known as an authentication bypass, and the resulting security flaw is called an authentication bypass vulnerability. This article will explore what authentication bypass vulnerabilities are and discuss examples of common attacks and how to prevent them.

Authentication Bypass Vulnerability Explained

Any software or web application that asks users for their login credentials relies on authentication. When a user’s identity is established, the application can provide the appropriate privileges and information to the user, depending on that identity.

Usernames and passwords are the most common authentication method. Other techniques include token-based authentication (using a physical device such as a smartphone or ID card) and biometric authentication (e.g., fingerprint scans and voice identification).

However, savvy attackers often break these authentication methods, imitating a valid user to gain access to an IT system. In other words, the attacker can bypass the authentication mechanism that an application uses to verify identities, all without having to go through the authentication process. When this occurs, it’s known as an authentication bypass, and the associated security flaw is known as an authentication bypass vulnerability

How Can Authentication Bypass Vulnerability Be Exploited?

Once attackers are inside an IT environment using an authentication bypass vulnerability, how can this be exploited? There are several malicious activities that attackers can perform after performing an authentication bypass, including:

◉ Data breaches: If the user whose identity has been stolen has access to confidential, sensitive, or restricted data, the attacker can use this access to exfiltrate information. Data breaches are one of the most common — and most devastating — types of cyberattacks. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach worldwide is $4.35 million.

◉ Espionage: More sophisticated attackers may use an authentication bypass vulnerability to conduct long-term espionage on a target, often with political or financial motives. They may install spyware to surveil users’ activities or even subtly sabotage the organization by modifying or deleting files.

◉ Ransomware: Attackers motivated primarily by greed may use an authentication bypass vulnerability as an opportunity to install ransomware on the network. This damaging form of malware encrypts the victim’s files and demands a hefty ransom before they can be decrypted.

◉ Privilege escalation: Attackers often use an authentication bypass to gain a “foothold” inside a network as a regular user. Once inside, the attacker has greater maneuverability to attempt to take over administrative accounts and other machines. In a January 2023 attack, for example, hackers used an authentication bypass vulnerability in the Cacti monitoring tool to install Mirai botnet software, turning victims’ computers into unwitting “zombies” to carry out the attackers’ plans.

Examples of Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Many examples of authentication bypass vulnerabilities exist, depending on the precise authentication method used. This section will go over some of the most common ways attackers perform an authentication bypass.

1. Forced browsing

Forced browsing is perhaps the most “brute-force” method of authentication bypass. In forced browsing, attackers try to navigate directly to a restricted resource without providing authentication credentials. One simple example is a website with an unprotected administration page, e.g., https://www.example.com/admin.php.

Another common example of forced browsing is the insecure direct object reference (IDOR) vulnerability. In an IDOR vulnerability, attackers use their knowledge of the application’s structure to access resources intended for other users. For example, if an attacker creates an account with the following URL

https://www.example.com/user/8201

it can be inferred that the page for the following user to create an account is available at the URL

https://www.example.com/user/8202

2. SQL injection

SQL injection is a nefarious technique for bypassing authentication protocols, which involves manipulating a SQL relational database. According to the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), injection attacks such as SQL injection are the third most serious web application vulnerability, with 274,000 such vulnerabilities detected.

Specifically, a SQL injection involves “injecting” malicious SQL code into the input fields of a web application. This allows the attacker to execute unauthorized SQL commands that retrieve sensitive information from a database, create new user accounts, overwrite stored data, and more. To defend against SQL injections, web applications must “sanitize” and validate user inputs, preventing malicious code from being executed.

3. Third-party vulnerabilities

Sometimes, the security vulnerability is not with the software or web application itself but with a third party that handles the authentication process. To solve these issues, developers need to uninstall the third-party code or upgrade to a newer version that fixes the vulnerability.

Preventing Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Authentication bypass vulnerabilities are some of the most pernicious security flaws for software and web applications. If left unpatched, these vulnerabilities can lead to devastating cyberattacks and data breaches, putting an organization’s reputation and existence at risk.

The good news is that there are defenses against authentication bypass vulnerabilities. Perhaps penetration testing is the most effective way to prevent authentication bypass vulnerabilities. In penetration testing, IT security professionals simulate an attack against a given system or network, probing it for various flaws and holes. Once penetration testers produce a list of vulnerabilities and their severity, the organization can draw up a plan of attack for which issues to address first and how to fix them.

Source: eccouncil.org

Continue reading

Botnet Attacks and Their Prevention Techniques Explained

Botnet attacks are a massive cybersecurity threat, growing quickly and becoming increasingly sophisticated. According to CSO Online, researchers detected 67 million botnet connections from over 600,000 unique IP addresses in the first half of 2022. This article will discuss what botnet attacks are and the most effective techniques for botnet attack prevention.

Application of Botnet Attacks and Their Usage

In a botnet attack, a network of compromised Internet-connected machines is infected by malware, enhancing a hacker’s ability to carry out larger cyberattacks. Botnet attacks typically involve stealing data, sending large quantities of spam and phishing emails, or launching massive DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks.

Botnet attacks occur when large numbers of machines have been taken over by the attacker. Cybercriminals can gain control of a machine in multiple ways, from installing Trojans and viruses to social engineering attacks. Each machine in a botnet is known as a “bot” or “zombie.” Often, the computer’s owner is not even aware that it has been infected or taken over by an attacker.

While a single compromised machine has relatively little effect, the true impact of botnets comes from their strength in numbers. Together, the members of a botnet can swarm targets with traffic or requests, overwhelming their systems and causing them to become inaccessible. They can also send thousands or millions of malicious emails or use their computing power for nefarious purposes.

Perhaps the most well-known example of a botnet attack was the October 2016 DDoS attack against the DNS provider Dyn. Many websites using Dyn were temporarily taken offline as a result of the attack, including Twitter, CNN, Reddit, Airbnb, and Netflix. The attack occurred after many Internet-connected devices (from computers and printers to cameras and baby monitors) were taken over by the Mirai malware, with an estimated 100,000 members of the botnet.

Common Types of Botnet Attacks

There are many different types of botnet attacks, each representing its own serious threat to businesses. In this section, we’ll discuss five of the most common types of botnet attacks.

1. DDoS Attacks

In a DDoS (distributed denial of service) attack, the attacker tries to disrupt a network, website, or server by swarming it with malicious traffic. A good real-world analogy for a DDoS attack might be a mob of people outside a store entrance, preventing legitimate customers from going inside. The motives for DDoS attacks include inflicting financial or reputational damage on a company, extorting the target for money to stop the attack, and even politics or espionage.

2. Credential Theft

Many websites and applications prevent users from trying to log into the same account too many times. With a botnet, however, attackers can use the compromised machines to have many more chances at cracking a valuable account’s password. Botnets also allow for credential stuffing attacks, where the attacker already has access to stolen login details and wants to hack into as many accounts as possible.

3. Spamming and Phishing

Botnet “zombies” can also be used to launch mass spamming and phishing email campaigns, casting as wide a net as possible. These emails may themselves contain malicious links or attachments that install the botnet software, further propagating itself and extending its reach. The emails may also fool users into revealing personal information or login credentials. Botnets can also spread spam messages via other methods such as Internet forum posts and blog comments.

4. Ad Fraud

Attackers may use the machines in a botnet to maliciously simulate real user activity. For example, a botnet can perpetuate “click fraud,” in which the botnet machines repeatedly click on the links or buttons of an ad campaign. Since advertisers pay money for each user who clicks on an ad (a payment model known as pay-per-click or PPC), this form of attack can be used to significantly damage competitors’ ad budgets. Botnets can also be used to artificially inflate the popularity of certain website content by giving it views, likes, or upvotes.

5. Cryptocurrency Mining

Last but not least, some attackers use botnets for their own financial gain, such as by running cryptocurrency mining campaigns. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin require significant computational power to create new coins, a process known as “mining.” Attackers can use a botnet to harness the processing power of the machines under their command, generating new coins for themselves while the machines’ owners pay the cost in increased electricity consumption.

Prevention Techniques for Botnet Attacks

◉ While botnet attacks are a major cybersecurity threat, the good news is that organizations can use many botnet attack prevention techniques, including the following:

◉ Deploy sophisticated antivirus and antimalware tools and keep them updated.

◉ Regularly install updates and bug fixes for software and operating systems.

◉ Learn how to recognize suspicious emails and attachments and avoid clicking on them.

◉ Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access.

◉ Require cybersecurity training and education programs for employees to understand botnet attacks.

Below are some tips to prevent your IT environment from becoming the victim of a botnet attack:

◉ Install cybersecurity solutions such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS).

◉ Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and unexpected surges in requests.

◉ Use a DDoS protection tool such as DNS filtering that can help block malicious visits to a website or service.

Source: eccouncil.org

Continue reading

How to Use The Metasploit Framework for Enterprise Vulnerability and Penetration Testing

If you’re responsible for enterprise security, you know that vulnerability and penetration testing are critical to keeping your organization safe. The Metasploit Framework is one of the most popular tools for performing these tests, and it’s packed with features that can help you find vulnerabilities and fix them. Here we’ll look at how to use the Metasploit Framework for enterprise vulnerability and penetration testing. We’ll also explore some of the features that make it so powerful.

What is Metasploit?

Metasploit is a free and open-source tool that helps security professionals test the security of systems. It can find vulnerabilities in systems and then exploit them. Metasploit runs on Linux, Windows, and OS X.

◉ Metasploit is made up of two main areas: the Framework and the Console. The Framework is a collection of tools and libraries that can create or modify exploit code.

◉ The Console is a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes it easy to use the Framework. (Docs.rapid7.com, n.d. -b)

The Metasploit Framework includes hundreds of different Exploit Modules. These modules can exploit vulnerabilities in systems. Each module includes information about the specific vulnerability that it exploits. Metasploit also includes Payload Modules, which can create custom payloads for specific purposes.

Metasploit can be utilized for both positive or negative applications, making it is crucial to understand how the program works to prevent potential misuse. (Petters, J., 2020).

How is Metasploit Used, and What Are Some Features?

Metasploit is a versatile open-source toolkit that helps security professionals assess vulnerabilities in their systems. It can launch attacks, test defenses, research new exploitation techniques, and it is a versatile tool that can be adapted to fit the needs of any user. (Kennedy et al., n.d.)

Metasploit has many features that make it a valuable tool for security professionals. Some of the most popular features include:

◉ The ability to exploit a wide range of vulnerabilities, including those that are unpatched or not yet publicly known

◉ A large and active community of users who contribute new modules and share their expertise

◉ A comprehensive database of exploits, payloads, and auxiliary modules

◉ A robust framework that allows for easy customization and extensibility

◉ A wide range of platform support, including Windows, Linux, and OS X (Petters, J., 2020)

Despite its many features and benefits, Metasploit does have some limitations. Some of the most notable limitations include the following:

◉ The learning curve can be steep for newcomers.

◉ It can be difficult to keep up with the rapid pace of development.

◉ Some features require a paid subscription. (Wallarm., n.d.)

Overall, Metasploit is a powerful tool that can be of immense help for security professionals. While it has some limitations, its many features make up for them.

Modules in Metasploit

Metasploit Modules are code packages that exploit a vulnerability, perform an attack, or otherwise carry out a specific task. Payload modules generate and deliver a payload to a target system. Auxiliary modules are for tasks such as reconnaissance, scanning, and denial of service attacks. (Offensive Security, nd)

There are seven types of modules in Metasploit:

◉ Payloads are the components of an exploit that allow you to control a system once it has been compromised.

◉ Evasion modules help you avoid detection by anti-virus software and other security measures.

◉ Auxiliary modules provide additional functionality, such as password guessing and denial-of-service attacks.

◉ Encoders are used to transform payloads into a format that is difficult for security systems to detect or decode.

◉ Exploits are modules that exploit vulnerabilities in systems.

◉ Nops are filler code that can be used to pad out an exploit or increase its chances of success.

◉ Post modules are used to run commands on a compromised system or gather information about a target. (Engineering Education (EngEd) Program, n.d.)

The Metasploit Framework is constantly being updated with new modules, so check back often for the latest and greatest ways to make your hacking more efficient and effective.

Steps In Using Metasploit Framework / How to Work with Metasploit

Before we get started, there are a few things that you should know. First, Metasploit Framework is not a tool that is used by itself. It requires other tools to function properly. Second, Metasploit Framework is not intended for beginners. It is a complex tool only for experienced penetration testers or security professionals.

◉ First, you’ll need to download and install the Metasploit framework. Once you have the framework installed, you’ll need to launch it. This can be done from the command line or from within your graphical user interface. (Docs.rapid7.com, n.d. -b)

◉ Once Metasploit is up and running, you’ll see the main interface. From here, you can select the type of exploit you want to use. There are a number of different types of exploits, each designed to attack a different type of system. For our purposes, we’ll be using an exploit that targets Windows systems.

◉ When you’ve selected the type of exploit you want to use, it’s time to select your target. Metasploit comes with a number of built-in targets, or you can specify your own. For our example, we’ll be targeting a Windows system that has the IP address 192.168.1.1. (Docs.rapid7.com, n.d. -a)

◉ Now that you have your target selected, it’s time to select your payload. The payload is the code that will be executed on the target system once the exploit is successful. Metasploit comes with a number of different payloads, but for our purposes we’ll be using a reverse shell payload. This payload will give us a remote shell on the target system, allowing us to run commands and take over the system. (Docs.rapid7.com, n.d. -c),

◉ Once you’ve selected your payload, it’s time to select your attack vector. The attack vector is the method by which the exploit and payload will be delivered to the target system. Metasploit comes with a number of built-in attack vectors.

◉ Now that you have your attack vector and payload selected, it’s time to launch the attack. This is simply clicking on the “exploit” button in the Metasploit interface.

Source: eccouncil.org

Continue reading

Buffer Overflow Attack Types and Prevention Methods

Buffer overflows are a type of security vulnerability that can occur when too much data is sent to a program or function, causing the memory buffer to overflow. An attacker can then use this excess data to execute malicious code and take control of a system. Here we will discuss the different types of buffer overflow attacks and how you can prevent them from happening.

Read More: EC-Council Certifications

What Is a Buffer Overflow Attack?

A buffer overflow attack occurs when a malicious actor attempts to insert more data into a buffer than the buffer is designed to hold. This extra data can overwrite portions of adjacent memory, corrupting or destroying valid data and code. A buffer overflow can also cause a program to crash or allow the attacker to take control of the program (Cobb, M. 2022).

Buffer overflows are a common type of security vulnerability, particularly in legacy code or code not written with security in mind. They can be challenging to detect and exploit, but once an attacker successfully exploits a buffer overflow, they can gain complete control over the vulnerable system. Buffer overflows are one of the most common attacks used by malware and viruses to infect systems.

Errors in coding can cause buffer overflows, such as failing to check the bounds of a buffer before writing data to it. Input that’s not properly validated or sanitized can also cause them. For example, an attacker may attempt to inject malicious code into a program by providing input that includes a shellcode. If the program fails to validate or sanitize this input properly, the shellcode may be executed, compromising the system.

Buffer overflows are a serious security threat and should be mitigated using appropriate security measures. Failure to do so can lead to systems being compromised and data being leaked or corrupted.

Buffer Overflow Consequences

The most common outcome of buffer overflows is that the program crashes. This happens because the extra data written to the buffer overwrite other parts of memory, causing the program to lose track of where it should be and what it should be doing. In some cases, this can lead to the program executing code that was not intended by the programmer, which can cause all sorts of problems (M, Rodrigo).

An attacker can use a buffer overflow to gain control of a target’s computer. To achieve this, the attacker writes data to the buffer and includes code that the program will execute. This code can perform various actions, including downloading and running malicious software and stealing sensitive information.

Types of Buffer Overflow Attacks

Buffer overflow attacks are code injection techniques that exploit an application’s vulnerabilities to take control of execution flow. These attacks take advantage of programming errors that allow malicious input to overwrite parts of memory, resulting in unintended or malicious code execution (GeeksforGeeks, 2022).

Here are some main types of buffer overflow attacks:

◉ Stack-based buffer overflows occur when malformed input is written to a program’s call stack, corrupting important data structures or pointers.

◉ Heap-based buffer overflows occur when malformed input is written to the dynamic memory area of a program, corrupting data structures or pointers used by the program.

◉ Integer overflows are a special type of buffer overflow attack that can occur when an arithmetic operation results in a large value representing the data type. This can lead to unintended code execution if the resulting value is used to index into an array or modify a pointer.

◉ Unicode overflows are another type of buffer overflow attack that can occur when handling Unicode input. If an attacker can submit maliciously crafted Unicode data, it may be possible to overflow buffers and corrupt memory.

◉ Format string attacks are a code injection technique that exploits vulnerabilities in the way a program handles formatted input strings. By submitting carefully crafted input strings, an attacker can cause the program to leak sensitive information or even execute arbitrary code.

How to Prevent Buffer Overflows

Several measures can be taken to prevent buffer overflows. These include address space layout randomization (ASLR), data execution prevention, and operating system runtime protections.

ASLR is a technique that makes it harder for an attacker to predict where code will be executed in memory. This technique makes it more difficult to exploit buffer overflows, as the attacker would need to know the exact location of the code to inject their own malicious code.

Data execution prevention is another measure that can be taken to prevent buffer overflows. This technique prevents code from being executed in certain memory areas, such as the stack or heap. This makes it more difficult for attackers to inject code into these areas, as they would need to find a way to bypass the data execution prevention measures.

Operating system runtime protections are another line of defense against buffer overflows. These protections, including stack smashing protection (SSP), make it difficult for attackers to exploit a buffer overflow by making it harder to predict where code will be executed in memory.

The bottom line is that buffer overflow attacks are a real threat to your organization, but there are ways to protect yourself. You can implement the appropriate prevention measures by understanding the different types of attacks and how they work. In addition, staying up to date on new attack methods and regularly testing your security protocols ensures your systems are as protected as possible.

While there are many different types of attacks, buffer overflow attacks are among the most common. Pen testers can help organizations prevent data breaches and other security incidents by finding and exploiting these vulnerabilities.

EC Council’s Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT) program is designed for IT professionals who want to become penetration testers. It covers a wide range of topics, including buffer overflow attacks, and participants receive globally recognized certification upon successful completion.

If you’re interested in becoming a certified penetration tester, the EC Council’s C|PENT program is the place to start.

Source: eccouncil.org

Continue reading

Components of an Enterprise Penetration Testing Report

Penetration testing, also known as a pen test, is a simulated cyberattack against your network. It includes an analysis of the organization’s current security practices and recommendations for improving security.

A pen test aims to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them. When the test is complete, you’ll receive a report outlining the results. But what should you expect to find in an enterprise penetration testing report? This article will break down the key components of such a document.

What Is a Penetration Testing Report?

A penetration testing report is a document that details the findings of a security assessment conducted using penetration testing techniques. The report should include information about the engagement’s scope, the test’s objectives, and a summary of the findings. It should also have recommendations for remediation. (Imperva, 2019)

Penetration testing reports can be used to improve an organization’s security posture by identifying weaknesses and providing guidance on how to fix them. They can also be used to satisfy regulatory requirements or provide evidence of due diligence in a data breach.

When commissioning a penetration test, it’s crucial to ensure that the vendor understands your objectives and can provide a report that meets your needs. Be sure to ask for samples of previous reports before making a decision.

When Is a Penetration Testing Report Used?

Organizations use penetration testing reports to help identify and fix security vulnerabilities in their systems before attackers can exploit them. A penetration testing report helps an organization assess the effectiveness of its security controls, understand where its systems are vulnerable, and determine what steps it needs to take to improve its security posture.

Penetration testing reports can be used to:

Identify security vulnerabilities: A penetration tester will attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems to gain access to sensitive data or disrupt operations. The tester will then document the steps to exploit the vulnerabilities, which can help the organization identify and fix the issues.

Assess the effectiveness of security controls: By testing the organization’s ability to detect and respond to attacks, a penetration testing report can help assess the effectiveness of its security controls.

Understand where systems are vulnerable: Penetration testing can help an organization identify which systems and data are most at risk from attack. This information can be used to prioritize security improvements.

Determine what steps to take to improve security: Based on the findings of a penetration test, an organization can determine what steps it needs to take to improve its security posture. These steps might include implementing new security controls, improving employee awareness of security risks, or increasing investment in security infrastructure.

Why Is a Penetration Testing Report Essential?

A penetration testing report is essential for a variety of reasons:

System weaknesses: A good penetration testing report is essential because it can help you understand your system weaknesses and what needs to be done to fix them. You can make the necessary changes to your system to improve its security by identifying these weaknesses.

Overall security: It can provide valuable information to management about the overall security of the organization’s systems. This information can be used to decide whether to invest in additional security measures. It can also be used to assess the effectiveness of existing security measures.

Expense justification: It can also help you justify the expense of hiring a professional penetration testing company. In many cases, the cost of hiring a professional company is much less than repairing the damage that could have been avoided if proper testing had been conducted.

Components of an Enterprise Penetration Testing Report

An enterprise penetration testing report is a document that details the findings of a security assessment of a computer system, network, or web application. The report should include information about the vulnerabilities discovered, the steps taken to exploit them, and the recommendations for remediation. (Dummies, 2022)

A well-written report will provide clear and actionable recommendations that can be used to improve the security posture of the organization. It should also be easy to understand for both technical and non-technical staff.

The following are some of the key components that should be included in an enterprise penetration testing report:

Executive Summary: The executive summary should provide a high-level overview of the findings from the assessment. It should contain information about the most critical vulnerabilities discovered and the recommendations for remediation.

Scope of Work: The scope of work section should describe the systems and networks tested and the methods used. This information will help ensure that the report is tailored to the organization’s needs.

Findings: The findings section should detail all vulnerabilities discovered during the assessment. For each vulnerability, there should be informed about the risk level, how it was exploited, and what steps can be taken to remediate it.

Recommendations: The recommendations section should address the vulnerabilities identified in the findings section. These recommendations should be prioritized based on the risk level of the vulnerabilities.

Appendix: The appendix should include any supporting documentation that will help understand the findings and recommendations from the assessment. This may include screenshots, network diagrams, or code snippets.

The components of an enterprise penetration testing report will vary depending on the organization’s needs. However, all reports should provide a clear and actionable overview of the security risks in the tested systems and networks.

The final report is a comprehensive document detailing the engagement’s findings and any recommendations for mitigating or addressing the identified issues. It also includes an executive summary to give business leaders a high-level overview of the risks and vulnerabilities discovered during the assessment.

A good enterprise penetration testing report will help your organization understand where cybersecurity risk stands and what steps need to be taken to reduce that risk.

Why Choose EC-Council’s C|PENT Certification

EC-Council’s Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT) program equips you with the knowledge and skills to conduct a penetration test in an enterprise network environment that must be attacked, exploited, evaded, and protected. C|PENT Cyber Range provides comprehensive training based on real-world scenarios through performance-based cyber challenges on live Cyber Range, giving you an advantage in penetration testing.

You can write effective enterprise reporting with the C|PENT’s guidance. Designed by industry experts, the program will help you become a world-class penetration tester.

Get real-world experience through an advanced penetration testing range.

Source: eccouncil.org

Continue reading

CPENT Exam Preparation Notes and Guidance by Cybersecurity Expert

As an author, professor, and researcher, I don multiple hats. I will share my Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT) exam preparation notes, my learning journey, and how I succeeded in acing the C|PENT examination. Even though I opted for the two 12-hour exam format, I believe that attempting it in the 24-hour setting is better as you can finish it in less than nine hours if you have extensive experience.

It is a very challenging exam because, unlike other penetration testing and offensive security exams focusing on Capture the Flag (CTF), the C|PENT includes real-world testing scenarios. In addition, their Cyber Ranges are more advanced and difficult than the simulated machines in other certifications. Although the C|PENT has been labeled as “insanely difficult!” due to my experience teaching penetration testing courses and having written multiple books about pen test, cybersecurity, and Linux, I did not find it to be “insanely tough.” While the exam is quite challenging, it was interesting as it closely mimics the real-world penetration testing environment.

How the C|PENT Differs from Others

The C|PENT stands out from other certifications as it covers extensive topics such as penetration testing scoping and engagement, open-source intelligence (OSINT), mobile device penetration testing methodology, IoT penetration testing, etc. It also includes firewalls, demilitarized zones (DMZs), web application firewalls (WAF), and other defensive measures. The C|PENT also covers pivoting, double pivoting, weaponization, and binary exploitations.

Important C|PENT Preparation Notes

Before signing up for the C|PENT program, ask yourself, “how much knowledge will I gain, and will it open the door to multiple opportunities?”

I began my preparation journey by watching all the course videos before diving into the program material. Ensure that you read all the content as there is always something new to learn, even if the topic seems repetitive. For example, even though I am familiar with Linux and have written a book about it, I was surprised to discover new concepts and tricks. One of the best things about the C|PENT curriculum is that you learn to execute the same thing in different methods, ensuring that you have a backup plan.

C|PENT Preparation Guidance

Let me share some C|PENT exam preparation notes that will help you maximize your performance in the exam:

◉ Ensure You Have a Database of Command in Hand:

You cannot waste time searching for the command that will provide you root or admin access during the exam. In addition, don’t be scared to use the “man” and the “apropos” commands, as they will help you search a set of database files containing short descriptions of system commands for keywords, display, and the result on the standard output.

◉ Practice on Labs and Cyber Ranges:

Make sure that you practice all the exploits and concepts. I built the aliases, functions, and scripts in Bash and Python while doing the labs and Cyber Ranges, and after extensive practice, I was able to memorize most of the aliases.

◉ Gain In-Depth Understanding of the Topics:

I strongly encourage you to practice pivoting and double pivoting if you are unfamiliar with them. When you cannot reach a machine directly, you may not know how to attack it at first, but a basic understanding of networking and subnets function will benefit you in the long run. Read the scope of work, take notes, identify which network addresses are included in the scope of work, and develop the target database template, just as you would for a real penetration testing scenario.

Where Candidates Fall Short

Many candidates often do not utilize specific, customized scans to find targets and do not examine network data at the packet level to understand what the network is telling them. Some use default scans instead of custom scans against a firewalled and non-firewalled target while finding targets that they assume are filtered or have a filter but do not know what works and does not.

You will often find yourselves unable to comprehend what the network is attempting to communicate. You must let the network show you the route in the C|PENT. The scans could take a long time if you conduct default and aggressive scans of all ports. You must let the network lead you in the C|PENT. Candidates often struggle to examine the syntax and ensure that the selections were input correctly because they lack the necessary permissions to write to the location where the firmware file system was being extracted.

The main goal of conducting a pen test is to evaluate the network and use that information to locate a flaw and obtain access. Examining the information presented by the network and acquiring access may seem challenging to some.

C|PENT Experience

I believe the C|PENT closes the gap between the security analyst and the penetration tester job-roles because of the knowledge you stand to gain. You need to think outside the box and build a creative mindset to master the content covered in the exam. It also provides a progressive approach to the challenges provided. Earning the certification helps you gain a competitive advantage in the industry.

C|PENT Tips in Brief

◉ The C|PENT is a tough exam but provides real-world experience

◉ Watch all the videos and read all the content even if it seems repetitive, as you might discover new information

◉ Use the “man” and the “apropos” commands to search a set of database files containing short descriptions of system commands for keywords, display, and the result on the standard output

◉ Make use of the labs and Cyber Ranges

◉ Practice pivoting and double pivoting

Contributor Bio

Alfred Basta, PhD. is a professor, researcher, and author of many publications, including “Computer Security and Penetration Testing,” “Linux Operations and Administration,” “Database security,” and “Mathematics for Information Technology.” He is one of the most certified professionals in cybersecurity. In addition to his recently completed Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT) and certification and Licensed Penetration Tester (Master), he holds the C|CISO, C|HFI, C|CSA, C|EH, E|CIH, and C|CSE certification.

Source: eccouncil.org

Continue reading