Penetration testing, commonly referred to as pen testing, is a cyber security practice used to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, and applications. It involves simulating an attack on a target system to uncover potential security weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious actors. Penetration testing can be used as a tool to measure the effectiveness of an organisation’s security controls and identify areas that require improvement. Exploitation is a crucial part of penetration testing, as it enables the tester to determine the impact of a vulnerability and evaluate the effectiveness of the security controls in place.
Exploitation refers to the process of using a vulnerability to gain unauthorised access to a system or extract sensitive information. The goal of exploitation in penetration testing is not to cause harm to the target system but to demonstrate the potential consequences of a successful attack and to provide recommendations to mitigate the risk.
There are several stages involved in the exploitation phase of a penetration test, including reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning, and exploitation.
Reconnaissance (Discovery)
The reconnaissance stage involves gathering information about the target system, such as its IP, operating system, applications, webpages, webapps, forms, APIs and network topology. This information is used to identify potential systems, services, endpoints and applications that could have vulnerabilities to be identified in the Vulnerability scanning or exploitation phase.
Vulnerability Scanning
The vulnerability scanning stage involves using automated and manual tools to scan the target system for known vulnerabilities. These tools can identify vulnerabilities in the operating system, applications, and network services. Once the vulnerabilities have been identified, the tester can then focus on identifying the vulnerabilities that require manual work and aren’t detected using automated tools. Once these vulnerabilities are identified the tester can then perform the exploitation task.
Exploitation
Exploitation involves attempting to use a combination of information from the reconnaissance with known attacks and identified vulnerabilities to test both the identified vulnerabilities and known attacks against all discovered locations. This can involve using various techniques, such as brute force attacks, buffer overflow attacks, and injection attacks (including SQL, RCE, XSS, …). The goal of the exploitation phase is to demonstrate the potential impact of a successful attack, such as accessing sensitive data or taking control of the target system.
Exploitation Techniques Tailored to the Target System
The specific exploitation techniques used in a penetration test will vary depending on the nature of the engagement and the target system. Here are some examples:
Web Application Penetration Testing
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Injecting malicious scripts into websites to steal user data or hijack sessions.
- SQL Injection: Manipulating database queries to gain unauthorized access to data or execute commands.
- Authentication and Authorization Bypasses: Exploiting weaknesses in login mechanisms or access controls to gain unauthorized privileges.
- API Attacks: Targeting vulnerabilities in Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to access sensitive data or disrupt functionality.
Network Penetration Testing
- Exploiting Router and Firewall Vulnerabilities: Compromising network devices to gain access to internal systems or intercept network traffic.
- Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: Intercepting communication between two parties to eavesdrop or manipulate data.
- Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks: Flooding a system with traffic to overwhelm its resources and make it unavailable to legitimate users.
Operating System and Server Penetration Testing
- Privilege Escalation: Exploiting vulnerabilities to gain higher-level privileges on a system.
- Password Cracking: Using various techniques to guess or crack user passwords.
- Exploiting Software Vulnerabilities: Taking advantage of known vulnerabilities in operating systems or server software.
Physical Security and Social Engineering
- USB Drops: Leaving infected USB drives in strategic locations, hoping someone will pick them up and plug them into a computer. This can lead to malware infections, data theft, or system compromise.
- Phishing: Sending deceptive emails or messages to trick users into revealing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links.
- Spear Phishing: Targeted phishing attacks aimed at specific individuals or organizations.
- Pretexting: Creating a false scenario to gain trust and obtain information.
While exploitation is a critical part of penetration testing, it is essential that it is carried out in a responsible and ethical manner. Penetration testers must ensure that they have permission to conduct the testing and that they do not cause any harm to the target system or the organisation that owns it. Penetration testing should only be conducted by trained professionals who have a deep understanding of the techniques involved and the potential consequences of their actions.
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