Top 6 Penetration Testing Methodologies And Standards

Nowadays, data breaches headline daily news, so understanding your organization's security posture is important.

Imagine you think your business is impenetrable, yet unseen vulnerabilities lurk within the system. This is where the penetration testing (Pen testing) steps in. It is a testing method to find out the hidden issues in your system.

Cybalt - the leading global cybersecurity consulting firm, has brought a blog detailing pen testing, exploring top methodologies and standards that businesses, big or small, must be aware of to enhance their cybersecurity posture.

Penetration Testing- A Brief Introduction

Penetration testing is a simulated cyber-attack against your computer system to check for exploitable vulnerabilities. In web application security, penetration testing helps augment a web application firewall (WAF).

Web application penetration testing targets application systems, including application protocol interfaces (APIs) and front and back-end servers, to reveal flaws like unclean inputs vulnerable to code injection attacks—the insights from the penetration test aid in refining your WAF security strategies and addressing any vulnerabilities.

Why Are Penetration Testing Methodologies Important?

Engaging with cybersecurity professionals who are well-versed in the latest penetration testing methodologies and standards assures you that your digital infrastructure is safe against potential threats.

• Playing A Critical Role In Better Cybersecurity

  Cybersecurity penetration testing is essentially the cybersecurity equivalent of a comprehensive health check-up for your IT systems areorganization's IT infrastructure. They are designed to uncover how well your current security mechanisms can withstand an attack from a determined adversary armed with many attack vectors.

  It's a race against time. Penetration tests highlight the weaknesses in cybersecurity plans, possibly overlooked during initial assessments. By identifying what part of your system could be easily exploited, these tests help focus attention and resources on fortifying the most vulnerable areas.

• Strengthen Security Processes and Reducing Associated Costs

  According to IBM's Cost of Data Breach 2022 research, it takes, on average, 277 days to identify and contain a data breach. Summarized results from a pen test offer a reality check on how secure your IT systems are.

  The longer a breach goes unnoticed, the more significant the potential damage. Security penetration testing identifies breaches early on, mitigating risks at a fraction of the potential cost. This insight is invaluable. It guides security executives to undertake prompt remediation and build a more robust cybersecurity infrastructure.

• Abiding Compliance for Preserving Brand Reputation

  Regular security audits and tests, including penetration testing, are to comply with various regulations. The businesses abide by HIPAA, SOC2, GDPR, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, and other rules. These tests also provide extensive reports demonstrating a proactive approach to maintaining a solid security posture.

  Customers expect their data to be safe. A pen test is a tangible way to show your commitment to security, helping to maintain customer trust and loyalty. Contact Cybalt- penetration testing providers to know more.

6 Penetration Testing Methodology

Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSSTMM)

The OSSTMM breaks penetration testing into a structured process, providing testers with a comprehensive methodology to conduct security tests. It is created by the Institute for Security and Open Methodologies for penetration testing services to test the security of applications and systems from an attacker's perspective.

Here's why it stands out:

• It offers a scientific approach to measuring how much security you need versus what you have.
• The OSSTMM tests technical vulnerabilities, operational processes, human elements, physical security, telecommunications, and wireless security.
• It also analyzes communication channels within an organization, including Bluetooth, VoIP, web, WiFi, telephone, SMS, and email.
• Trust analysis evaluates the security properties of the penetration test target based on operational controls.
• The OSSTMM introduced scientific metrics and measurements for quantitative analysis in the testing process.
• Over the years, the OSSTMM has expanded to cover operational security, human factors, telecommunications, wireless, cloud, mobile security, and IoT.
• The application penetration testing through OSSTMM identifies where an attacker may try to enter or extract data from a system, known as the attack surface.
• The OSSTMM provides a holistic view of a company's security posture by considering various aspects.
Information Systems Security Assessment Framework (ISSAF)

Focusing on managing information technology security assessment, ISSAF provides a detailed procedural approach. Key features include:

• It spans several domains, from operational security to network penetration testing.
• ISSAF offers insights into specific tools and techniques that can be deployed for effective security assessments.
• It is a specialized approach for pen-testing standards, providing an extensive guidebook over 1,200 pages.
• Emphasizes the creation of tools for educating network users and adherence to legal standards when utilizing a network.
• The framework can be customized for pen testers and individual organizations.
• Penetration testers using multiple tools should follow the ISSAF methodology.
Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES)

PTES goes beyond mere testing to encompass all aspects of an engagement. This methodology for penetration testing and vulnerability assessment covers the initial communication and reasoning behind a penetration test to the reporting and delivery of the results.

Highlights include:

• It covers seven key phases and offers specific technical methodologies for each phase of a penetration test.
• It establishes rules of engagement, testing scope, communication mechanisms, and legal approval.
• Tests identify the target company's online presence, IP blocks, employee names/emails, domain names, and technologies used.
• Creating models to describe potential hacker penetration and damage.
• Know vulnerabilities, including network, operating system, and application weaknesses.
• Get access to systems and networks with social engineering, password cracking, and denial of service attacks.
• Get data from compromised systems, cover tracks, and maintain access
• Prepare a report consisting of findings, analysis, exploited systems, vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies.
Web Application Security Consortium (WASC) Threat Classification

While not a penetration testing methodology per se, the WASC Threat Classification serves as a comprehensive guide for identifying web application vulnerabilities. Its significance lies in:

• Helps in systematically identifying web application vulnerabilities.
• Acts as an educational guide for security professionals and developers alike
OWASP Testing Guide

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Testing Guide is a comprehensive manual for testing the security of web applications and services. Standout features are:

• A vast community of security experts continuously updates this guide for penetration testing.
• Includes various testing techniques for identifying vulnerabilities in web applications.
• Covers risks and vulnerabilities specific to web applications, including injection attacks, sensitive data exposure,-site scripting (XSS), broken authentication, broken access control, and security misconfig.
• Cover main phases: Information gathering, vulnerability analysis, threat assessment, custom code review.
• Applicable to web apps built on PHP, Java, .NET, Node.js, Python, web services and APIs
• It covers 18 test types.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP800-115

NIST's guidelines for penetration testing services testing offer an authoritative source of standardized practices. These guidelines stand out for:

• Provides a widely acknowledged and endorsed framework in the cybersecurity community.
• Offers guidelines not just for penetration testing but for all types of network security testing.
• NIST Special Publication 800-115 is a guide developed by NIST for information security testing and assessment.
• The overview section explains the concepts, goals, and benefits of security testing and assessment and the differences between testing, inspection, and auditing.
• It covers areas such as the overview of security testing and assessment, review techniques, target identification, and analysis techniques, and target vulnerability validation techniques.
• Review techniques include passive assessments such as documentation assessments, audit logs, rulesets, system configurations, and network traffic analysis.
• Target identification and analysis techniques involve identifying live devices, their ports, host IDs, and operations.

Various Stages of Penetration Testing

• Defining scope, goals, and testing methods.
• Gathering intelligence on the target.

• Static analysis of the application's code.
• Dynamic analysis of the running application.

• Using web application attacks to exploit vulnerabilities.
• Attempting to escalate privileges and steal data.

• Testing if the vulnerability allows persistent presence.
• Simulating advanced persistent threats.

• Compiling a report of exploited vulnerabilities.
• Documenting accessed sensitive data.
• Evaluating the undetected time in the system.

Remember, regular penetration testing is not just a strategic move—it's a cornerstone of responsible cybersecurity, ensuring the gates remain sealed to would-be attackers.

It's about nurturing a culture of security awareness throughout every layer of your organization. Ready to deepen your defenses against cyber attacks? Book a consultation with Cybalt- penetration testing providers to know how we can help.

We set the benchmark for measuring the security posture of systems, ensure consistency in the quality of penetration testing across the industry, and help organizations comply with legal and regulatory requirements.