Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES)

Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) is a penetration testing method.It was developed by a team of information security practitioners with the aim of addressing the need for a complete and up-to-date standard in penetration testing. In addition to guiding security professionals, it also attempts to inform businesses with what they should expect from a penetration test and guide them in scoping and negotiating successful projects. Penetration testing is a process where organizations test their own security posture by simulating real-world attacks. The goal is to find and fix security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers. There are many different ways to conduct a penetration test, and the approach taken will often depend on the organization’s specific needs and objectives. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to penetration testing. The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) is a comprehensive guide that outlines a standardized methodology for conducting penetration tests. It includes best practices for every stage of the penetration testing process, from scoping and planning to report generation. In this blog post, we will give an overview of the PTES and its key components. We will also discuss how the PTES can be used to improve the effectiveness of penetration testing programs.

PTES Process

PTES describes the penetration test in seven main sections:

1. Pre-engagement Interactions: This is the preparation phase for the pen test. It is all about document approvals and tools needed for the test.
2. Intelligence gathering: In this phase information about the target system are gathered from external sources like social media websites, official records etc. This phase comes under OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence).
3. Threat Modelling: It is a procedure for optimizing network security by identifying objectives and vulnerabilities, and then defining countermeasures to prevent, or mitigate the effects of, threats to the system. It is skipped in typical pan tests.
4. Vulnerability Analysis: This phase discovers and validates vulnerabilities.That is risk that an attacker could exploit and gain authorized access to the system or application.
5. Exploitation: In this phase, the tester try to reach the security of the target system using the vulnerabilities previously identified and validated.
6. Post Exploitation: This phase maintains the control over target system and collects data.
7. Reporting: Documents entire process in a form understandable to the client. The report about the security of the target system,

Purpose

The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) is a comprehensive checklist of items that should be addressed during a penetration test. It includes high-level guidance on the types of tests that should be performed, as well as specific details on each test. The PTES provides a consistent framework for testers to follow, which helps ensure that all aspects of a penetration test are covered. The PTES is designed to help testers determine the most effective way to conduct a penetration test, based on the needs of their organization. It can be used as a standalone checklist, or as part of a larger testing methodology. Either way, it provides a valuable starting point for any tester looking to ensure they are covering all their bases.

So why use the PTES? 

There are several key benefits:

• It helps ensure comprehensive coverage: The PTES covers all aspects of a penetration test, from information gathering to post-exploitation. This ensures that no stone is left unturned during your testing.
• It helps standardize methods: By providing specific guidance on each type of test, the PTES helps testers standardize their methods. This makes it easier to compare results across different tests, and also makes it easier to replicate tests in the future.
• It’s free and open source: The PTES is available for free online, and anyone can contribute to it. This makes it an excellent resource for anybody looking to get started with penetration testing.

Scope

In order to carry out a successful penetration test, it is important to have a clear and concise scope. The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) provides guidance on how to scope a penetration test and what should be included in the scope. The first step in scoping a penetration test is to identify the goals and objectives of the test. What are you trying to achieve with the test? Once you have identified the goals, you can then identify the systems and data that need to be tested. It is important to only include systems and data that are within scope, as testing outside of scope can lead to inaccurate results.

After you have identified the systems and data that need to be tested, you need to determine the types of tests that will be performed. There are three main types of tests: black box, white box, and grey box. Black box tests are conducted without any knowledge of the system being tested. White box tests are conducted with full knowledge of the system being tested. Grey box tests are conducted with partial knowledge of the system being tested. Once you have determined the types of tests that will be performed, you need to identify the tools and techniques that will be used during the test. This includes things like port scanners, vulnerability scanners, password crackers, etc. It is important to only use tools and techniques that are within scope, as using tools and techniques outside of scope can lead to inaccurate results.

Methodology

The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) is a comprehensive framework for conducting penetration tests. It is designed to provide a structured approach for performing tests and reporting results. The PTES standard consists of seven phases:

1. Planning
2. Information gathering
3. Threat modeling
4. Vulnerability analysis
5. Exploitation
6. Post-exploitation
7. Reporting

Each phase of the PTES standard is important in its own right, and the success of the overall penetration test depends on all phases being completed effectively. In this blog article, we will take a closer look at each phase and discuss how it contributes to the success of the penetration test as a whole.

Execution

The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) provides a comprehensive approach to conducting penetration tests. It is divided into seven phases: Pre-Engagement Interactions, Intelligence Gathering, Threat Modeling, Vulnerability Analysis, Exploitation, Post-Exploitation, and Reporting.

• Pre-Engagement Interactions: This phase includes all activities that take place before the actual penetration testing engagement begins. This includes things like scheduling the engagement, getting approval from the client, understanding the client’s objectives, and defining the scope of the engagement.
• Intelligence Gathering: In this phase, the tester will gather intelligence about the target system. This includes information about the network infrastructure, applications, and people who use the system. The goal is to gain a better understanding of how the system works and identify potential vulnerabilities.
• Threat Modeling: In this phase, the tester will create a model of all the potential threats that could be used to attack the system. This helps identify which vulnerabilities are most critical and should be addressed first.
• Vulnerability Analysis: In this phase, the tester will analyze the system for weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers. This includes things like identifying unpatched software vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that could be exploited.
• Exploitation: In this phase, the tester will attempt to exploit any vulnerabilities that were identified in previous phases