The exploitation phase of a grey box pentest is the phase during which the auditor attempts to exploit the vulnerabilities that he identified during the reconnaissance phase.
This phase is the most important of the penetration test, because it helps determine whether the vulnerabilities are indeed exploitable and whether they can be used to compromise the target.
During the exploitation phase, the pentester uses a variety of techniques to exploit vulnerabilities, including:
- Exploits: Exploits are programs or scripts that exploit a specific vulnerability.
- Manual techniques: The auditor can also exploit a vulnerability manually, using technical knowledge and specific tools.
The pentester will work to compromise the target at various levels, from outside the network to inside the operating system. It will also strive to maximize the privileges obtained, in order to be able to access more resources and perform more important actions.
At the end of the exploitation phase, the pentester must be able to provide a detailed audit report, which lists the vulnerabilities exploited, the techniques used, the privileges obtained and the actions carried out.
Examples of exploitation techniques
- Exploitation of a configuration vulnerability: An auditor could exploit a configuration vulnerability of a firewall to gain access to an internal network, such as using a default password for the administrator account of the firewall.
- Exploitation of a software vulnerability: A pentester exploits a vulnerability in a web application to take control of a user account, such as SQL injection, which allows an attacker to execute code on the web server.
- Exploitation of a hardware vulnerability: An expert could exploit a vulnerability in a router to gain access to a wireless network. A common hardware vulnerability is a buffer vulnerability, which allows an attacker to execute code on the router.
Élaboration
The operating phase of a pentest grey box is a complex and delicate phase. The pentester must be creative and persistent in finding ways to exploit vulnerabilities. He must also be careful not to cause irreversible damage to the target.
The operating phase of a pentest grey box is a complex and delicate phase. The pentester must be creative and persistent in finding ways to exploit vulnerabilities. He must also be careful not to cause irreversible damage to the target.
- Have a good understanding of the vulnerabilities it is trying to exploit. He must know the technical details of the vulnerability, as well as known exploitation techniques.
- Use a variety of tools and techniques to exploit vulnerabilities. It should not rely solely on a single tool or technique.
- Be careful not to cause irreversible damage to the target. He must use tools and techniques that are non-destructive.
Ziwit Consultancy ServicesManual audits and Pentests on-site or remotely
Vulnerability scanners like HTTPCS Security: These tools scan the system to be tested for known vulnerabilities. Vulnerability scanners are an important tool for Pentest Grey Boxes because they can identify a large number of vulnerabilities quickly and easily.