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Penetration Testing Methodology

Penetration Testing Methodology

Penetration Testing Methodology

Penetration Testing Methodology

Penetration Testing Methodology

Penetration Testing Methodology

Penetration Testing Methodology

Penetration Testing Methodology

Penetration Testing Methodology

Introduction

Penetration testing simulates real-world attacks to identify security vulnerabilities before adversaries exploit them. A structured methodology ensures consistent, repeatable, and comprehensive assessments. The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) provides a widely adopted framework.

The PTES Standard

PTES defines seven phases for penetration testing, each with specific activities and deliverables.

Phase 1: Pre-Engagement Interactions

Define scope, rules of engagement, and legal boundaries before any testing begins.

rules_of_engagement:

client: "ACME Corp"

scope:

in_scope:

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- "*.acme.com"

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- "203.0.113.0/24"

out_of_scope:

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- "payment.acme.com" # Production payment system

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- "10.0.0.0/8" # Internal only

restrictions:

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- no_social_engineering: true

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- no_dos_attacks: true

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- testing_window: "2026-05-15T00:00Z - 2026-05-19T23:59Z"

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- notification_list: ["[e-mail]", "[e-mail]"]

legal:

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- authorized_signatory: "Jane Doe, CISO"

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- insurance_coverage: true

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- data_handling_nda_signed: true

Phase 2: Intelligence Gathering (Reconnaissance)

Reconnaissance builds a target profile through passive and active information gathering.

Passive recon — DNS enumeration

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