Pentest (penetration testing)

A pentest is an intrusion test carried out by a cybersecurity expert (called a pentester or ethical hacker) which attempts to infiltrate an organisation's computer system to detect exploitable security flaws.

The aim is to assess the robustness of the defences and to correct any weaknesses. vulnerabilities before they are exploited by real hackers.

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👉 Types of pentests

There are several types of pentest, depending on the level of information available to the pentester:

• Black Box Testing: The pentester has no prior knowledge of the infrastructure, systems or source code. He acts like a typical external attacker.
• Grey Box Testing: the pentester has limited information, for example standard user identifiers or partial documentation of the architecture.
• White Box Testing: the pentester has full access to the infrastructure, source code, network diagrams and any other relevant documentation. This approach enables a more in-depth analysis.

 

Pentests are also distinguished by their field of application:

• Pentesting web applications : targeted at applications accessible via a web browser.
• Pentesting internal networks : focused on the security of an organisation's local network.
• API Pentest : assesses the security of interfaces enabling communication between different systems.
• Pentesting connected objects (IoT) : tests the security of devices connected to the Internet.
• Mobile Pentest (Android/iOS) : analyses the security of mobile applications and their interaction with servers.
• Pentest ofsocial engineering : tests human vulnerability to psychological manipulation techniques used to obtain sensitive information.
• Physical Pentest : assesses physical security measures, such as access control to premises.

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How a pentest works

A pentest generally follows a structured methodology:

1. Recognition (Acknowledgement) : collection of information on the target (IP address, domain names, technologies used, etc.) via open sources (OSINT) and scanning techniques.
2. Cartography (Scanning) : identification of active hosts, open ports, running services and operating systems.
3. Vulnerability analysis (Vulnerability Assessment) : identification of potential weaknesses using automated tools and manual analysis techniques.
4. Operating (Operating) : attempts to exploit detected vulnerabilities to prove their real impact.
5. Maintaining access (Maintaining Access) (optional): simulation of persistence in the compromised system to assess detection capability.
6. Elevation of privileges (Privilege Escalation) : obtaining higher access rights (for example, changing from a user account to an administrator account).
7. Trace coverage (Covering Tracks) (optional): attempt to erase traces of the intrusion to simulate a sophisticated attacker.
8. Report (Reporting) : detailed documentation of the vulnerabilities discovered, the exploitation methods used, the potential impact and recommendations for correction.

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🛠️ Tools used

Pentesters use a variety of specialist tools, including :

• Frameworks : Metasploit, BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework)
• Vulnerability scanners : Nessus, QualysGuard, OpenVAS
• Port scanners : Nmap, Masscan
• Web proxies : Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP
• Packet analysers : Wireshark, tcpdump
• Password cracking tools : John the Ripper, Hashcat
• Tools forSQL injection : SQLmap
• Linux distributions dedicated to pentesting : Kali Linux, Parrot Security OS...

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👉 Examples

Here are a few examples of what a pentester could test:

• Attempt to bypass the authentication of a web application (SQL injection), cross-site scriptingetc.).
• Exploiting configuration vulnerabilities in a web server or a firewall.
• Carry out an attack by denial of service (DoS or DDoS).
• Test the robustness of user passwords (dictionary attack, brute force).
• Analyse Wi-Fi network security (WPA2 cracking, rogue access point).
• Simulate an attack by phishing to assess employee awareness.

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📈 Trends

• Pentest as a Service (PtaaS) : offers a continuous, automated pentest service, enabling more frequent testing and greater responsiveness to new threats.
• Automation and AI/Machine Learning : use of AI andmachine learning to automate certain tasks, identify anomalies and improve test efficiency.
• Pentest in the Cloud : adapting pentest techniques to cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP), taking into account the specific features of these infrastructures.
• Focus on API security: an increase in penetration tests targeting APIs, which have become prime targets for attackers.
• Red Team : simulations of complex, realistic attacks carried out by a dedicated team (Red Team) to assess an organisation's detection and response capability (Blue Team).

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📊 Figures and statistics

🇫🇷 In France

• According to theANSSIAround 80 % of large French companies carry out regular pentests.
• The average cost of a pentest is between €5,000 and €30,000, depending on its scope
• The sectors with the highest demand are finance, healthcare and industry

 

🌍 Worldwide

• The global pentest market is valued at around 1.7 billion dollars
• Estimated annual growth from 13 % to 16 %
• More than 50 % of companies carry out at least one pentest a year
• The most frequently discovered vulnerabilities remain :
  • Poor authentication management (almost 70 % tests)
  • XSS and injections (approximately 60 %)
  • Incorrect server configuration (55 %)

Sources: ANSSI, HackerOne annual report, Portswigger studies on web vulnerabilities, Pentest-standard.com report.