In this lesson, we're going to discuss
a few considerations that must be taken into account
during a penetration test
beyond the actual tech execution.
These considerations include managing dependencies,
understanding scope and limitations
and labeling sensitive systems.
Let's start with dependencies.
Dependencies refer to the interconnected components
within a system that can impact the success
of your penetration testing efforts.
This can include software libraries, services,
and other systems that your target relies on.
When planning and executing your attacks,
it's important to identify and understand
these dependencies to avoid unexpected issues,
and to ensure a thorough assessment.
For instance, if you're testing a web application,
you need to consider the underlying databases,
third party APIs,
and any external authentication services that it uses.
Failure to account for these dependencies
might result in incomplete testing
or could even cause disruptions in a production environment.
Documenting these dependencies
and understanding their interactions with your target
can help you design more effective attack strategies
and ensure that all potential vulnerabilities are assessed.
Next, let's discuss considerations of scope limitations.
Scope limitations define the boundaries
of what can and cannot be tested during your engagement.
These limitations are typically set in collaboration
with the client and are crucial
for ensuring that the penetration test
is conducted within agreed-upon parameters.
Understanding and respecting these limitations
is essential for maintaining professionalism
and avoiding legal or ethical issues.
Scope limitations might include specific systems
or networks that are off limits,
time constraints on testing activities,
or restrictions on the types of attacks
that can be performed.
For example, a client might prohibit
denial-of-service attacks on critical infrastructure
due to the risk of causing significant disruptions.
As a pen tester, you need to clearly
understand these limitations
and ensure your testing activities
remain within the defined boundaries.
This often involves continuous communication
with the client to clarify any ambiguities
and to obtain necessary approvals for any deviations.
Now lastly, let's talk about labeling sensitive systems.
Sensitive systems are those that contain
or process critical information
and they require special handling during a penetration test.
Labeling these systems help ensure that they're identified,
documented, and protected during the engagement.
When labeling sensitive systems
usually collaborate with the client
to pinpoint which systems are considered sensitive
based on the types of data that they handle
or their role within an organization.
For example, systems containing
personally identifiable information (PII),
financial records, or intellectual property
would be classified as sensitive.
Once identified, these systems should be clearly labeled
in your documentation and treated with extra caution
to avoid causing any inadvertent damage or data loss.
To illustrate these considerations
with a real world scenario,
imagine you're conducting a PenTest
for a healthcare provider.
During the planning phase, you identified dependencies
such as an external electronic health record system
and a third-party billing system.
Documenting these dependencies
helps you to understand how they interact
with the main application that you're testing.
Next, you review the scope limitations set by the client.
These include restrictions on testing the systems directly
due to its critical nature and a prohibition
on any form of denial of service attacks.
You make sure to respect these limitations
and plan your tests accordingly,
focusing on other aspects of the network
and applications that are within scope.
Finally, you work with the client to label sensitive systems
such as database servers containing patient records
and internal email servers used for patient communication.
These systems are clearly marked in your documentation
and you ensure that any test conducted
on or around these systems are done with extra caution
using non-disruptive methods whenever possible.
Most of the times, these systems will simply be out of scope
and can be replicated with dummy data
to simulate the systems' protections.
So remember, other attack considerations
in penetration testing include managing dependencies,
understanding and respecting scope limitations,
and labeling sensitive systems.
These considerations are essential
for conducting effective, ethical,
and professional penetration tests.
By paying attention to these factors,
you'll ensure a thorough assessment,
while maintaining the integrity
and security of the client's environment.