In this lesson,
we're going to talk about the limitations and assumptions
that come into play during penetration testing.
These factors is crucial
for setting realistic expectations
and conducting a good assessment.
First, let's discuss the scope of a penetration test.
Pentests are typically limited
to specific systems, networks,
and applications defined in the scope of work.
This means that vulnerabilities outside the scope
may not be discovered.
For instance, if your scope only includes
the web application layer,
any vulnerabilities in the underlying infrastructure
won't be identified.
This is why it's important to clearly define
and agree on the scope with your client.
Another important factor to consider is time constraints.
Pentests are typically conducted within a fixed timeframe,
which may not be sufficient
to identify all possible vulnerabilities.
Think of it like a race against the clock,
even the most skilled testers,
might miss something if they don't have enough time.
Resource limitations also play a critical role.
The resources available to the pentester
such as tools, expertise, and budget can limit the depth
and breadth of the assessment.
For example, if the budget doesn't allow for advanced tools
or if the team lacks experience with certain technologies,
the test might not be as thorough as it could be.
This is common since a lot of different organizations
actually ban certain tools being used
because of how powerful these tools can be.
Access restrictions can further complicate matters.
Testers may have limited access to certain systems,
data, or environments,
which can hinder their ability to identify vulnerabilities.
Imagine trying to test a web application,
but only having access to the front end
without any credentials or backend access,
your assessment would then be quite limited.
Then, there's the issue of false positives and negatives.
Automated tools using pentesting
may produce false positives,
which are reports of vulnerabilities
that don't actually exist,
or false negatives,
which are missed vulnerabilities that are present.
This is a common challenge
and requires careful manual verification
of automated scan results.
Now, let's move on to some assumptions
that pen testers often make.
One key assumption is environment stability.
Pentests often assume
that the target environment will remain stable
during the assessment.
However, changes in configurations or updates
could affect the results.
For example, if a system update
is applied midway through the test,
it might introduce new vulnerabilities
or fixed existing ones without the tester's knowledge.
Another assumption is authorized access.
Testers typically assume
they have been granted all necessary permissions
and access to conduct the test.
However, restrictions or misconfigurations
could prevent them from fully assessing the environment.
If the tester is supposed to have admin access
but only gets user level access,
the scope of the test will be significantly limited.
Additionally, penetration testers often operate
under the assumption
that they're assimilating the actions of a skilled attacker.
This means they might not account for highly sophisticated
or targeted attacks that go beyond the capabilities
of their testing tools and methodologies.
This should be explained clearly to stakeholders
so they can understand the likelihood
of the threat actually happening to their organization.
Limited impact is another common assumption.
Pentesters usually aim to minimize disruption
to production systems.
However, there's always a risk of unintended consequences
such as a system crash or data loss.
Testers need to be cautious
and have contingency plans in place.
The downside to this
is that an organization
cannot effectively assess their ability
to handle things such as a DDoS attack.
Lastly, there's the assumption of remediation.
Penetration testers assume
that the organization will take appropriate action
to remediate the identified vulnerabilities.
However, budget constraints, technical limitations,
and other factors could delay or prevent remediation.
Just because a vulnerability is found and reported
doesn't mean it will be fixed immediately or at all.
So remember, when conducting or preparing for a pentest,
it's important to be aware
of these limitations and assumptions,
they play a crucial role in shaping the scope
and outcomes of your assessments.
Always communicate clearly with your clients
about what can and cannot be achieved
within the constraints of the test.