3 Types of Pen Testing

Penetration Testing (Pen-testing) is a critical and indispensable component that every organization must have in its cybersecurity armory. Penetration Testing empowers organizations to assess the strength and effectiveness of their security measures where trusted pen-testers simulate cyber-attacks under secure conditions and submit a report with the status and suggestions for countermeasures to minimize risks and enhance the security posture.

It is not prudent or financially viable to conduct pen-tests randomly/ blindly or for all your digital assets and components of the website/ web application/ network. The scope and intrusion level of any pen-test depends upon your expected outcomes, needs, and context. A trusted and expert security professional, like Indusface, will always choose the right mix of penetration testing tools, methods, and techniques based on these parameters.

In this article, we will look at penetration tests classified based on how the tests are done/ methods, as well as the components/ assets/ areas being targeted.

Pen-Testing Types Based on Methods Used

a. Black Box Testing

Black Box Pen-testing, also known as External Testing or Trial and Error Testing, is where the external-facing assets of the company/ assets visible on the internet. These kinds of tests emulate a real-world attack where the tester does not know the ins and outs of the application/ network/ system and will launch a brute force attack or a blind attack on the IT infrastructure.

The tester extracts insights on the targets and evaluates their functionality based on inputs from bots or other automated processes and tools that unearth vulnerabilities and gaps in the targeted system/ network/ application.

b. White Box Testing

White Box Pen-testing, also known as Internal Testing or Structural/ Clear/ Glass Box Testing, is where the tester has root-/ admin-level access to and complete information about the systems/ networks/ applications that are to be tested including the source code, IP address schema, OS details, etc. The goal is to test the internal structure and strength of the systems/ networks/ applications against malicious insiders or an outsider who has stolen the credentials using a phishing attack.

With White Box Testing, you can understand if internal operations and modules are properly executed as per specifications, and detect logical, design, typographical and syntax errors, as well as, misconfigurations within the infrastructure or environment. These require much more sophisticated Penetration Testing Tools.

c. Grey Box Testing

Grey Box Pen-testing is where the tester is provided partial information about the systems/ networks/ applications such as access to software code, system architecture diagrams, etc. to simulate an attack. This type of test emulates a scenario where an external entity has obtained illegitimate access to infrastructure documents and traces how partial information access affects the target.

Pen-testing Types Based on Targeted Components/ Assets/ Areas

1. Network Services Testing

The most common and in-demand kind of pen-test, network services testing, seeks to unearth vulnerabilities and gaps in the network infrastructure and combines both internal/ client-side and external/ remote testing. It is not a deep kind of pen test. Here, the network areas targeted include Firewall Configuration, Stateful Analysis, SQL Server, SMTP mail servers, DNS, IPS evasion, etc.

2. Web Application Testing

Web Application Testing is a much more intense, deeper, detailed, and targeted kind of pen-test to unearth vulnerabilities, gaps, and misconfigurations in the web app. It is a time-consuming and complex kind of testing where planning and strategy are essential for greater effectiveness. The areas targeted here include APIs, ActiveX, Plug-ins, Applets, Scriptlets, etc.

3. Client-Side Testing

This type of testing seeks to identify vulnerabilities on the software that emerge locally and can be exploited from the client’s end. For instance, Web Browser, Content Creation software (MS Office Suite, Photoshop, Adobe Page Maker), media players, etc.

4. Social Engineering Testing

Here, the tester tries to simulate an attack by tricking employees/ users to get proprietary or confidential information. The goal is to test the awareness and strength of the human network in the organization. There are two sub-categories in social engineering testing:

• Remote testing where phishing techniques are used to steal confidential information through electronic means.
• Physical testing where the tester uses physical means or presence through impersonation, dumpster diving, threats, convincing phone calls, etc. to get access to confidential information.

5. Wireless Network Testing

This type of pen-testing seeks to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the wireless devices used on the client-side. For instance, tablets, smartphones, notebooks, etc. These tests also include wireless protocols, wireless access points, and admin credentials.

Choose the right mix of penetration testing tools to infuse the much-needed elements of proactiveness and perceptiveness in your organization’s security efforts.