Penetration Testing mailing list archives
RE: PT Activity duration/time
From: "Miller, Joseph A" <joseph.miller () eds com>
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 15:52:15 -0400
Perhaps this will start a rant but... Is there really a need to spent 30% of your time breaking into a hole when you can show the exposure as well documented and exploitable? I understand there is a difference between full pen and vuln assessment. However, that's like black box determining the external IPs for an external. The value to any client for a "hacker" approach is giddy and fun, but if you were just handed the IPs you could just show the exposures and not waste your time OR YOUR CLIENT'S. I guess you have to gauge what you are trying to prove. If your client requires you to gain root, great. If you are doing a pen, you already have the understanding from the client. That's what you are there for in the first place. You are the expert and showing that there is an exposure for a remote buffer overflow on a given system is your job, and more so showing the customer how to fix it. Eventually it all comes down to time, like you said. What amount of time should you spend on what... I think everyone on this list will agree to the following: 1) AUTOMATE as much reporting as possible (35%?????) ouch 2) Define your scope to your client If they want full stealth black box, ensure they understand the time limitations... I assume you don't work for free. IP count is decent, however, the numbers in the open source testing doc show decent numbers that can help you determine scan times for large sets of IPs, etc. Of course, a FULL UDP port scan of a Solaris is a tad different than other systems... Plan accordingly. 3) Experience... The more you do the more you can optimize, have a game plan when you show up. You should already be done with your information gathering before the start time. ... Did I miss anything? -----Original Message----- From: BSK [mailto:bishan4u () yahoo co uk] Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 9:43 AM To: pen-test () securityfocus com Subject: PT Activity duration/time Dear All, We have been conducting a number of PT's till date. 1. There is one thing which has always bothered us, a good effort estimate, especially for Black-box PT. We generally estimate our efforts based on IP addresses. I would request other Pen-Testers on this list to share their views and methods of effort estimation. 2. Secondly, what is the amount of time that should be spent on each phase of PT? For e.g: Information Gathering - 5% Footprinting - 10% Vulnerability Scanning - 10% Vulnerability Analysis - 10% Vulnerability Exploitation - 30% Reporting - 35% Await some input/ feedback from other Pen-Testers on this list. Thanks, Bshan ___________________________________________________________ To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://uk.security.yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ Audit your website security with Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner: Hackers are concentrating their efforts on attacking applications on your website. Up to 75% of cyber attacks are launched on shopping carts, forms, login pages, dynamic content etc. Firewalls, SSL and locked-down servers are futile against web application hacking. Check your website for vulnerabilities to SQL injection, Cross site scripting and other web attacks before hackers do! Download Trial at: http://www.securityfocus.com/sponsor/pen-test_050831 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Audit your website security with Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner: Hackers are concentrating their efforts on attacking applications on your website. Up to 75% of cyber attacks are launched on shopping carts, forms, login pages, dynamic content etc. Firewalls, SSL and locked-down servers are futile against web application hacking. Check your website for vulnerabilities to SQL injection, Cross site scripting and other web attacks before hackers do! Download Trial at: http://www.securityfocus.com/sponsor/pen-test_050831 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current thread:
- PT Activity duration/time BSK (Sep 22)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- RE: PT Activity duration/time Miller, Joseph A (Sep 24)
- RE: PT Activity duration/time Sol Invictus (Sep 24)
- RE: PT Activity duration/time Miller, Joseph A (Sep 26)
- RE: PT Activity duration/time Michael Gargiullo (Sep 27)