Penetration Testing mailing list archives

Re: Vulnerability Assessment vs. PenTest


From: "Alice Bryson <abryson () bytefocus com>" <abryson () bytefocus com>
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2006 21:22:41 +0800

i'm sorry i don't agress with you. i think a pen test include VA. VA
is just a step of pen test procedure. to do a pen test, firstly we
scan some tcp and udp port to identify which ports are open, and then
detect which service run on these ports and get their software
version. if the version of software has vulnerability , then we
exploit it.

2006/8/5, Bob Radvanovsky <rsradvan () unixworks net>:
A vulnerability assessment often *includes* the penetration testing and analysis.  For the most part, a VA includes elements such 
as policy management verification (does the company XYZ have the correct policy implemented for it), verification that a policy 
does what its supposed to do (procedural verification), and several often factors, all of which are "paper 
verifications".  Pen-testing is really one of the few aspects of a VA that *does* anything technical (per se).  The rest are 
operational in that they are verifications that the company is doing what it claims to be doing.

Does this help?  I hope I've explained it well enough.  If someone else has a better way of explaining, please do so.

-r

----- Original Message -----
From: James Harless [mailto:jharless () kidwellcompanies com]
To: pen-test () securityfocus com
Subject: Vulnerability Assessment vs. PenTest


> Where is the line between a Vulnerability Assessment and a PenTest?  In
> other words, which tests do you run which identifies your assessment as
> a pentest rather than a VA?
>
> And, related, do VAs still have value?  Do you feel that a PenTest
> includes everything that a VA would (and more)?
>
> My thoughts are that a VA is just an effort to document all the
> identified and potential vulnerabilities on a network.  A PenTest is an
> attempt to identify those vulnerabilities and then exploit some of them
> to verify their weakness.
>
>
> James
>
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This List Sponsored by: Cenzic

Concerned about Web Application Security?
Why not go with the #1 solution - Cenzic, the only one to win the Analyst's
Choice Award from eWeek. As attacks through web applications continue to rise,
you need to proactively protect your applications from hackers. Cenzic has the
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testing and vulnerability management needs. You have an option to go with a
managed service (Cenzic ClickToSecure) or an enterprise software
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--
Have a Good Day

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This List Sponsored by: Cenzic

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