SV: Security Test Definitions

["Carl-Johan Bostorp" <carl-johan.bostorp () hps se>]

I'm also writing my thesis (ugrad) on pen-testing and after months of studies I still haven't came across a single 
definition on which all people agree. I've also been out some "in the field" and there it gets drastically worse - 
people have quite different ideas of what a pen-test is (some seem to think it's merely a port scan).

The best attempt to define the pen-test (and related) term I've come across so far is by Don Bailey (MITRE) and is 
available for reading at http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/sf/pentest/2001-09/0114.html

Although I'm not using that definition of pen-testing myself, I think it's a sensible one. Do let me know if you come 
across any better.

/C-J

P.s. When I'm talking pen-testing I'm talking about attacks mounted at computer programs. But it's merely out of 
convenience. I do think that a pen-test should be an all-out effort to penetrate the security of the company buying the 
service, but as soon as *using* people gets involved or there are costs for actually destroying physical equipment, it 
gets so much trickier ethically and cost/risk-wise, I'd rather exclude that and treat it as something completely 
separate. Any term for that? Network pen-testing?

-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: patrick.froeger () web de [mailto:patrick.froeger () web de] 
Skickat: den 15 maj 2006 14:38
Till: pen-test () securityfocus com
Ämne: Security Test Definitions

Hello list members,

at the moment, i'm writing my diploma thesis in the field of penetration testing.
i wonder if there exist some 'official' definitions about the different types of tests one can do. i know that every 
pen-tester/company has his own definitions of what they call a "penetration test", "security assessment", "security 
review", "security audit", "application audit"
etc... but are there some standards that define the different types of security tests?
i had a look at ISSAF and OSSTMM, but neither come up with definitions of tests...

Regards,

Patrick

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