Penetration testing can consist of one or more of the following types of tests:
Black Box
Black box pen testing is employed to look at a system against external factors to blame for associate degreey weakness that would be employed by an external wrongdoer to disrupt the network’s security. A black box test check pays attention to inputs getting in the software system and outputs it generates. The tester has no access to the code, implementation details, or information of the internals of the software system. the sole thanks to forced the lock the software system is through similar interfaces employed by customers or by external interfaces allowing many computers and processes to attach to the appliance beneath check.
Reasons to Conduct Black Box Test.
Black box testing permits you to quickly determine errors in useful specifications.
It provides unbiased tests since the designer and tester work severally.
Testing takes place “from the position” of the user.
Testing using the black box method not solely identifies security gaps within the system, however additionally helps verify hidden graphical user interface errors
Black box testing simulates the behavior of a user who doesn’t apprehend the inner structure of the program.
The following styles of testing are administered by the Black box method:
Functional: Functional tests aim to research every perform of the software package, by providing correct input, confirming the output against the useful specifications.
Regression: Its purpose is to prove that a antecedently operating application still performs well when revisions applied to sure components. Regression tests assure that nothing has been changed.
Nonfunctional: Nonfunctional testing’s main goal is that the verification of a specification that defines the standards to be used for measure the performance of a system. These mix non-functional necessities, like usability, look and feel, efficiency, security, etc.
BENEFITS
Black Box Penetration Testing is that the nighest to real-world attacks since the pen-tester acts and thinks like an unenlightened, average attacker.
Pen-testers generally leverage a variety of open-source tools and multiple techniques to breach the systems, similar to a typical attacker would.
When administered by trustworthy and extremely experienced pen-testers, this pen-testing sort detects a good vary of vulnerabilities, as well as security misconfigurations, XSS, SQL injections, input/ output validation problems, server misconfigurations, and so on.
This approach offers accurate risk assessment keeping hackers’ views in mind for public-facing applications and counseled to be done oftentimes on production systems.
A combination of automatic scans associate degreed periodic manual penetration testing to reinforce the automatic scans is very counseled and offers an correct security posture and risk assessment of the appliance.
White Box Tests
A white box pen test is a form of penetration testing where the testers know the software or system’s internal makeup. Unlike the black or grey box, the test aims to reveal or expose the system’s details under the test. Because of these reasons, it may be named as a clear box or transparent box testing. White box penetration testing gives clear and complete information. It grants access to the system, and the tester knows everything about the application. A penetration tester is given this information to mimic the scheming hacker, the real and terrifying threat to a system’s safety. In this case, the test imitates the hacker’s actions but with more information about a system.
Reasons to Conduct a White Box Test
The goal is to check for vulnerabilities in the system where hackers may access the system. The tester is armed with all the information to see the system, no hidden or get areas, so the system is named white box or clear box. The white box test is usually carried out on critical or core parts of the system. The parts that are involved in pooling and cataloging data. These essential parts of the system cannot rely on a vague or poke in the dark test. They must be thoroughly tested. This explains why these parts are usually tested by white box pen-testing.
Benefits
White Box Penetration Testing provides a comprehensive assessment of internal and external vulnerabilities, evaluated from beyond the point of view available to the average attackers.
It helps identify vulnerabilities, gaps, and misconfigurations within the infrastructure, source code, design, business logic, typography, syntax, security settings, and so on.
This testing type is more thorough and helps evaluate the quality of code and application design.
Grey Box
Grey Box Penetration Testing, also known as Translucent Box Testing, emulates a scenario wherein the attacker has partial information or access to systems, networks, application such as login credentials, system code, architecture diagrams, etc. These tests aim to understand what potential damage partial information access or privileged users could cause a business.
Benefits
This type of Penetration Testing strikes a balance between the depth and efficiency of black and white box tests.
It provides a more focused and efficient assessment of security posture.
It is more time and more cost-effective than the trial-and-error approach, saving time and costs on reconnaissance.
Penetration testing types based on where it is performed.
Network Penetration Testing
Network Penetration Testing activity aims at discovering weaknesses and vulnerabilities related to the network infrastructure of the organization. It involves, firewall configuration & bypass testing, Stateful analysis testing, DNS attacks, etc. The most common software packages which are examined during this test include:
Secure Shell (SSH)
SQL Server
MySQL
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
Application Penetration Testing
In Application Penetration Testing, the penetration tester checks, if any security vulnerabilities or weaknesses are discovered in web-based applications. Core application components such as ActiveX, Silver light, and Java Applets, and APIs are all examined.
Wireless Penetration Testing
In Wireless Penetration Testing, all of the wireless devices which are used in a corporation are tested. It includes items such as tablets, notebooks, Smartphone’s, etc. This test spots vulnerabilities in terms of wireless access points, admin credentials, and wireless protocols.
Social Engineering
Social Engineering Test involves attempting to get confidential or sensitive information by purposely tricking an employee of the organization. You have two subsets here.
Remote testing – involves tricking an employee to reveal sensitive information via an electronic means.
Physical testing – involves the use of a physical means to gather sensitive information, like threatening or blackmail an employee.
Client-Side Penetration Testing
The purpose of this type of testing is to identify security issues in terms of software running on the customer’s workstations. Its primary goal is to search and exploit vulnerabilities in client-side software programs. For example, web browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari), content creation software packages (such as Adobe Frame maker and Adobe RoboHelp), media players, etc.