What is black box penetration testing?
Black box penetration testing is a type of penetration testing in which the tester has no knowledge or information about the target system, and must rely on their skills and knowledge to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in the system. This type of testing is also known as “blind testing” because the tester is blind to the internal details and workings of the system.
Black box penetration testing is different from other types of penetration testing, such as white box testing and gray box testing, in which the tester has some knowledge or information about the target system. In black box testing, the tester is treated as an external attacker, and must use the same tools and techniques that a real attacker would use to gain access to the system.
Black box penetration testing is typically used to simulate real-world attacks and test the security of a system from the perspective of an external attacker. This can help organizations identify and address vulnerabilities in their systems, and improve their overall security posture. Black box testing can also be used to assess the skills and knowledge of security professionals, and to evaluate the effectiveness of security controls and countermeasures.
Process and steps in a black box penetration testing
A typical black box penetration testing checklist might include the following items:
- Identify the scope of the test: This involves defining the specific systems or applications that will be tested, as well as the specific objectives and goals of the test.
- Conduct reconnaissance and information gathering: This involves using tools and techniques to gather information about the target system, such as public records and documents, internet searches, and port scanning.
- Identify and test for common vulnerabilities: This involves testing for common vulnerabilities such as insecure storage, insecure communication, and insecure authentication, and assessing the ability to exploit those vulnerabilities.
- Test for platform-specific vulnerabilities: This involves testing for vulnerabilities that are specific to the platform on which the target system is running, such as Windows or Linux, and assessing the ability to exploit those vulnerabilities.
- Identify and test for third-party libraries and components: This involves identifying and testing any third-party libraries or components that are used by the target system, and assessing the ability to exploit vulnerabilities in those libraries or components.
- Conduct a security assessment of the server-side components: This involves reviewing and testing the security of the server-side components, such as web services and APIs, that the target system communicates with.
- Test for integration with other systems and applications: This involves testing for the integration of the target system with other systems and applications, and assessing the potential for cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgery, and other attacks that could be used to compromise the security of the system.
- Report on the findings and recommendations: This involves providing a detailed report on the findings and results of the penetration test, as well as any recommendations for remediation or mitigation of the vulnerabilities that were identified.
Overall, a black box penetration testing checklist is a list of specific tasks and procedures that should be performed when conducting a black box penetration test. This checklist can help ensure that the test is thorough and comprehensive, and covers all the key areas of the target system.