Gray box penetration testing is a type of penetration testing in which the tester has limited knowledge and access to the internal details and workings of the target system. This type of testing is also known as “partial knowledge testing” because the tester has partial knowledge about the system.
Gray box penetration testing is different from other types of penetration testing, such as black box testing and white box testing, in which the tester has no or full knowledge about the target system. In gray box testing, the tester is treated as an insider with limited access to the system, and has access to some but not all of the internal details and workings of the system.
Gray box penetration testing is typically used to test the security of a system from the perspective of a user or customer who has limited access to the system. This can help organizations identify and address vulnerabilities in their systems that may not be visible to external attackers or insiders with full access. Gray 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.