Prevention is always better than a cure. As cyber attackers launch sophisticated techniques to breach a system, enhancing cyber security infrastructure is crucial. Organizations proceed with black box penetration testing to understand how their security reacts in a real-life attack. Conclusions drawn from the test can easily help penetration testers remediate the security loopholes.
Let’s discuss what black box penetration testing testing is all about, the objective, methodologies, and the vital steps involved in the testing process.
Black box penetration testing is a form of security assessment, performed by mimicking cyber-attacks where the pentester is not aware of the internal working or code base. With little to no information provided to the pen tester, it replicates real-life attacks to get the most realistic result possible.
As black box penetration test simulates realistic attacks this helps to detect vulnerabilities that can be getaways for hackers to get into the system. The tester uses the same tools and techniques as the attacker to reveal the system’s security loopholes and help enhance the organization’s defense.
Importance of Black Box Penetration Testing
One of the major advantages of black box penetration testing is how it replicates a real-life attack with the same tools and knowledge as the attacker might have. Thus the impact and potential vulnerabilities that might lead to such an attack can be detected before an actual attack. Saving the company’s prestige and vulnerable data.
When a web app or network is pen tested for a smaller scope, particularly to test certain components black box penetration testing is the best choice as it is the most cost-effective and can easily exploit the vulnerabilities.
Since the test conveniently projects an end-user perspective it is easier to detect vulnerabilities like server misconfigurations and validation errors.
Types of Penetration Testing
| Pentest | White box testing | Black box testing | Grey box testing |
| Prior Knowledge required | Prior knowledge of the system’s source code, network diagrams, and infrastructure is required. | The tester does not have any information about the internal structure or source code. | The tester is given limited access to the source code and internal structure of the system. |
| Environment tested | A highly focused assessment, thus the tests are exposed to internal, external, and code. | The test mimics an external attack thus covering the external environment. | Given its limited access tests are exposed to the internal environment along with some external focus |
| Use of automation | Automation is used to assist with manual processes. | Heavily dependent on automation. | Automation is used only if it’s necessary. |
| Objectivity | Tester’s knowledge of the system can influence tests. | Since the tester does not know the system, the perspective is unbiased and more objective. | Less likely to be influenced by the tester’s prior knowledge. |
| Cost | Heavily dependent on expertise, very costly. | Since it takes less time and does not require much expertise it is significantly cost effective. | Costs are in between both extremes. |
Black-Box Pentesting Objective
1. Reconnaissance
Primarily gather as much information as possible about the system. Investigate web app endpoints of the targeted system to detect any potential vulnerabilities. Scan the networks to detect the exposed services where attackers can take leverage of the vulnerability.
2. Vulnerability Assessment and Exploitation
A method to recognize any flaws including weak passwords, system or software flaws, and configuration issues. By leveraging automation tools it is much easier to detect such vulnerabilities. Prioritize the vulnerabilities that most likely expose the system to a hacker’s threat.
3. Security Validation and response test
Evaluate the current status of the company’s cyber-security measures by mimicking the attack using different credentials or by obstructing communication with the client. Assess the app’s readiness to respond to security alerts and evaluate the error handling mechanism. Ensure the data is properly encrypted to avoid any potential data leakage vulnerability.
4. Reporting and Remediation Guidance
Post penetration testing an important aspect is to provide an informative report regarding the vulnerabilities detected, their potential impacts, and strategies to mitigate them. This is to provide clients with the know-how to improve their cyber-security and handle security threats.
Also Read: White Box Penetration Testing
Black-Box Penetration Testing Methodologies
1. Fuzzing
The fuzz test is the technique that automatically tests application and their input fields to find the missing input checks. Fuzzing exposes the vulnerabilities by inputting unusual data into the system.Â
2. Full Port Scanning
This technique is to identify the open ports and the services running on them to crosscheck if these ports are exposed to any vulnerabilities. Understanding the entry points of an attack is an important part of penetration testing methodology. It can test the 1000 most popular UDP ports and complete 65,535 TCP ports.
3. Exploratory Testing
A testing that is conducted without any pre-planned notion, objective, or expectation of specific outcomes. Repeatedly testing the targeted system such the outcome of one test will guide the other where one eventful discovery can shine new lights on the test.
4. Brute Force Attack Testing
Technique deployed to discover weak passwords or weak authentication mechanisms. With the help of automated tools or widely available common password dictionaries, try out different combinations of passwords and usernames to guess the correct one.
5. OSINT (Open-source Intelligence)
It helps testers to come up with a better understanding of the target system by accessing public resources. They can gain information regarding employees, their email addresses, and software versions used that can significantly help to discover potential vulnerabilities.
6. Syntax Testing
Specifically deployed to check weaknesses such as SQL injection and XSS. The test is carried out by feeding misplaced or illegal input data to the system and assessing the outcomes.
Black-Box Penetration Testing Steps
1. Planning
The primary step focuses on attaining necessary permission and clearing ethical compliances. Determine the scope and objective of the test.
2. Gathering information and Scanning
As not much information about the targeted system is not revealed the tester can rely on public sources like web pages or OSINT. With automated scanning tools, the tester can easily determine the active ports and services running in the system.
3. Security Testing
An effective method to find the hidden vulnerabilities in the network. By leveraging the benefits of manual testing and automation tools testers can find potential vulnerabilities and outdated software versions.
4. Exploitation
After identifying the vulnerabilities the next step is to exploit them to gain access to the system. The tester will put out a malicious request mirroring a real attack where the hacker tried to get into the system through the shortest route.
5. Post-Exploitation
If the vulnerability exploitation test is successful, the testers can understand how and to which extent hackers have gained access to the system. It also helps to identify the gravity of an attack and the potential for future comprises.
6. Reporting
The report should be a compilation of overall information regarding identified vulnerabilities, the extent of the threat, the ways of exploiting the vulnerability, and required recommendations for further remediation.
7. Re-testing and security certificate
To completely sweep off all vulnerabilities and to ensure there is no weak point left to fix the system is subjected to further retesting and evaluation. After test completion, testers will provide certificates that confirm the system has successfully conducted black box testing.
Also Read: Top Penetration Testing Methodologies to Protect Your Business
Disadvantages of Black Box Penetration TestingÂ
- Since testers have no information regarding the internal structure of the system it cannot give you a complete security review
- It only provides a top view and does not include any internal testing, some vulnerabilities may go unchecked
- Black box testing often has an unpredictable timeline, depending on the vulnerability that is discovered the duration of the test may vary
- Due to the inability to test intricate algorithms that require knowledge about system source code, detecting performance-centric glitches and scalability issues black box testing is not preferred for complex logic.
- Black box testing often involves guesswork and trials, given test cases rely on the accuracy of provided requirements this makes it difficult to find the root cause of the issues, leaving most tests incomplete.
Black box penetration testing is essential for all organizations to safeguard their cyber security. As the test mimics a real-world attack, it helps identify the possible loopholes and weak points in a system. Identifying such vulnerabilities is crucial, as it ensures organizations can take proper remedial steps to strengthen their security positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the typical phases involved in a black box penetration test?
Ans:Â The typical phases involved in a black box testing:
-Preparation: Gathering preliminary information on the targeted system.
-Assessment: Detecting any known or unknown flaws including software flaws.
-Response test and exploitation: Exploiting security vulnerabilities after thorough research
-Reporting: Providing a report with information about the vulnerabilities found and the remedial measures
2. What kind of vulnerabilities are typically found in black box penetration tests?
Ans: The vulnerabilities found in black box penetration testing are typical flaws including human errors. Some vulnerabilities detected are password leaks, weak passwords, software flaws, publicly known vulnerabilities, and configuration issues.
3. What is the scope of a typical black box penetration test?
Ans: In a typical black box penetration test the tester is unaware of the internal architecture of the system. The is simulated in a real-life attacker’s perspective to detect the weaknesses in the application, infrastructure, network, and wireless security.
