Penetration testing involves simulating attacks on a network, application, or system to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Once the penetration test is complete, a well-crafted penetration testing report is the primary way to communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders. A comprehensive report not only highlights the weaknesses discovered during the test but also provides actionable recommendations to mitigate these vulnerabilities.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of writing a detailed, effective penetration testing report. We’ll cover the key sections of the report, offer tips on how to present findings clearly, and provide examples of each component.

Step 1: Define the Scope and Objectives of the Penetration Test

Why It’s Important: Defining the scope and objectives at the beginning of the report gives context to the penetration test and helps stakeholders understand the areas that were tested. It also clarifies the goals of the test—whether it’s to evaluate security posture, compliance, or resilience against certain types of attacks.

How to Do It:

• Include the Engagement Details: Clearly state the engagement's purpose, which might be to test the security of a specific web application, network infrastructure, or a combination of systems.
• Specify the Testing Boundaries: Outline the systems, IP ranges, or applications that were in scope for the test. Equally important is specifying what was out of scope, such as critical systems, production environments, or specific protocols.
• Identify the Testing Methodology: Mention the framework or approach used (e.g., OWASP Top Ten for web application security or a black-box penetration test) to give clarity on how the testing was conducted.

Example:

Scope: This penetration test was focused on evaluating the security of the corporate website (www.example.com ), the internal network infrastructure (192.168.0.0/24), and the web application backend services. Testing was limited to external-facing assets, excluding the internal database servers.

Step 2: Executive Summary

Why It’s Important: The executive summary is often the first section of the report that decision-makers will read. It should summarize the overall results in a concise manner, providing a high-level view of the findings and key recommendations. This allows non-technical stakeholders to grasp the most critical issues without diving into the technical details.

How to Do It:

• Summarize Key Findings: Briefly highlight the most important vulnerabilities discovered during the test. Focus on high-impact issues like critical vulnerabilities, exploits, or major security weaknesses.
• Explain the Risk Impact: Describe how each vulnerability can potentially be exploited, and its potential consequences for the business or system.
• Provide High-Level Recommendations: Include a few brief action items or remediation steps that need to be addressed urgently.

Example:

Executive Summary: The penetration test identified several high-risk vulnerabilities in the company’s web application and internal network. The most critical finding was an SQL injection vulnerability in the login form of the web application, which could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to the database. Immediate steps are recommended to patch this vulnerability and update the application’s security controls.

Step 3: Methodology

Why It’s Important: This section explains how the penetration testing was conducted. It details the tools, techniques, and processes used during the assessment to ensure transparency and help stakeholders understand how findings were discovered.

How to Do It:

• Describe the Phases of Testing: Penetration testing typically follows a sequence of steps, such as reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, post-exploitation, and reporting. Clearly outline the phases of the test.
• Include Tools and Techniques: Mention the specific tools used for scanning, exploitation, and analysis. For example, tools like Nmap, Burp Suite, Metasploit, and Nessus may have been used during testing.
• Mention Manual vs. Automated Testing: Specify if any testing was done manually versus automatically to detect certain vulnerabilities.

Example:

Methodology: The penetration test was conducted using a combination of automated scanning tools and manual testing techniques. Reconnaissance was performed using Nmap to map open ports and identify services. Vulnerabilities were scanned using Nessus, and exploits were attempted using Metasploit to validate the existence of critical flaws.

Step 4: Detailed Findings and Vulnerability Analysis

Why It’s Important: This is the core section of the report, where all findings are documented in detail. Each vulnerability should be described, prioritized based on severity, and linked to potential business risks. The goal is to provide enough information so that the development or security teams can fix the issues.

How to Do It:

• Describe Each Vulnerability: For each vulnerability, provide a detailed description of what it is, how it was discovered, and what the potential impact is. Include proof-of-concept (PoC) examples when applicable.
• Assign Severity Levels: Classify vulnerabilities based on severity, such as Critical, High, Medium, and Low. This helps prioritize remediation efforts.
• Include CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures): If relevant, include any CVE identifiers related to the vulnerabilities.
• Provide Exploitation Details: If the vulnerability was successfully exploited, explain the method used and the outcomes of the exploit.

Example:

Vulnerability 1: SQL Injection in Login Form (Critical)

• Description: The login page at /login was found to be vulnerable to SQL injection. By entering a malicious payload into the username field, we were able to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to the user database.
• Impact: This vulnerability could lead to a full data breach, including sensitive user information such as email addresses, passwords, and personal details.
• Recommendation: Implement prepared statements and parameterized queries to mitigate SQL injection risks.

Step 5: Risk Assessment

Why It’s Important: In this section, the impact of the vulnerabilities is assessed within the context of the organization. Not all vulnerabilities pose the same level of risk depending on the system’s role in the business. Providing a risk assessment helps stakeholders understand the potential damage and urgency of addressing each issue.

How to Do It:

• Evaluate Business Impact: For each vulnerability, describe how it could affect the business if exploited, such as financial loss, data theft, service downtime, or reputational damage.
• Consider Exploitability: Assess the ease with which an attacker could exploit the vulnerability. This takes into account factors like complexity, the attacker’s skill level, and the availability of exploits.
• Prioritize Fixes: Based on the combination of severity and business impact, recommend a priority for each fix.

Example:

SQL Injection Risk Assessment:

• Exploitability: Easy (automated tools can exploit this with minimal effort).
• Impact: High (could lead to a complete database compromise).
• Business Consequences: Loss of sensitive data, legal implications, and damage to reputation.
• Priority: Immediate remediation required.

Step 6: Remediation Recommendations

Why It’s Important: The recommendations section provides actionable steps for addressing the vulnerabilities. It should be clear, practical, and targeted to the technical team that will implement the fixes.

How to Do It:

• Provide Clear Action Items: For each vulnerability, offer a detailed remediation strategy that could include patching software, applying configuration changes, or implementing new security controls.
• Include Best Practices: Provide suggestions for improving security practices, such as using multi-factor authentication, conducting regular security audits, or improving employee training on phishing prevention.
• Test Fixes: Recommend retesting after fixes have been applied to ensure that the vulnerabilities are properly mitigated.

Example:

Remediation for SQL Injection:

• Action: Update the login form code to use prepared statements with parameterized queries. Disable verbose error messages that could give attackers more information.
• Best Practice: Implement input validation and sanitize user inputs to prevent further injection attacks.
• Post-Remediation: After applying the fix, conduct a follow-up penetration test to verify that the vulnerability no longer exists.

Step 7: Conclusion and Next Steps

Why It’s Important: The conclusion summarizes the findings and recommendations. It serves as a final overview and can help guide future security efforts.

How to Do It:

• Summarize Key Findings: Restate the most critical issues discovered and their implications.
• Outline Next Steps: Suggest next steps for improving security, such as additional tests, patching systems, or increasing employee awareness.
• Encourage Regular Testing: Recommend that penetration testing be conducted regularly to identify new vulnerabilities as the environment evolves.

Example:

Conclusion: The penetration test identified several critical vulnerabilities, including an SQL injection issue that requires immediate attention. By addressing these vulnerabilities and adopting recommended best practices, the organization can significantly improve its security posture. We recommend conducting quarterly penetration tests to ensure that new vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated promptly.

Final Thoughts

Writing a comprehensive penetration testing report requires attention to detail, clarity, and an understanding of both technical and business considerations. By following the steps outlined above and presenting findings in a structured manner, you can produce a report that is not only informative but also actionable, helping the organization strengthen its defenses and minimize risk.