Are you new to cybersecurity, and do you want to learn how to perform penetration testing? If yes, you’re exactly at the right place. 

This blog post serves as a tutorial for beginners and cybersecurity enthusiasts interested in ethical hacking and penetration testing using Kali Linux, a powerful tool in the cybersecurity world. This resource aims to provide a strong foundation in penetration testing, covering essential tools and techniques.

Before we jump straight into the blog and how to perform penetration testing with Kali Linux, it is important to understand the concept of penetration testing. First of all, let’s learn what penetration testing is!

What is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing (pen-testing) is a mimic cyber attack performed by ethical hackers to assess the security of systems, applications, or networks. 

Its main objective is to reveal security vulnerabilities that are potentially exploited by attackers and supply actionable advice for enhancing defenses. Pentesting might be done either manually (through ethical hackers) or automatically (through software packages). 

The workflow is often accomplished through reconnaissance, vulnerability exploitation, and report gathering on findings and remediation planning

The primary objectives are:

• Identifying Vulnerabilities: Revealing weaknesses in systems that may be used by attackers, including old software or misconfigurations.

• Incident Response Testing: Measuring how effectively the security teams react to mimic threats.

• Meeting Compliance Requirements: Demonstrating compliance with regulations such as PCI DSS, GDPR, and HIPAA.

• Reputation Protection: Actively shielding against data breaches that may harm a brand’s reputation.

Types of Penetration Testing

Penetration tests can be categorized based on the scope of knowledge shared with the tester:

1. Black Box Testing: Without any knowledge of the system beforehand, mimicking an outside hacker.

2. White Box Testing: Complete access to system information, mimicking an insider attack.

3. Gray Box Testing: Incomplete knowledge, mimicking an environment where the tester possesses limited access.

What are Penetration Testing Tools in Kali Linux?

You would require various penetration testing tools to perform penetration testing in Kali Linux. The following are some of the most important penetration testing tools in Kali Linux:

1. Nmap: It is a network mapper used to scan for open ports and services.

2. Dig: A DNS lookup utility that offers domain registration and ownership data.

3. Ncat: An application used for scanning web servers for vulnerabilities.

4. WPScan: A WordPress site scanner to detect theme and plugin vulnerabilities.

5. OpenVAS: A complete vulnerability management solution.

6. Metasploit: Employed for exploit creation and deployment.

How to Perform Penetration Testing with Kali Linux?

Kali Linux is an advanced Linux operating system used for penetration testing and ethical hacking. It has more than 600 tools for various tasks like reconnaissance, vulnerability analysis, exploitation, and reporting. The following is a step-by-step procedure on how to carry out penetration testing with Kali Linux:

Step 1: Define Scope and Goals

Clearly document the test scope (e.g., web app, network) and establish rules of engagement.

Select the test type:

• Black Box: No knowledge of the target system before the test.

• Gray Box: Some knowledge available (e.g., passwords).

• White Box: Complete knowledge of the system.

Step 2: Reconnaissance (Information Gathering)

Utilize Kali Linux tools to gather information regarding the target:

• Harvester: Gather emails, subdomains, and IPs.

• Nmap: Open ports and services scan.

• Whois/Netcraft: Gather information on domain registration and hosting.

• Metasploit Auxiliary Modules: Conduct vulnerability scans.

Step 3: Vulnerability Assessment

Discover vulnerabilities in the target system with:

• Nessus/OpenVAS: Open-source and commercial vulnerability scanners that provide wide-ranging discovery, classification, and auditing capabilities.

• Nikto: Scan for older software or misconfiguration of web servers.

• The process results in selecting the most easily exploitable vulnerabilities.

Step 4: Exploitation

Try to exploit detected vulnerabilities:

• Exploit automatically with Metasploit Framework.

• For SQL injection, utilize tools such as SQLmap.

• Use Aircrack-ng or Reaver for wireless networks.

Step 5: Post-Exploitation

 Once you gain access, follow the following steps:

• Extract credentials using tools such as Mimikatz.

• Use backdoors (e.g., Netcat) to establish persistence.

• Lateral movement through the network 24.

• For wireless networks, employ tools such as Aircrack-ng or Reaver.

Step 6: Reporting

Create a comprehensive report that contains:

• Vulnerabilities discovered and their severity.

• Exploits executed and their effect.

• Remediation recommendations.

• Tools such as Dradis can be used to structure findings into professional reports.

Best Tips for Performing Penetration Testing with Kali Linux

The following are some of the most important tips to keep in mind whilst performing penetration testing with Kali Linux:

• Set Up a Test Lab: Utilize virtual labs such as VirtualBox with vulnerable software (e.g., DVWA) to hone in safety2.

• Customize Kali Linux: Set up non-root users, secure communication, and configure proxy settings for optimization8.

• Stay Updated: Update Kali Linux tools from time to time to keep them compatible with newer systems.

Following these steps and utilizing the comprehensive toolset of Kali Linux, penetration testers can efficiently find and fix security vulnerabilities in their target systems.

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Conclusion

The video concludes with a reminder of the importance of continuous learning in cybersecurity. It encourages viewers to explore certification programs in various domains, including data science and machine learning, to advance their careers.

FAQs:

What is the primary objective of penetration testing?

The foremost aim of penetration testing is to discover security flaws in systems, applications, or networks that are susceptible to misuse by attackers and offer actionable guidelines for improving security controls.

What are the different types of penetration testing?

Penetration testing can be classified into three forms: Black Box Testing, where the testee has no previous information regarding the system; White Box Testing, where the testee possesses total information regarding the system; and Gray Box Testing, where the testee has partial information regarding the system.

What are the most essential penetration testing tools in Kali Linux?

Some of the critical tools used in penetration testing under Kali Linux are Nmap for network scanning, Metasploit for developing and deploying exploits, WPScan for WordPress vulnerability scanning, and OpenVAS for vulnerability management.

What steps are involved in performing penetration testing with Kali Linux?

The procedures include defining scope and objectives, carrying out reconnaissance to gather intelligence, performing vulnerability assessment, exploiting found vulnerabilities, carrying out post-exploitation, and finally making a complete report of findings.

Why is it important to set up a test lab for penetration testing?

Establishing a test lab provides the ability for penetration testers to hone their skills in a secure setting without endangering live systems. It provides the means to try out different tools and methods on vulnerable software, increasing their competency before running real-world tests