The Ethical Hack: A Framework for Business Value Penetration Testing
Features
A focus on on methodology over
Summary
There are many books that detail tools and techniques of penetration testing, but none of these effectively communicate how the information gathered from tests should be analyzed and implemented. Until recently, there was very little strategic information available to explain the value of ethical hacking and how tests should be performed in order to provide a company with insight beyond a mere listing of security vulnerabilities. Now there is a resource that illustrates how an organization can gain as much value from an ethical hack as possible.
The Ethical Hack: A Framework for Business Value Penetration Testing explains the methodologies, framework, and "unwritten conventions" that ethical hacks should employ to provide the maximum value to organizations that want to harden their security. This book is unique in that it goes beyond the technical aspects of penetration testing to address the processes and rules of engagement required for successful tests. It examines testing from a strategic perspective, shedding light on how testing ramifications affect an entire organization.
Security practitioners can use this resource to reduce their exposure and deliver a focused, valuable service to customers. Organizations will learn how to align the information about tools, techniques, and vulnerabilities that they gathered from testing with their overall business objectives.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
Perspectives of Value
SECURITY AND HACKING
Information Security
Security Architecture
Hacking Impacts
THE FRAMEWORK
Business Planning and Operations
Reconnaissance
Enumeration
Vulnerability Analysis
Exploitation
Final Analysis
Deliverable
Integration
INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM
Scope of Information Security Programs
The Process of Information Security
Component Parts of Information Security Programs
BUSINESS PLANNING AND OPERATIONS
Business Objectives
Security Policy
Previous Test Results
Business Challenges
The Business of Security
Reasoning
Overall Expectations
How Deep is Deep Enough?
Timing is Everything
Attack Type
Source Point
Required Knowledge
Inherent Limitations
Imposed Limitations
Multi-Phased Attacks
Teaming and Attack Structure
The Security Consultant
The Tester
Logistics
Technical Preparation
Managing of the Engagement
Scenario
RECONNAISSANCE
The Hacker
Reconnaissance Techniques
ENUMERATION
Technical Objective
Soft Objective
Scope of Effort
Looking Around or Attack?
Preparing for the Next Phase
VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS
Weighing the Vulnerability
Source Points
Reporting Dilemma
EXPLOITATION
Intuitive Testing
Evasion
War Dialing
Threads and Groups
Operating Systems
Password Crackers
Rootkits
Applications
Network
Services and Areas of Concern
FINAL ANALYSIS
Critical
Warning
Informational
DELIVERABLE
Overall Structure
Aligning Findings
Format
INTEGRATION
Mitigation
Defense Planning
Incident Management
Security Policy
CONCLUSION
APPENDIX-SPOOFING AND SEQUENCE ATTACK
Editorial Reviews
"[I]n this comprehensive work author James Tiller explains not only why ethical hacks are viable, but also why they are critical. … [This] is one of the most complete books on penetration testing available."
- Security Management, August 2005
"Jim Tiller has created an outstanding book that describes in detail the right way to conduct a thorough penetration test. As more and more people offer penetration testing services, our industry needs a base line of solid practices to help separate the professionals from the charlatans. Jim's book describes such practices, including the policies, procedures, and technical insights that come from years of in-the-trenches experience."
Ed Skoudis, VP of Security Strategy, Global Integrity, from the Foreword
"This book differentiates itself by presenting a structured approach to testing an organization's security…Tiller's writing style makes the book easy to follow, and he uses plenty of real-world examples…the framework that Tiller describes will remain valid because security's fundamental aspects will change slowly."
-IEEE Security & Privacy, 2005
