The Ultimate Penetration Testing Methodology (2025 Edition)
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If you’re fortunate (or allowed) to touch the physical environment, you’ve already bypassed many security walls. Techniques range from booting into live Linux distros to extracting data from unattended systems. USB-based payloads, BIOS password resets, and GUI session hijacks are your arsenal. Don’t forget the power of rubber duckies and HID attacks.
Internal Test: Start by identifying live hosts within the network using tools like netdiscover, arp-scan, or even ping sweeps. Use Nmap for an in-depth scan of detected IPs.
External Test: Conduct OSINT. Use tools like Amass, theHarvester, and Shodan to enumerate the digital footprint of your target. Domain enumeration and subdomain brute-forcing (via Sublist3r or Assetfinder) are essential.
🔁 Once internal access is gained during an external assessment, re-initiate this entire methodology within the new scope.
Before interacting directly with any machine, gather intelligence by monitoring network traffic to uncover valuable information.
Passive Reconnaissance: Use tools like Wireshark or tcpdump to silently capture network packets. This can reveal sensitive data such as plaintext credentials, session tokens, or unencrypted communications — all without alerting users or security systems.
Active Reconnaissance: Take a more aggressive approach by launching Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks. Tools such as Ettercap, Bettercap, or ARP poisoning techniques let you intercept and manipulate network traffic between devices, enabling you to capture credentials, inject payloads, or redirect traffic.
Additional Targets to Explore:
SMB Shares: Discover accessible shared folders that might contain sensitive files.
NetBIOS Name Resolution: Identify hosts and services using legacy naming protocols.
Rogue LLMNR/NBT-NS Responses: Exploit these local name resolution protocols to perform spoofing attacks and capture authentication hashes.
Classic and mandatory.
Focus on open ports and running services. Tools: Nmap, Rustscan, Masscan for speed.
Identify OS fingerprinting (
-O) and version detection (-sV) for better exploit mapping.
Now that you know the services and their versions:
Search ExploitDB, NVD, and Rapid7.
Use searchsploit locally for quick matches.
Use Vulners or Nuclei for automated CVE hunting.
Sometimes you’ll find a pre-auth RCE and can skip many steps!
Start poking at known misconfigurations:
FTP: Anonymous login, directory traversal
SMB: Null sessions, EternalBlue
RDP/SSH: Weak credentials, misconfigs
Don’t miss the web application layer. Use
Burp Suite,ffuf, andNiktoto probe HTTP surfaces. SQLi, XSS, SSRF, and IDOR are low-hanging fruit.
Use Legion, Nessus, or OpenVAS for wide sweeps. Always verify manually.
Hydra, Medusa, and Patator are your allies. Pair with rockyou.txt, SecLists, or custom wordlists.
If technical vectors fail, go social. Clone login portals, craft payloads using Gophish, and harvest credentials. Link tracking + sandbox detection = higher success.
Include macro-based Office payloads, HTA files, and rogue Wi-Fi portals.
Once code execution is yours:
Use nc, bash -i, or PowerShell to spawn reverse shells
Obfuscate payloads to bypass AVs (e.g., msfvenom, Donut, Veil)
Drop payloads through lateral movement tools
For AV evasion in Windows, research Defender exclusion abuses, and Living Off The Land Binaries (LOLBins).
You’re in. Now:
Linux: whoami, uname -a, sudo -l, check cron jobs
Windows: whoami, systeminfo, net user, PowerView for AD enumeration
Check PowerShell history and browser autofill.
To move data out:
Use scp, ftp, or covert channels (e.g., DNS tunneling)
Drop in privesc scripts like LinPEAS, WinPEAS
Use HTTPS to evade perimeter detection
Check for misconfigured services, scheduled tasks, writable binaries. Use LinEnum, Linux Exploit Suggester, WinPEAS, Seatbelt.
Review:
UAC bypasses
Token impersonation (Windows)
SUID/SGID binaries (Linux)
Use BloodHound and SharpHound to map relationships.
Exploit misconfigured ACLs
Abuse Kerberoasting
Dump secrets with mimikatz
Don’t overlook:
LAPS extraction
DCSync attacks
GPP Passwords in SYSVOL
Search for:
Saved credentials in browsers
Passwords in scripts and config files
SAM & SYSTEM hive extraction
Use tools like LaZagne, mimikatz, and Credential Roaming abuse.
Scheduled tasks
Registry run keys
DLL hijacking
Golden/Silver tickets (AD-specific)
Use at least two persistence vectors for resiliency.
Time to branch into new networks:
Use proxychains, Chisel, or SSH tunnels
Reinitiate asset discovery in new subnet
Map routes and establish new footholds
Check:
AD trust relationships
NTLM relaying techniques
Pass-the-Hash and Pass-the-Ticket options
🧠 Bonus: Combine BloodHound maps with credentials for max lateral movement efficiency.
Penetration testing isn’t about scripts — it’s about strategy, improvisation, and understanding your terrain. Adapt this methodology to your environment. Always obtain written permission. Log everything. Learn from each engagement.
Learn & practice
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