The Ultimate Penetration Testing Methodology (2025 Edition)
Become VeryLazyTech member! 🎁
Follow us on:
✖ Twitter @VeryLazyTech.
👾 Github @VeryLazyTech.
📜 Medium @VeryLazyTech.
📺 YouTube @VeryLazyTech.
📩 Telegram @VeryLazyTech.
🕵️♂️ My Site @VeryLazyTech.
Visit our shop for e-books and courses. 📚
0. Physical Access Attacks: The First Gate
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.
1. Discovery Phase: Locating Digital Assets
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.
2. Network Reconnaissance (Internal Only)
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.
3. Port Scanning & Service Discovery
Classic and mandatory.
nmap -sS -sV -T4 -p- targetFocus on open ports and running services. Tools: Nmap, Rustscan, Masscan for speed.
Identify OS fingerprinting (
-O) and version detection (-sV) for better exploit mapping.
4. Search for Known Vulnerabilities
Now that you know the services and their versions:
Search ExploitDB, NVD, and Rapid7.
Use
searchsploitlocally for quick matches.Use
VulnersorNucleifor automated CVE hunting.
Sometimes you’ll find a pre-auth RCE and can skip many steps!
5. Manual Service Exploitation
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.
5.1 Automated Scanning Tools
Use Legion, Nessus, or OpenVAS for wide sweeps. Always verify manually.
5.2 Brute Forcing Services
Hydra, Medusa, and Patator are your allies. Pair with rockyou.txt, SecLists, or custom wordlists.
hydra -l admin -P rockyou.txt ftp://target6. Phishing: The Social Vector
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.
7. Shell Acquisition: Your Beachhead
Once code execution is yours:
Use
nc,bash -i, or PowerShell to spawn reverse shellsObfuscate 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).
8. Post-Exploitation Footing
You’re in. Now:
Linux:
whoami,uname -a,sudo -l, check cron jobsWindows:
whoami,systeminfo,net user, PowerView for AD enumeration
Check PowerShell history and browser autofill.
9. Exfiltration & Infiltration
To move data out:
Use
scp,ftp, or covert channels (e.g., DNS tunneling)Drop in privesc scripts like
LinPEAS,WinPEASUse HTTPS to evade perimeter detection
10. Privilege Escalation: From Foot Soldier to King
10.1 Local Escalation
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)
10.2 Domain Escalation (AD)
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
11. Post-Exploitation: Loot & Persistence
11.1 Looting Credentials
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.
11.2 Persistence Mechanisms
Scheduled tasks
Registry run keys
DLL hijacking
Golden/Silver tickets (AD-specific)
Use at least two persistence vectors for resiliency.
12. Pivoting: The Red Web Expands
Time to branch into new networks:
Use
proxychains,Chisel, orSSH tunnelsReinitiate 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 For the OSCP.
Last updated
Was this helpful?