The next step in preparing the report is to compile all the key components—executive summary, methodology, detailed findings, attack narrative, and tailored recommendations—so stakeholders clearly understand the results of the security assessment and what actions to take. The PenTest-er makes sure the report respects privacy, follows legal standards, and includes quality checks, sometimes using AI tools to improve clarity and accuracy. The recommendations cover technical fixes like patch management, as well as administrative policies, operational safeguards, and physical controls, creating a layered defense to reduce risks and improve overall security.

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Mission Objectives

• Identify and describe components used to create a penetration report
• Understand the importance of using risk scoring in a penetration report
• Explain the importance of administrative controls
• Discuss the process of analyzing findings and developing recommendations </aside>

1. Penetration Test Reports Components

A report is the only tangible evidence of the value provided during the test. It must be structured to serve two different audiences: executives and sysadmins.

• Executive Summary: A high-level overview of the "Bottom Line." It uses non-technical language to describe the overall security posture, the primary risks discovered, and a summary of the recommended budget/effort for fixes.
• Methodology: A description of the frameworks used (e.g., NIST, OWASP) to prove the test was structured and professional.
• Technical Findings: The meat of the report. Each finding should include:
  • Description: What is the vulnerability?
  • Evidence: Screenshots, command output, and logs (the "Proof of Concept").
  • Risk Rating: Typically based on CVSS scores.
• Conclusion/Appendix: Detailed logs, lists of scanned targets, and raw data that support the findings.

2. Analyze Findings and Remediation Recommendations

A tester's job isn't just to find "holes," but to help "plug" them. This requires analyzing the root cause of a vulnerability.

• Risk Analysis: Evaluating the Likelihood of an exploit vs. the Impact on the business. (e.g., a critical bug on a dev server may be a lower priority than a medium bug on a production database).
• Remediation Strategies:
  • Immediate Fixes: Patching software, disabling unused services, or changing default passwords.
  • Compensating Controls: If a system cannot be patched (e.g., legacy medical equipment), suggest isolating it on a separate VLAN or behind a robust firewall.
• Root Cause Analysis: Moving beyond "patch the server" to "improve the patching policy." Identifying if the vulnerability exists due to poor coding practices, lack of training, or insufficient budget.
• Post-Report Activities: * Attestation of Findings: A summary letter confirming the test took place (often used for compliance like PCI-DSS).
  • Debriefing: Meeting with the client to walk through the findings and answer questions.