CompTIA PenTest+ Course Overview

Jun 20, 2024

CompTIA PenTest+ Course Overview

Introduction

  • Instructor: Welcome to the CompTIA PenTest+ exam prep course.
  • Course Objective: Prepares students for the CompTIA PenTest+ exam, which tests the ability to perform penetration testing in real-world scenarios.

Exam Structure

  • Real-World Focus: Measures if you can perform a pen test in real-world situations, not just theoretical or conceptual knowledge.
  • Comprehensive: Requires familiarity with tools, protocols, standards, and regulations, mostly based on U.S. standards.
  • Strict Steps: Follows a structured sequence of steps crucial for passing.

Major Exam Topics

  1. Planning and Scope (15%)
    • Define what to do and what not to do.
  2. Information Gathering and Vulnerability Identification (22%)
    • Collect information about the target.
  3. Attacks and Exploits (30%)
    • Deploy attacks against the target.
  4. Penetration Testing Tools (17%)
    • Familiarity with over 50 different tools (listed on CompTIA's website).
  5. Reporting and Communication (16%)
    • Generate reports and communicate findings.

Key Concepts and Tools

  • Burp Suite, nmap: Exemplifies knowing tools listed by CompTIA.

Key Stages of Pen Testing

  1. **Reconnaissance (Information Gathering)
  2. Enumeration
    • More specific data like operating systems, firmware, and software versions.
  3. Vulnerability Scanning
  4. Credential Attacks
  5. Persistence, Compliance, Evasion
  6. Forensics and Debugging
  7. Software Assurance

Recommendations and Training

  • Practice: Continuous practice is important due to the strict environment of the exam.
  • Scenarios: Involves handling simulated real-world scenarios.

Pen Testing Overview

  1. Pen Tester Roles and Ethics
    • CIA Triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability.
    • Hacker's Goal: Overcome these principles.
  2. Ethical Hacking: Pen testers (ethical hackers) use the same methods as hackers but do not exploit the vulnerabilities found.
  3. Legal Boundaries: Must adhere to contracts and regulations (SLA, NDA, SOW).

Types of Contracts

  1. SLA: Service Level Agreement
  2. NDA: Non-Disclosure Agreement
  3. SOW: Statement of Work
  4. No-Solve: Pen testers report issues but do not fix them.

Pen Tester Responsibilities

  1. Report Generation: Document vulnerabilities and propose solutions.
  2. Classification of Tasks: Understanding the distinction between pen testers and threat hunters.
  3. Compliance: Ensures procedures align with regulations.

Pen Testing Tools

  • Categories: Port scanners, sniffers, vulnerability scanners, attack tools, and operating systems like Kali Linux.

Exam Stages Covered in Detail

  1. Planning and Scoping: Define boundaries and steps.
  2. Information Gathering: Passive and active methods.
  3. Vulnerability Scanning and Testing Tools: Required for identifying weaknesses.
  4. Reporting and Following Up: Communicate findings and ensure issues are fixed.

Detailed Covered Areas

  1. Legal Constraints: Differs by country and must be adhered to.
  2. Types of Contracts: MSA, SOW, NDA, and compliance with regulations.
  3. Pen Testing Methodologies: Black Box, White Box, Grey Box, and attacker profiles.

Additional Modules and Topics

  • Social Engineering (Module 8)
  • Application Vulnerabilities (Module 9)
  • Host Exploits (Module 10)
  • Scripting & Automation (Module 11)
  • Communication, Reporting (Module 12)

Conclusion

  • Summary: Focus on knowing tools, preparing reports, and legal compliance.
  • Practice: Continuously practice within a structured and compliant environment.