Book Image

Windows and Linux Penetration Testing from Scratch - Second Edition

By : Phil Bramwell
Book Image

Windows and Linux Penetration Testing from Scratch - Second Edition

By: Phil Bramwell

Overview of this book

Let’s be honest—security testing can get repetitive. If you’re ready to break out of the routine and embrace the art of penetration testing, this book will help you to distinguish yourself to your clients. This pen testing book is your guide to learning advanced techniques to attack Windows and Linux environments from the indispensable platform, Kali Linux. You'll work through core network hacking concepts and advanced exploitation techniques that leverage both technical and human factors to maximize success. You’ll also explore how to leverage public resources to learn more about your target, discover potential targets, analyze them, and gain a foothold using a variety of exploitation techniques while dodging defenses like antivirus and firewalls. The book focuses on leveraging target resources, such as PowerShell, to execute powerful and difficult-to-detect attacks. Along the way, you’ll enjoy reading about how these methods work so that you walk away with the necessary knowledge to explain your findings to clients from all backgrounds. Wrapping up with post-exploitation strategies, you’ll be able to go deeper and keep your access. By the end of this book, you'll be well-versed in identifying vulnerabilities within your clients’ environments and providing the necessary insight for proper remediation.
Table of Contents (23 chapters)
1
Part 1: Recon and Exploitation
9
Part 2: Vulnerability Fundamentals
17
Part 3: Post-Exploitation

Summary

In this chapter, we went on a journey through the network of our client in terms of discovery and vulnerability analysis. We explored the power of Nmap in today’s day and age and demonstrated that it’s still the go-to for network mapping. We explored the underlying mechanisms of the different scan types and learned how to have Nmap interact directly with Metasploit for ease of targeting. Then, we learned how BetterCAP can compromise data streams in real time by swapping out a download with a malicious binary and got comfortable with the updated user interface. After playing with BetterCAP, we learned how we can encapsulate an arbitrary protocol inside an HTTP tunnel to bypass filters. We wrapped up this chapter with a review of IPv6 and some basic tooling with IPv6, including how to get by with IPv4 tools in an IPv6 environment.

In the next chapter, things are going to get goofy-exciting as we jump into some cryptography concepts and some lesser-known attacks...