The Ethical Hack: A Framework for Business Value Penetration Testing

This book explains the methodologies, framework, and "unwritten conventions" that ethical hacks should employ to provide the maximum value to organizations that want to harden their security. It goes beyond the technical aspects of penetration testing to address the processes and rules of engagement for successful tests. The text examines testing from a strategic perspective to show how testing ramifications affect an entire organization. Security practitioners can use this book to reduce their exposure and deliver better service, while organizations will learn how to align the information about tools, techniques, and vulnerabilities that they gather from testing with their business objectives.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION Perspectives of Value SECURITY AND HACKING Information Security Security Architecture Hacking Impacts THE FRAMEWORK Business Planning and Operations Reconnaissance Enumeration Vulnerability Analysis Exploitation Final Analysis Deliverable Integration INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM Scope of Information Security Programs The Process of Information Security Component Parts of Information Security Programs BUSINESS PLANNING AND OPERATIONS Business Objectives Security Policy Previous Test Results Business Challenges The Business of Security Reasoning Overall Expectations How Deep is Deep Enough? Timing is Everything Attack Type Source Point Required Knowledge Inherent Limitations Imposed Limitations Multi-Phased Attacks Teaming and Attack Structure The Security Consultant The Tester Logistics Technical Preparation Managing of the Engagement Scenario RECONNAISSANCE The Hacker Reconnaissance Techniques ENUMERATION Technical Objective Soft Objective Scope of Effort Looking Around or Attack? Preparing for the Next Phase VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS Weighing the Vulnerability Source Points Reporting Dilemma EXPLOITATION Intuitive Testing Evasion War Dialing Threads and Groups Operating Systems Password Crackers Rootkits Applications Network Services and Areas of Concern FINAL ANALYSIS Critical Warning Informational DELIVERABLE Overall Structure Aligning Findings Format INTEGRATION Mitigation Defense Planning Incident Management Security Policy CONCLUSION APPENDIX-SPOOFING AND SEQUENCE ATTACK

About the Author :
James S Tiller

Review :
"[I]n this comprehensive work author James Tiller explains not only why ethical hacks are viable, but also why they are critical. [This] is one of the most complete books on penetration testing available." - Security Management, August 2005 "Jim Tiller has created an outstanding book that describes in detail the right way to conduct a thorough penetration test. As more and more people offer penetration testing services, our industry needs a base line of solid practices to help separate the professionals from the charlatans. Jim's book describes such practices, including the policies, procedures, and technical insights that come from years of in-the-trenches experience." Ed Skoudis, VP of Security Strategy, Global Integrity, from the Foreword "This book differentiates itself by presenting a structured approach to testing an organization's securityTiller's writing style makes the book easy to follow, and he uses plenty of real-world examplesthe framework that Tiller describes will remain valid because security's fundamental aspects will change slowly." -IEEE Security & Privacy, 2005