Penetration Testing Checklist

Checklist

Port Scanning: identify open ports on a target system.
Network Scanning: identify active devices on a network.
Vulnerability Scanning: use tools like Nessus or OpenVAS to identify known vulnerabilities in the system.
Banner Grabbing: identify the services running on open ports.
Scan for IP addresses: identify all IP addresses associated with the target system.
Operating system detection: identify the operating system on a target machine.
Service detection: determine the services running on a target system.
Version detection: determine the versions of the services running on a target system.
Web App Scanning: if the target system is running web application, use tools like OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite to perform more detailed scan.

Exploitation: use the vulnerabilities identified during the scanning phase to exploit the target system.
Password cracking: if the system is protected by passwords, use tools like John The Ripper or Hydra for cracking.
Privilege escalation: once access is gained, try to escalate privileges to gain more control over the system.
Social Engineering: use the information gathered during the reconnaissance phase to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
Session hijacking: if the target system uses sessions, try to hijack an active session to gain access.
Spoofing: try to impersonate another users or device to gain access.
Man-in-the-middle attack: intercept and alter communication between two parties without their knowledge.
Denial of service: although not always applicable, sometimes a Denial of Service (DoS) can be used to exploit a vulnerability in the system.

Install backdoors: once access is gained, install backdoors to ensure future access to the system.
Create privileged accounts: create accounts with elevated privileges for future use.
Rootkits: install rootkits to maintain control over the system.
Disable security controls: disable any security controls that could detect your presence.
Schedule tasks: schedule tasks or jobs that will re-establish your connection at a later time.
Data exfiltration: set up methods to exfiltrate data from the target system.
Connect to C&C server: establish connection to a Command and Control (C&C) server for remote control.

Clear logs: remove or alter log files that could indicate your activities on the system.
Hide files: if you've created or altered any files, make sure they're hidden or blend in with other files.
Remove tools: any tools or software you installed on the system should be thoroughly removed.
Terminate sessions: ensure that all connections to the target are properly terminated.
Clear command history: if you've used a command line interface, make sure to clear the command history.
Reset modified settings: if you've changed any settings on the target system, reset them to their original state.
Use steganography: if you need to leave information on the target, consider using steganography to hide it.
Use anti-forensics techniques: use techniques to thwart forensic analysis, such as file wiping.

Executive Summary: provide a high-level overview of the test, its objectives, and methodologies used.
Scope: clearly define the scope of the penetration test, including the system that were tested.
Findings: detail each vulnerability that was discovered, its severity, and the potential impact on the system.
Evidence: provide evidence to support your findings, this could include screenshots, logs, or other relevant data.
Recommendations: provide recommendations for mitigating each of the vulnerabilities found.
Methodology: describe the methodology used during the penetration test.
Conclusion: summarize the overall state of the system's security and any next steps that should be taken.
Appendices: include any additional information that supports the report.