Penetration Test Proposal Deliverable 2: Reconnaissance Plan ✓ Solved

Reconnaissance Plan Overview:

The reconnaissance phase is a critical part of penetration testing, where the primary objective is to gather as much information as possible about the target, Haverbrook Investment Group. This phase lays the groundwork for the subsequent exploitation phases by identifying potential vulnerabilities and entry points into the network and systems. The reconnaissance phase can be segmented into two main categories: passive reconnaissance and active reconnaissance.

Reconnaissance Methods:

The methodology for gathering intelligence about Haverbrook Investment Group incorporates both passive and active reconnaissance methods. Passive reconnaissance involves collecting information without directly interacting with the target's systems. Techniques include searching public records, domain registration databases, social engineering, and utilizing search engines to find exposed information such as employee names and organizational structures. In contrast, active reconnaissance includes directly engaging with the target systems to obtain information such as system banners and open ports, which can be performed using tools like Nmap or advanced network scanning techniques.

Scanning Plan Overview:

The scanning phase follows reconnaissance and focuses on actively probing the network to identify live hosts, open ports, services running, and potential vulnerabilities. A structured scanning plan will ensure that the information gathered is organized and actionable. This phase may also involve employing automated vulnerability scanning tools to rapidly identify weaknesses that could be exploited during a potential attack.

Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures

In this section, we will outline specific tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) utilized to gather and enumerate crucial information that could facilitate exploitation. This may include gathering usernames, machine names, shares, and services running on the systems within Haverbrook's network.

To gather this information effectively, a combination of software utilities, applications, and scripts will be utilized:

• Nmap: This powerful network scanning tool will be used to detect live hosts, open ports, and services running on those ports. It allows for both TCP and UDP scans, essential for comprehensive mapping of networked devices.
• Wireshark: A network packet analyzer that will be used during active reconnaissance to capture and analyze traffic, helping to identify communication patterns and protocols utilized by the target’s systems.
• Recon-ng: A web reconnaissance framework to automate gathering various pieces of information from publicly available sources, further enriching the intelligence already collected.
• Metasploit Framework: While primarily a penetration testing framework, it contains modules for reconnaissance and can be utilized for gathering information on vulnerabilities in services.

Each tool will be utilized strategically to maximize information gathering while adapting to the unique characteristics of Haverbrook's network environment. Custom scripts may also be developed to automate repetitive tasks and synthesize data from various sources, enhancing the reconnaissance and scanning processes.

Conclusion

The detailed reconnaissance and scanning plan is vital for a successful penetration test against Haverbrook Investment Group. By utilizing a combination of passive and active methods, alongside various tools, a comprehensive understanding of the network security landscape will be achieved, setting the stage for identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities effectively.

References

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