How can you conduct penetration testing without compromising sensitive data?

I think it is imperative that you do proper research on the vulnerabilities and service versions so that you can use proper exploits or commands. It is very dangerous to do try and error with random exploits to see whether it would work on your favor. Wrong exploits could corrupt data or softwares/OS etc

In my experience, scoping is very important before performing penetration testing, identifying all URLs, IPs, Systems before performing any level and type of penetration testing is pretty important. Also, clear communication about approach towards penetration testing should be well communicated to all stakeholders. This ensures good results and meet the expectations of penetration exercise being carried out on relevant systems.

It is important to create a test environment with test data to proceed with the PEN test. You can take a copy of the production environment and update sensitive data from the test data. You should never execute a PEN test against your production environment, because the test attacks your data. if the attack succeeds your data will change. First, you have to plan your steps and document all steps. Create a checklist and discuss it with your team, then get the necessary approval for the test. Follow your plan to complete a successful penetration test. Fix the issues and repeat the test.

To conduct penetration testing without compromising sensitive data, use a controlled testing environment, often referred to as a "sandbox" or "testbed," that mimics your production environment. Ensure that the data used for testing is sanitized or synthetic, removing any sensitive information. Additionally, clearly define the scope of the test, obtain proper permissions, and collaborate closely with stakeholders to minimize risks. Regularly review and update your testing procedures to align with evolving security measures.

Get Proper Authorization: Obtain explicit written permission from the organization's management before conducting any penetration testing activities. Define the scope, objectives, and rules of engagement clearly in the authorization documentation.

PT or Penetration testing, as the name suggest, it is a test which needs to be planned. Hence one would plan a test for IT system or infra and create a testing strategy, also a testing benchmark like OWASP top 10 would help in providing assurance and standardization. Thus once you have all necessary approvals in place, PT can be conducted.

I agree to the fact that agreement on penetration testing framework and controls being checked in the same framework keep both parties on same page and give expected outcomes. Also, all critical issues should be reported as and when the issues are identified during tests.

Penetration testing should be performed with strict adherence to ethical and legal standards. Obtain explicit written permission from system owners, outlining the scope and limits of the test. Ensure compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR and industry-specific standards like PCI DSS. Maintain transparency by documenting your methods and reporting any security incidents promptly. Cooperate with regulatory investigations and audits, and handle all data securely to avoid unintended exposure. By following these protocols, you can ethically test systems without compromising sensitive information.

Ensure that the testing team adheres to strict ethical standards and complies with all legal requirements. Obtain proper authorization, and clearly communicate the rules of engagement, including how sensitive data will be handled

I have found it helpful in utilizing an agreed upon framework upon which to build the parameters of the Pentest, this way the objectives and scopes are defined by that framework. Clear parameters are more easily developed in order to comply with the objectives and limitations of that framework, removing any guesswork from either party. Coming to agreement within the framework provides for less opportunity for misunderstanding. Many times, "new opportunities" present themselves during penetration testing engagements, have clear lines and processes defined on what happens when they are discovered. Knowing prior that "new opportunities" must be shelved for a follow-up engagement prevents unexpected outcomes.

Foundational principles of Information Security include knowing what data the company has, the sensitivity, location, and classification of the data, and which controls apply to said data. In the post-pandemic era, many of these parameters have de-evolved and are lacking. Penetration testing almost always reveals gaps or outright voids in data security principles being applied in an organization. Plan for sensitive data being discovered and document the processes and procedures for reporting said data, as well as the limitations to which the pen tester must comply with prior to the engagement starting. Always better to have a plan and not need it, than need it and not have it.

In my experience, the given tests must be performed only on test environments and the database should not store any real data in backend. This avoid further misuse of real data being stolen or stored after penetration tests.

I have found that internal processes and controls for the testing team is necessary to define how team members can collect and store stakeholder data during testing. This creates a common understanding in the team on handling sensitive data and helps to reduce compliance and data leak risks.

Conduct penetration testing with minimal data involvement. Only collect what's necessary, avoiding personal or sensitive information. When data must be collected, protect it with encryption, hashing, or anonymization. After testing, ensure data is irreversibly deleted or de-identified. Keep data handling within the test's scope, and restrict access to those data to authorized personnel only. This cautious approach helps prevent data breaches or misuse during and after the testing process.

Only collect data that is necessary for the penetration testing purposes. Avoid storing sensitive data unless absolutely necessary, and if you must store it, ensure it's encrypted and securely disposed of after use.

it is very important to have a test environment for penetration testing. This is a controlled and isolated environment designed to replicate the conditions of a production environment without compromising sensitive data. This environment should mirror the architecture, configurations, and components of the production system, including servers, databases, and networks. To simulate realistic scenarios, it's essential to populate the test environment with dummy data or anonymized versions of real data. Access controls, network segmentation, and logging mechanisms should be implemented to closely resemble those in the production environment.

Limit Testers' Access: Restrict testers' access to sensitive data to the minimum necessary for the testing objectives. Implement strong access controls and monitor tester activities closely.

Creating an isolated environment for each type of TEST adds to the project and company's costs. Each project should focus on the following minimum set of testing types in order to achieve the best results 1. Testing Environment - Sprint-level testing and regression analysis 2. Stage Environment- Integration, real-time services integration test (upon request), and regression test 3. Pre-production Testing - User Acceptance Testing, Performance Testing, and Security Testing, Real Data Testing with real time services. The above version is identical to the PROD (both on the infrastructure and volume level) and masks the important data.

I agree, but the test and production environment should not be kept in the same VLAN. It must be kept on different locations or servers in order to avoid any lateral movement to product environment after successful penetration to test environment.

One of the challenges with tools has been cloud based. It provided wider reach, better analysis and efficient processing but sometimes not knowing how the cloud based tools work might lead into data leakage. Hence it is always advice to go with a proper company or team who knows their tools and contain the exposures

In my experience, this is most crucial step which can be achieved by taking screenshots or video Proof of concepts while performing tests, write steps to reproduce for developers to understand findings and add CVSS score and references to findings makes more sense. Writing specific remediation guidelines helps developer understand the issue , vulnerable parameter/ systems and apply right patch or validation.

In penetration testing, accuracy is paramount. Validate and verify your results by using diverse tools and methods to cross-check findings, reducing the chance of false positives or negatives. Consistently retest to confirm vulnerabilities are genuine. Engage with system owners, sharing detailed evidence of the findings. Provide clear, actionable recommendations for remediation. This thorough validation process ensures reliable outcomes while maintaining data integrity and trust.

1. Scoping: Clearly identify systems to be tested and the types of attacks to be simulated, refer MITRE attack framework and be specific on the TTPs to to tested. Ideally, avoid systems that directly handle sensitive data whenever possible. 2. Use of Dummy Data: Instead of using real sensitive data, create realistic but fake data for testing purposes. There are tools available for anonymizing / pseudonymizing particularly sensitive data fields. 3. Isolating the testing environment: Conduct testing in an isolated environment that mirrors the production environment. This could be a staging or a testing environment. This way, even if data is compromised, it is not actual sensitive data.

To perform Penetration Testing (PT) without compromising sensitive data, follow the best practices: a. Agree on the scope and objectives of the project (Ex type of tests to be performed(like internal or external PT, systems to be covered, timing of the test, Stakeholders approval, reporting requirements etc). The same has to documented and signed by the pen tester and the sponsoring organization. b. If possible, use dummy data into your testing environment which mimics the real time sensitive data. This could avoid compromising the org sensitive data. c. Mask or encrypt sensitive data to ensure it is not subject to unauthorized access. d. Avoid destructive testing methods which has the potential to alter the data stored in the system.

Two cents from my experience: 1. Make certain that everyone participating in penetration testing is well-educated in data protection and fully comprehends the significance of keeping sensitive data confidential. Make sure they are aware of local data protection regulations. It is always nice practice to research and understand all regulations before pentesting. 2. Once testing is completed, it's important to conduct a detailed analysis of the process to check for any occurrences where sensitive data may have been at risk. Identify any security gaps or breaches, and promptly implement measures to rectify these issues, ensuring better protection of sensitive information in the future.

Document and Report: Document the testing procedures, findings, and remediation recommendations. Provide detailed reports to the organization's management without disclosing specific sensitive data. Work with Experienced Professionals: Hire experienced penetration testers or a reputable penetration testing firm with a track record of conducting tests without compromising sensitive data. They understand the nuances of ethical hacking and data protection. Encryption and Hashing: Encrypt any sensitive data used in the testing environment, both at rest and in transit. Hash passwords and other sensitive information to ensure they cannot be retrieved or misused.

Create a report that addresses business and technical stakeholders as well. Either through an executive summary or a Business Impact Analysis (BIA), but sure that the business risks related to the findings are understandable by non-IT personnel.