Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing

Duration 5 days – 35 hrs

 

Overview 

 

The Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) training course is designed to provide participants with the skills and knowledge required to identify, assess, and exploit security vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and applications. The course covers essential methodologies and tools used in both vulnerability assessments (VA) and penetration testing (PT). Participants will gain hands-on experience with identifying security weaknesses, performing ethical hacking, and recommending remediation actions to enhance system security. This course is ideal for those who want to pursue a career in cybersecurity, as well as professionals looking to enhance their security testing and auditing capabilities.

 

Objectives

 

• Understand the concepts and differences between vulnerability assessment and penetration testing.
• Conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments on various systems, networks, and applications.
• Perform penetration testing using industry-standard tools and techniques.
• Identify and exploit security vulnerabilities in web applications, networks, and databases.
• Assess security risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Understand and apply ethical hacking techniques and legal considerations.
• Develop and deliver professional penetration testing reports, including remediation recommendations.

Audience

 

• IT security professionals and system administrators.
• Penetration testers and ethical hackers.
• Network and application security engineers.
• Cybersecurity professionals aiming to deepen their knowledge of vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
• Anyone preparing for certifications such as CEH, OSCP, or CISSP.

 

Pre- requisites 

• A basic understanding of computer networks and operating systems (Linux/Windows).

• Knowledge of common network protocols (e.g., HTTP, FTP, TCP/IP).

• Familiarity with web applications, firewalls, and security tools.

• Experience with scripting or programming (optional but beneficial).

• A foundational understanding of cybersecurity concepts is recommended.

Course Content

 

Introduction to VAPT and Vulnerability Assessment

• Overview of Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing
  • Difference between Vulnerability Assessment (VA) and Penetration Testing (PT).
  • Phases of vulnerability assessment and penetration testing.
  • Ethical hacking and legal considerations.
• Vulnerability Assessment Fundamentals
  • What is a vulnerability assessment and why it’s essential for security?
  • Types of vulnerabilities: software, configuration, and human factors.
  • Using vulnerability scanning tools (e.g., Nessus, OpenVAS, Qualys).
• Running a Vulnerability Assessment
  • Conducting vulnerability scans: setup, configuration, and execution.
  • Analyzing scan results and interpreting findings.
  • Identifying false positives and false negatives.
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation
  • Understanding risk ratings and prioritization.
  • Generating reports with actionable insights and remediation steps.

Penetration Testing Methodology and Tools

• Penetration Testing Lifecycle
  • Phases of penetration testing: reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, post-exploitation, and reporting.
  • Rules of engagement and scoping penetration tests.
  • Legal and ethical issues in penetration testing.
• Reconnaissance and Information Gathering
  • Active and passive reconnaissance techniques.
  • Information gathering using tools (e.g., Nmap, Netcat, Whois).
  • Understanding social engineering and OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence).
• Scanning and Enumeration
  • Using network scanners (e.g., Nmap, Nessus) to discover vulnerabilities.
  • Identifying open ports, services, and potential vulnerabilities.
  • Identifying operating systems, services, and versions for exploitation.

Exploitation and Attacking Techniques

• Exploiting Vulnerabilities
  • Introduction to common exploitation techniques: buffer overflows, SQL injection, XSS, etc.
  • Exploit development and using exploit frameworks (e.g., Metasploit).
  • Web application attacks and exploiting common web vulnerabilities.
• Exploitation of Network Services
  • Attacking network services (e.g., SSH, FTP, Telnet).
  • Credential harvesting and password cracking techniques.
  • Using brute-force, dictionary, and rainbow table attacks.
• Exploiting Web Applications and Databases
  • Identifying and exploiting SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, and other common web vulnerabilities.
  • Gaining unauthorized access to databases and applications.
  • Testing APIs and mobile applications for vulnerabilities.

Post-Exploitation and Privilege Escalation

• Post-Exploitation Techniques
  • Maintaining access and persistence in compromised systems.
  • Exploiting trust relationships within the network.
  • Data exfiltration techniques.
• Privilege Escalation
  • Techniques to elevate user privileges on Windows and Linux systems.
  • Exploiting local vulnerabilities and weak configurations.
  • Lateral movement within the network to escalate privileges.
• Covering Tracks and Stealth Techniques
  • Techniques to avoid detection during penetration testing.
  • Hiding files, processes, and command history.
  • Understanding and disabling security monitoring systems.

Reporting, Mitigation, and Best Practices

• Penetration Testing Reporting
  • Writing professional penetration testing reports.
  • Documenting findings, risk assessments, and actionable remediation steps.
  • Communicating vulnerabilities to clients in a clear, non-technical manner.
• Remediation and Mitigation Strategies
  • Understanding how to remediate vulnerabilities: patching, reconfiguring, and hardening.
  • Vulnerability management and continuous security monitoring.
• Tools and Techniques for Continuous Improvement
  • Security automation tools and integrating VAPT into DevSecOps processes.
  • Leveraging threat intelligence feeds for ongoing assessment.
  • Best practices for network and system hardening.