20+ Penetration Tester Interview Questions and Answers

SQL is a programming language used for managing data in relational databases. Authentication verifies a user's identity, while authorization determines what actions they can perform.

• SQL (Structured Query Language) is used to communicate with databases to perform tasks such as querying, updating, and deleting data.

• Authentication is the process of verifying a user's identity, typically through credentials like usernames and passwords.

• Authorization determines what actions a user...read more

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a type of security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious code into web pages viewed by other users.

• XSS occurs when an attacker injects malicious code into a web page viewed by other users

• CSRF occurs when an attacker tricks a user into performing an action on a website without their knowledge or consent

• XSS can be used to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials or personal data

• CSRF can be used to perform actions on ...read more

Passwords were moved to the shadow file on Linux for enhanced security.

• To prevent unauthorized users from accessing password hashes

• To restrict access to sensitive information

• To improve overall system security

• To comply with security best practices

Penetration testers need a mix of technical skills, analytical thinking, and knowledge of security protocols to effectively identify vulnerabilities.

• Technical Proficiency: A strong understanding of networking, operating systems, and programming languages like Python or JavaScript is essential for exploiting vulnerabilities.

• Knowledge of Security Tools: Familiarity with tools like Metasploit, Burp Suite, and Nmap helps in conducting effective penetration tests and vulnerability...read more

To catch up with the latest security trends, one can attend conferences, read industry publications, participate in online forums, and engage in hands-on training.

• Attend security conferences such as Black Hat or DEF CON

• Read industry publications like SecurityWeek or Dark Reading

• Participate in online forums and communities like Reddit's netsec or Stack Exchange's Information Security

• Engage in hands-on training through platforms like Hack The Box or TryHackMe

Vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses, while penetration testing simulates attacks to exploit those vulnerabilities.

• Purpose: Vulnerability assessment aims to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities, while penetration testing seeks to exploit them to assess real-world risk.

• Scope: Vulnerability assessments are broader and cover the entire system, whereas penetration tests focus on specific areas or applications.

• Tools: Vulnerability assessments often use automa...read more

Steps to perform Brute Force a login form using Burp Suite

• 1. Intercept the login request in Burp Suite

• 2. Send the request to Intruder module

• 3. Set the payload type to 'Cluster Bomb' and configure the payload options

• 4. Start the attack and analyze the responses

• 5. Use the results to identify valid credentials

DDoS is a cyber attack where multiple compromised systems are used to target a single system, session hijacking is when an attacker takes over a user's session, and cryptography is the practice of secure communication.

• DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service, overwhelming a system with traffic to make it unavailable

• Session hijacking involves stealing a user's session token to impersonate them

• Cryptography is the practice of encoding and decoding information to ensure secu...read more

XSS stands for Cross-Site Scripting, a type of security vulnerability found in web applications.

• XSS allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

• Common types of XSS include reflected XSS, stored XSS, and DOM-based XSS.

• To find XSS vulnerabilities, testers can use tools like Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, or manually inspecting input fields for script injection.

• Example: is a simple XSS payload that can be used to test for vulnerabilities.

A UNION statement in SQL is used to combine the result sets of two or more SELECT statements into a single result set.

• UNION statement is used to combine rows from two or more SELECT statements into a single result set.

• The number of columns and data types must be the same in all SELECT statements being combined.

• Duplicate rows are automatically removed unless UNION ALL is used.

• Example: SELECT column1 FROM table1 UNION SELECT column1 FROM table2;

Mitigation steps for issues found in source code involve identifying vulnerabilities, prioritizing fixes, implementing secure coding practices, and conducting regular code reviews.

• Identify vulnerabilities through code analysis tools like static code analyzers or manual code reviews

• Prioritize fixes based on severity and impact on the system

• Implement secure coding practices such as input validation, output encoding, and proper error handling

• Conduct regular code reviews to catch...read more

Penetration testing is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities in systems, ensuring security, and protecting sensitive data from breaches.

• Identifying Vulnerabilities: Penetration testing helps organizations discover security weaknesses before attackers can exploit them, such as unpatched software.

• Regulatory Compliance: Many industries require regular penetration testing to comply with regulations like PCI-DSS or HIPAA, ensuring data protection.

• Risk Management: By simulating a...read more

The OWASP Top 10 is a list of the most critical security risks to web applications.

• 1. Injection: Attackers can execute arbitrary commands (e.g., SQL injection).

• 2. Broken Authentication: Weak password policies can lead to account takeovers.

• 3. Sensitive Data Exposure: Insecure storage of sensitive data (e.g., credit card info).

• 4. XML External Entities (XXE): Exploiting XML parsers to access internal files.

• 5. Broken Access Control: Users can access unauthorized resources (e.g., ...read more

Network VAPT is the process of assessing the security of a network by identifying vulnerabilities and testing for potential exploits.

• 1. Conducting a thorough assessment of the network infrastructure to identify potential vulnerabilities.

• 2. Performing various types of penetration testing to simulate real-world attacks and test the effectiveness of security measures.

• 3. Analyzing the results of the tests to prioritize and address critical vulnerabilities.

• 4. Providing recommendat...read more

Network penetration testing is the process of identifying vulnerabilities in a network and exploiting them to gain unauthorized access.

• It involves simulating an attack on a network to identify security weaknesses

• It can be done using automated tools or manual testing

• The goal is to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers

• Examples of network penetration testing include port scanning, vulnerability scanning, and social engineering attacks

DDoS is a type of cyber attack that floods a network or server with traffic to disrupt normal operations.

• DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service

• Attackers use multiple compromised systems to flood a target with traffic

• This overwhelms the target's resources, making it unable to respond to legitimate requests

• Common DDoS attack types include UDP flood, ICMP flood, and SYN flood

• DDoS attacks can be mitigated using specialized security tools and services

CORS vulnerability allows attackers to make unauthorized requests to a website by bypassing the same-origin policy.

• CORS stands for Cross-Origin Resource Sharing

• It is a security feature implemented by browsers to prevent unauthorized access to resources on a different origin

• Attackers can exploit misconfigured CORS policies to make requests from their own malicious website to the target website, potentially accessing sensitive data

• Developers should properly configure CORS heade...read more

CSP headers are used to mitigate cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by specifying which resources can be loaded on a webpage.

• Prevent XSS attacks by restricting resources that can be loaded on a webpage

• Specify allowed sources for scripts, stylesheets, images, fonts, etc.

• Enforce security policies to protect against unauthorized code execution

• Helps in detecting and mitigating security vulnerabilities in web applications

Vulnerabilities can be rated based on their severity, exploitability, and impact on the system.

• Rate based on severity (e.g. critical, high, medium, low)

• Consider exploitability (e.g. ease of exploitation, available tools)

• Assess impact on the system (e.g. data loss, system compromise)

• Use Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) for standardized rating

I will manage risk by conducting thorough risk assessments, implementing security measures, monitoring for vulnerabilities, and staying up-to-date on industry best practices.

• Conducting regular risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities

• Implementing security measures such as firewalls, encryption, and access controls

• Monitoring systems for any signs of vulnerabilities or breaches

• Staying up-to-date on industry best practices and emerging threats

• Creating incident respo...read more

Web penetration testing is the process of assessing the security of a web application by identifying vulnerabilities and exploiting them.

• It involves simulating real-world attacks to identify weaknesses in the application's security.

• Penetration testers use various tools and techniques to uncover vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and insecure direct object references.

• The goal is to provide recommendations for improving the application's securit...read more

Ethical hacking involves systematic steps to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in systems to enhance security.

• 1. Reconnaissance: Gather information about the target, such as IP addresses and domain details.

• 2. Scanning: Use tools like Nmap to identify open ports and services running on the target.

• 3. Gaining Access: Exploit vulnerabilities using techniques like SQL injection or phishing.

• 4. Maintaining Access: Create backdoors to ensure continued access for further testing.

• 5....read more

Incident response involves a structured approach to managing and mitigating security incidents.

• Preparation: Establish policies and procedures for incident response, such as training staff and setting up communication plans.

• Identification: Detect and confirm the incident through monitoring tools and alerts, e.g., unusual network traffic.

• Containment: Limit the impact of the incident by isolating affected systems, such as disconnecting a compromised server.

• Eradication: Remove th...read more

Network testing tools are software applications used to test and analyze network performance and security.

• Network scanners - identify hosts, open ports, and services running on a network

• Vulnerability scanners - identify vulnerabilities in network devices and software

• Packet sniffers - capture and analyze network traffic

• Penetration testing frameworks - automate the process of testing network security

• Firewall testing tools - test the effectiveness of firewalls and other security...read more

Networking is the practice of connecting computers and devices to share resources and communicate effectively.

• Networking enables data exchange between devices, such as computers and printers.

• It includes both wired (Ethernet) and wireless (Wi-Fi) connections.

• Protocols like TCP/IP govern how data is transmitted over networks.

• Local Area Networks (LANs) connect devices in a limited area, while Wide Area Networks (WANs) cover larger distances.

• Examples include home networks, corpor...read more