Pentesting Beginner to Expert: Free Guide

Pentesting, or penetration testing, is a simulated cyberattack against a system to check for vulnerabilities. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to advance your skills, this guide provides essential resources to master pentesting.

You Should Know:

1. Essential Pentesting Tools

• Kali Linux: The go-to OS for pentesting. Install it via:

  sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y kali-linux-default
  

• Nmap: Network scanning tool.

  nmap -sV -A target_ip
  

• Metasploit Framework: Exploitation tool.

  msfconsole
  use exploit/multi/handler
  set payload windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
  

2. Common Pentesting Steps

1. Reconnaissance: Gather target info using `whois`, `theHarvester`.

theHarvester -d example.com -b google

2. Scanning: Detect open ports with `Nmap`.

1. Exploitation: Use `Metasploit` or `Burp Suite` for web apps.

4. Post-Exploitation: Maintain access with `Meterpreter`.

5. Reporting: Document findings for remediation.

3. Practice Labs

• Hack The Box (HTB): https://www.hackthebox.com/
• TryHackMe: https://tryhackme.com/
• Vulnhub: https://www.vulnhub.com/

4. Advanced Techniques

• Privilege Escalation:

  sudo -l # Check sudo permissions 
  find / -perm -4000 2>/dev/null # Find SUID files 
  

• Password Cracking:

  john --format=sha512 hashes.txt 
  

What Undercode Say

Pentesting requires persistence and hands-on practice. Always stay updated with new vulnerabilities and tools. Use virtual labs to avoid legal issues.

Expected Output:

Starting Nmap 7.92 ( https://nmap.org ) 
Nmap scan report for target_ip 
PORT STATE SERVICE VERSION 
80/tcp open http Apache httpd 2.4.41 

References:

Reported By: Alexrweyemamu Pentesting – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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