The Litmus Test for Getting a Job as a Penetration Tester

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The litmus test for getting a job as a penetration tester is simple: Can you pop a box? At the end of the day, that’s what you’re getting paid to do. However, the challenge lies in the varying degrees of difficulty across different boxes. While some individuals possess rudimentary skills, they often struggle to find jobs because companies are reluctant to train new hires. This is especially true in penetration testing, where productivity is expected from day one.

People with an OSCP certification can perform simple pentests, such as scanning a small network. However, they often lack the skills to effectively test a web application in production that has already been tested and patched. Similarly, those with a CPTS certification may also struggle with web application pentesting. To effectively pentest a web app, a bare minimum of BSCP knowledge is required, and preferably, this should be reinforced with the CWEE certification.

With these two certifications, most individuals should be able to secure a bug bounty, which serves as the true litmus test. Since companies are unlikely to grant access to their networks, your proving ground will either be bug bounties or CVEs. In today’s job market, employers are less interested in your passion, degree, or certifications—they want to see you in the wild, popping boxes. If you can’t do that, or aren’t willing to put in the effort to learn how, it might be time to consider another field.

You Should Know:

To succeed as a penetration tester, you need to master a variety of tools and techniques. Below are some practical commands, codes, and steps to help you get started:

1. Network Scanning with Nmap

Nmap is a powerful tool for network discovery and security auditing. Here’s how to perform a basic scan:

nmap -sP 192.168.1.0/24

This command will scan the entire subnet to identify live hosts.

2. Vulnerability Scanning with Nessus

Nessus is a widely used vulnerability scanner. After installing Nessus, you can start a scan with:

nessuscli scan --target 192.168.1.1

This will scan the target IP for vulnerabilities.

3. Exploiting Vulnerabilities with Metasploit

Metasploit is a penetration testing framework that allows you to exploit vulnerabilities. Here’s an example of how to use it:

msfconsole
use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue
set RHOSTS 192.168.1.10
exploit

This command targets the EternalBlue vulnerability on a Windows machine.

4. Web Application Testing with Burp Suite

Burp Suite is a tool for testing web application security. Start by configuring your browser to use Burp as a proxy, then intercept and modify requests to identify vulnerabilities.

5. Password Cracking with John the Ripper

John the Ripper is a fast password cracker. To crack a password hash, use:

john --wordlist=/usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt hash.txt

This command uses the `rockyou.txt` wordlist to crack the hashes in hash.txt.

6. Privilege Escalation on Linux

To escalate privileges on a Linux system, you can use the following command to find SUID binaries:

find / -perm -u=s -o -perm -g=s 2>/dev/null

This will list all binaries with SUID or SGID bits set, which can be exploited for privilege escalation.

7. Windows Command for Enumeration

On Windows, you can enumerate users and groups with:

[cmd]
net user
net localgroup administrators
[/cmd]
These commands list all users and members of the administrators group.

What Undercode Say:

Penetration testing is a challenging yet rewarding field that requires continuous learning and practice. The ability to “pop a box” is the ultimate test of your skills, but it’s not just about exploiting vulnerabilities—it’s about understanding systems, identifying weaknesses, and providing actionable recommendations. Certifications like OSCP, CPTS, BSCP, and CWEE are valuable, but they are just the beginning. Real-world experience, whether through bug bounties, CVEs, or personal labs, is what truly sets you apart.

To excel in this field, you must be proficient with tools like Nmap, Nessus, Metasploit, Burp Suite, and John the Ripper. Additionally, mastering both Linux and Windows commands is essential for effective penetration testing. Remember, the journey to becoming a skilled penetration tester is ongoing, and staying updated with the latest techniques and vulnerabilities is crucial.

Expected Output:

• Network Scanning: `nmap -sP 192.168.1.0/24`
  – Vulnerability Scanning: `nessuscli scan –target 192.168.1.1`
  – Exploiting Vulnerabilities: msfconsole, use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue, set RHOSTS 192.168.1.10, `exploit`
  – Web Application Testing: Configure Burp Suite as a proxy and intercept requests.
• Password Cracking: `john –wordlist=/usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt hash.txt`
  – Privilege Escalation on Linux: `find / -perm -u=s -o -perm -g=s 2>/dev/null`
  – Windows Enumeration: net user, `net localgroup administrators`

  By mastering these tools and techniques, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a proficient penetration tester.

References:

Reported By: Activity 7308874700649111553 – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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