In network penetration testing, the initial steps involve gathering information to build an understanding of the network's structure, devices, and potential entry points. The process generally follows a structured approach, starting from broad discovery methods to more specific identification techniques. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of the steps:
* Host Discovery:
* Objective: Identify live hosts on the network.
* Tools & Techniques:
* Ping Sweep: Using tools like nmap with the -sn option (ping scan) to check for live hosts by sending ICMP Echo requests.
* ARP Scan: Useful in local networks, arp-scan can help identify all devices on the local subnet by broadcasting ARP requests.
nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24
* References:
* The GoBox HTB write-up emphasizes the importance of identifying hosts before moving to service enumeration.
* The Forge HTB write-up also highlights using Nmap for initial host discovery in its enumeration phase.
Service Discovery (Option A):
* Objective: After identifying live hosts, determine the services running on them.
* Tools & Techniques:
* Nmap: Often used with options like -sV for version detection to identify services.
nmap -sV 192.168.1.100
* References:
* As seen in multiple write-ups (e.g., Anubis HTB and Bolt HTB), service discovery follows host identification to understand the services available for potential exploitation.
OS Fingerprinting (Option B):
* Objective: Determine the operating system of the identified hosts.
* Tools & Techniques:
* Nmap: With the -O option for OS detection.
nmap -O 192.168.1.100
* References:
* Accurate OS fingerprinting helps tailor subsequent attacks and is often performed after host and service discovery, as highlighted in the write-ups.
DNS Enumeration (Option D):
* Objective: Identify DNS records and gather subdomains related to the target domain.
* Tools & Techniques:
* dnsenum, dnsrecon, and dig.
dnsenum example.com
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