I think automated tools should be used for penentration testing when it is
possible. Why should the penetration tester use manual means and waste time?
After all your average script kiddie will be using CORE like applications
such as Metasploit to exploit a system. I do understand that for the techies
out there automated tool is not a respectable way to do pen testing because
it does not show your true skills, but bottom line is business doesnt care
if you use manual or automated tools, what business cares about is for you
to take all the possible appraoch to hack proof a system. Just because you
are running automated tool doesnt mean you do not have the expertise. In
fact tool may do the job, but it is security analyst's responsibility to
analyze and develop high level and technical plan in how to remediate the
issue. So therefore it is my personal opinion that automated tools save time
from analysts perspective and money from business perspective.
Thanks
-- Martin
Visit my security blog:
http://dotsecure.blogspot.com
On 9/27/05, Bernhard Mueller <research@sec-consult.com> wrote:
Exibar wrote:
I didn't mean to imply that the consultants create their own exploits,
not many I know could even begin to do that, only a couple are talented
enough to do just that. Even for those very few, it's just not feasable
from a time perspective. Much quick and cost effective to use what's out
there.
so what use is a pentest if the consultant isn't even talented enough to
find / create exploits for unknown vulnerabilities?
any average admin can install and run an automatic security scanner.
furthermore, a common nessus report contains 99% useless garbage. and
most of the time, you can not apply generic exploits like these from
metasploit to a specific customer situation.
in my experience, nearly all sites have some serious security flaws even
if tools like nessus say the contrary. there may be self-coded
applications or software that is not widely known or tested so they're
not found in any vulnerability database. or, if that is not the case,
you may even find new flaws in well-established software.
IMHO you can not deliver a reasonable security assessment until you have
checked everything by hand.
regards,
--
_____________________________________________________
~ DI (FH) Bernhard Mueller
~ IT Security Consultant
~ SEC-Consult Unternehmensberatung GmbH
~ www.sec-consult.com <http://www.sec-consult.com>
~ A-1080 Wien Blindengasse 3
~ Tel: +43/676/840301718
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_______________________________________________
Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html
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