With our ever-growing pursuit of shielding our digital worlds, the frequency of cyberattacks continues to escalate, underscoring the critical need for robust cybersecurity. The latest numbers indicate that in 2022 alone, cybercrime was concentrated on a scaling measuring stick of $6 trillion for the overwhelming majority of organizations; this amount is astounding and serves as yet another call to action for fortifying defenses. Grey box penetration testing has been recognized as a scene of dynamism that incorporates realism and safety as mechanisms to enhance defense. Ultimately, this blog is designed to provide a background to grey box penetration testing by exploring its definition, processes, meaning reflected in data, and dimensions to which it is sanctioned.
What is Gray Box Penetration Testing?
Grey box penetration testing is a form of penetration testing in which the pen-testers possess partial knowledge of the system’s network and infrastructure. Subsequently, the pen-testers utilize their knowledge of the system to better identify and report vulnerabilities in the system.
In a way, a grey box test is a mixture of a black box test and a white box test. The black box test is a test that is performed from the outside in, where the tester does not know the system before testing it. A white box test is a test that is conducted from the inside out, and the tester is aware of the system in its entirety before it is tested. We will be talking about grey box penetration testing only in this blog so that we can give you sufficient information on the same.
“Also, explore our ultimate guide on Black Box Penetration Testing and White Box Pen Testing.
Why choose Gray Box Penetration Testing?
Gray box penetration testing is a technique that combines the strengths of the Black Box and White Box methods. The success rate of the same is thus based on your level of knowledge of the target environment. This distinct technique renders grey box testing a first choice in controlled environments such as military and intelligence agencies.
The Gray box pen testing actively tests both the network and physical security, making it ideal for detecting perimeter device breaches like firewalls. This technique combines methods such as network scanning, vulnerability scanning, social engineering, and manual source code inspection to evaluate all possible effects of hackers or attackers.
How does Gray Box Penetration Testing differ from the black box and white box?
Experts categorize penetration testing into three types: black box, white box, and gray box. Let’s learn about the differences between these three:
| Sl No. | Black Box Penetration Testing | Gray Box Penetration Testing | White Box Penetration Testing |
| 1 | Little or No knowledge of network and infrastructure is required. | Somewhat knowledge of the Infrastructure, internal codebase and architecture. | Complete access to organization infrastructure, network and codebase. |
| 2 | Black box testing is also known as closed box testing. | Some standard grey box testing techniques are Matrix testing, Regression testing, Orthogonal array testing, and Pattern testing. | White box testing is known as clear box testing. |
| 3 | No syntactic knowledge of the programming language is required. | Requires partial understanding of the programming language. | Some standard grey box testing techniques are Matrix testing, Regression testing, Orthogonal array testing, Pattern testing. |
| 4 | Black box testing techniques are executed by developers, user groups and testers. | Requires a high understanding of programming language. | The internal Development team of the organization can perform white box testing. |
| 5 | Some standard black box testing techniques are: Boundary value analysis, Equivalence partitioning, Graph-Based testing etc. | Some standard grey box testing techniques are Matrix testing, Regression testing, Orthogonal array testing, and Pattern testing. | Some standard white box testing techniques are Branch testing, Decision coverage, |
“Read our guide to Types of Penetration Testing – Black, White, and Grey box testing.
5 steps to Perform Gray Box Penetration Testing
Testers typically conduct grey box penetration testing in 5 distinct steps:
1. Planning and Requirements Analysis:
This stage involves comprehending the application scope and the tech stack employed. The security team also asks for some application-related details, like dummy credentials, access roles, etc. This stage involves comprehending the application scope and the tech stack employed. Additionally, creating a documentation map is also a part of this stage.
2. Discovery Phase:
In this stage, testers perform Reconnaissance by identifying used IP addresses, hidden endpoints, and API endpoints. During the Discovery phase, they also gather information about employees, a process known as Social Engineering. This stage goes beyond networks to include personnel data collection.
3. Initial Exploitation:
During initial exploitation, testers plan which types of attacks they’ll carry out in the next steps. The phase also involves identifying misconfigurations in the servers and cloud infrastructure. The information requested aids the security team in establishing different attack scenarios such as privilege escalation etc. Additionally, behind the login, scanning would also be feasible.
4. Advanced Penetration Testing:
This advanced pen testing stage involves carrying out all the intended attacks on the found endpoints—the implementation of Social Engineering attacks based on the gathered data of employees. Also, different found vulnerabilities are merged to give real-world attack scenarios.
5. Document & Report preparation:
The final step involves making a detailed report of each endpoint tested along with a list of attacks executed.
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Top 3 Gray Box Penetration Testing Techniques
Grey box pen testing employs different kinds of techniques to create test cases. Let’s discuss some of them in detail:
1. Matrix testing
Matrix testing is a software testing technique that assists in comprehensively testing the software. It is the method of finding and eliminating all the unwanted variables. Programmers employ variables to keep data while developing programs. A number of variables should be according to requirement. Otherwise, it will decrease the program efficiency.
2. Regression testing
Typically, Regression testing is repeating the software components to identify defects caused by the previous changes or in the initial testing iteration. Regression testing can also be referred to as retesting. It is done to validate that flaws are not added or brought back into a software system by changes after the original development. Regression Testing is a critical component of software testing because it ensures that recently added software features still function as expected.
3. Orthogonal Array Testing
Essentially, Orthogonal array testing is a software testing method that minimizes test cases without minimizing test coverage. Experts also refer to Orthogonal Array Testing as the Orthogonal Array Method (OAM), Orthogonal Array Testing Method (OATM), and Orthogonal Test Set.
What are the Benefits of Gray Box Penetration Testing?
1. Insider Knowledge: Gray box testing is an ideal combination of black-box testing with insight into certain internal structures (or “inside knowledge”) of the item under test. This inside knowledge may be at the disposal of the tester in the form of design documentation or code.
2. Less time-consuming: Testers with insider knowledge will be able to schedule the testing, which would be less compared to planning test cases without having any idea of the network or codebase.
3. Non-intrusive and neutral: Gray box test, also referred to as non-intrusive and equitable. It is described as the most excellent method to test the system without the source code. The application is “treated like a black box” by the grey box test. The tester will be aware of program components’ interactions but not the in-depth program functions and processes.
How Does Gray Box Testing Help Secure Your System?
While black box testing imitates the user experience without an application’s awareness, grey box pen testing uses partial information for more authentic user-like interactions.
Gray box pen tests outperform others even when determined outsiders breakthrough standard security measures by focusing on post-breach behavior.
With the above, you not only enhance system security against outside attacks but also insider threats. Partial application understanding by testers enables legitimate user experience simulation, revealing flaws, weaknesses, and exploits ahead of cyber criminals.
Why Qualysec’s Pentest Suite is a perfect fit for you?
All 3 penetration testing method types have their advantages and disadvantages, but who is the best for you? Qualysec’s pentest suite comes loaded with real-world hacking knowledge obtained from 1000+ vulnerability AI risk assessment and penetration tests (VAPT) conducted by our security team on diverse applications.
Say NO to the boring traditional method of testing your organization’s security. Qualysec’s Vulnerability Scanner is constantly learning from new CVEs, bug bounty intelligence & insights derived from pentests that we conduct for businesses in diverse industries. Your CXOs have a bird’s eye view of the security posture of your organization with data-driven insights to make the right decisions.
Additionally, to provide maximum security We at Qualysec practice ‘proactive security’ measures wherein we foresee the hacker infiltration methods and suggest extra security countermeasures to secure your and your customer’s data.
Features of Qualysec’s pentest suite:
- Self-served, on-the-cloud continuous scanner with 2500+ test cases across OWASP, SANS, ISO, SOC, etc.
- Easy-to-understand, rich dashboard with graphical representation assisting in vulnerability & patch management.
- CXO & Developer level reporting.
- Team collaboration features for fixing vulnerabilities assignment.
- Multiple asset management against a single scan project.
- A separate ‘Vulnerabilities’ section with insights into vulnerability impact, severity, CVSS score, and possible loss (in $).
- A full scanner which has all the required local and global compliance requirement checks.
Talk to our Cybersecurity Expert to discuss your specific needs and how we can help your business.
Conclusion
Grey box penetration testing is a tactical process that combines the understanding of black box and white box testing, providing partial system internals knowledge to testers. The technique extends security audits by posing actual cyber threats and utilizing inside information for in-depth AI risk analysis. It identifies vulnerabilities more effectively than black box testing and creates a more authentic attack scenario than white box testing. Organizations benefit from improved security, reduced risk assessment AI, and compliance. Organizations can expect security breaches and cyber threats and defend their systems in advance by adding gray box penetration testing in their overall cybersecurity framework.
FAQs
1. What are the 5 phases of penetration testing?
Penetration testing is made up of 1) reconnaissance, or collecting information about the target; 2) scanning, or finding vulnerabilities; 3) gaining access, typically using exploits; 4) maintaining access, checking for persistence; and 5) analysis, or reviewing what was found analysis, and providing a detailed report for remediation. Read more on the penetration testing guide.
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