Unpacking Our Penetration Testing Report

A well-structured penetration test report is a narrative of discovery, risk, and guidance. It is designed to inform decision-makers, technical teams, and security professionals alike. Here’s how we shape that narrative, section by section.

1. Document Metadata & Pre-Engagement

This opening section establishes foundational details:

• Versioning and date for audit trails.
• Preconditions such as network access, credentials delivery, NDA status.
• Points of contact for both client and testing team, with roles and availability.

Clarity here prevents confusion later on and aligns with best practices identified by OWASP and other industry standards.

2. Methodology

We describe our approach across clearly defined phases:

1. Kick-Off Meeting: Discussion with the client to define the scope, objectives, and methodology of the assessment.
2. Information Gathering: Identification, collection, and analysis of publicly available or accessible information related to the target.
3. Vulnerability Assessment: Detection and analysis of security weaknesses across multiple layers of the application’s technology stack using both automated tools and a manual approach.
4. Exploitation: Use of hands-on techniques to identify, validate, and exploit security issues, simulating a real-world attack scenario to assess potential impact.
5. Reporting: Documentation of findings, categorization of vulnerabilities by type and severity, and recommendations for remediation.
6. Exit Meeting: Presentation of findings and discussion of mitigation strategies with the client.

The approach taken for testing is aligned with the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide (WSTG v4.2), the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES), and CVSS v4.0. It involves identifying, classifying, validating exploitability, and rating the severity of vulnerabilities found, in order to evaluate the actual impact of the findings. The depth of the assessment is further supported by the testers’ experience, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation.

3. Scope

Defining the scope of a penetration test is a foundational step that shapes the entire engagement. In our reports, the Scope section provides a detailed overview of the parameters governing the security analysis conducted. This clarity ensures that everyone from technical teams, management, or external auditors understands exactly what was tested and under what conditions.

• In-scope assets such as hosts, applications, domains.
• Access level, ranging from black-box to authenticated testing and including details about test credentials used for the activity.
• Limitations or exclusions to respect operational needs.

4. Executive Summary

Our executive summaries are precise and strategic:

• What data was compromised and how, referencing the CIA triad (confidentiality, integrity, availability of data)
• Key findings with business impact explained succinctly.
• Overall risk posture.
• Graphs for easy visualization.

This section provides clear, decision-ready information to stakeholders.

5. Finding List with Suggested Priority

We present structured findings with clear prioritization:

Each finding is assigned a severity level (from Critical to Informational) and includes a CVSS 4.0 score. We also provide guidance on remediation priority, considering the potential business impact if the issue were actively exploited.

6. Results in Detail

Findings are documented with full technical context and evidence. We categorize them using OWASP WSTG sections and also map them to OWASP Top 10 at the end of the report.

Each entry includes:

• A clear and concise summary table highlighting the most important information, designed for easy reading and quick understanding.
• Generic vulnerability descriptions and context.
• Detailed technical evidence supporting the finding, accompanied by step-by-step reproduction instructions to facilitate verification and validation of the vulnerability.
• Precise and practical remediation guidance that can be applied to resolve the issue.

This level of detail ensures findings are clear, easy to reproduce, and provide the necessary guidance to fix issues effectively.

7. Red Team Exercises

For adversary simulation or red team engagements, our reports include dedicated sections that map real-world attack scenarios to MITRE ATT&CK techniques. We break down tactics, techniques, and procedures in detail from initial access to lateral movement and data exfiltration. To support meaningful improvement, we also provide a remediation roadmap with clear short-term, mid-term, and long-term actions that help organizations strengthen defenses and improve detection over time.

Why This Structure Delivers Value

• Governance alignment: Adheres to formal frameworks and industry best practices.
• Audience-aware: Serves executives and technical teams with tailored communication.
• Actionable insights: Each finding is supported with clear remediation guidance.
• Regulatory readiness: Supports compliance efforts with standards like ISO 27001 and NIS2 by providing clear, well-documented evidence of security testing and risk management.

The structure in our deliverables ensures clarity, accountability, and technical depth to meet the demands of modern cybersecurity governance.