Internal Infrastructure Penetration Testing is a significant process that identifies security vulnerabilities in a company’s internal network. By simulating real cyber attacks, businesses can ascertain their security level and react before threats. This guide explains the process of internal infrastructure pen-testing, its benefits, and how it strengthens cybersecurity.

Understanding Internal Infrastructure Penetration Testing

Internal penetration testing evaluates the security of an organization’s internal network by emulating insider breaches or stolen credentials. External pentests scan systems are exposed to the internet, whereas internal pentesting attacks systems, databases, workstations, and privileged users access within the corporate network.

The Internal Infrastructure Pentesting Process

1. Pre-Engagement Phase

• Define the scope and objectives of the penetration test to have a clear test boundary definition.
• Determine the most significant assets, networks, and endpoints to be tested, beginning with those of the highest business value.
• Implement rules of engagement, regulatory compliance, and legal compliance as per policy mandates.
• Identify testing methods, i.e., black-box, white-box, or gray-box testing

2. Reconnaissance & Information Gathering

• List the internal network resources like servers, workstations, and network devices.
• Recognize user roles, network segmentation, and domain hierarchy to comprehend access control mechanisms.
• Collect information on defense mechanisms, firewall rules, and current security policies.
• Assess possible attack vectors by looking at software releases, patch levels, and known vulnerabilities.

3. Threat Modeling & Attack Surface Analysis

• Plot out the possible attack vectors inside the internal network to anticipate possible breach points.
• Identify high-value assets such as Active Directory, file servers, database servers, and custom applications.
• Assess privilege escalation possibilities and lateral movement options to determine how the attacker would be able to expand access.
• Model actual attack conditions to define the impact on risk and target remediation response.

4. Lateral Movement and Persistence

• Simulate an attacker’s behavior after gaining initial access to identify probable security vulnerabilities.
• Lateral movement across the network to reach essential resources using compromised credentials or lateral movement methods.
• Use persistence techniques like scheduled tasks, registry changes, or malware implants to gain persistence.
• Test endpoint security solutions and intrusion detection capabilities by simulating stealthy attacker behavior.

5. Exploitation & Privilege Escalation

• Exploit vulnerabilities within internal systems to gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure.
• Attempt privilege escalation by leveraging misconfigurations, weak credentials, or unpatched software.
• Evaluate system misconfigurations that expose sensitive information or allow unauthorized modifications.
• Identify and exploit default credentials, hardcoded passwords, and weak authentication mechanisms.

6. Data Exfiltration & Impact Analysis

• Look for and attempt to retrieve sensitive data such as intellectual property, financial information, or personal data.
• Assess whether security controls such as data loss prevention (DLP) solutions detect and prevent exfiltration attempts.
• Describe the probable business impact of a successful attack on financial, reputational, and operational levels.
• Determine how quickly an entity can identify and respond to an actual breach scenario.

7. Reporting & Remediation

• Document results with risk severity levels, proof-of-concept exploits, and step-by-step attack execution methodologies.
• Provide in-depth remediation steps to mitigate threats like patch recommendations and config changes.
• Conduct a debriefing exercise with stakeholders to present results, security improvements, and mitigation strategies.
• Perform post-remediation verification testing to ensure patches have been correctly installed.

Benefits of Regular Internal Testing

Companies that invest in continuous internal infrastructure penetration testing have the following benefits:

1. Improved Security Posture: Identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before they are exploited by attackers dramatically lowers risk.

2. Compliance with regulations: Most regulations require regular security scans, and penetration testing is central to compliance.

3. Enhance incident response: Test scenarios enable teams to model real incidents, minimize response time, and avoid damage.

4. Optimized Security Investments: Test results assist in optimizing security investments by investing in remediating the most important vulnerabilities first. 

5. Competitive Advantage: Stable operating firms establish trustworthiness with clients and partners and develop business strengths.

Common Vulnerabilities Revealed Through Internal Testing

Internal infrastructure penetration testing usually identifies these major vulnerabilities:

• Weak password policies and authentication mechanisms
• Unpatched applications and systems
• Excessive user privileges
• Insecure network settings
• Public-facing web apps and APIs Misconfigured cloud services

Learn more about vulnerability management best practices

Internal Pentesting Tools

• Nmap – Scanning and enumeration tool used to discover devices and open ports.
• Metasploit – Comprehensive exploitation and post-exploitation platform for system vulnerability testing.
• BloodHound – Active Directory attack path visualizer to identify privilege escalation potential.
• Mimikatz – Privilege escalation tool that is used to dump stored passwords.
• Wireshark – Network protocol analyzer to examine traffic and disassemble packets.
• Responder – LLMNR/NBT-NS/mDNS poisoner for man-in-the-middle attacks in an intranet setting.
• Burp Suite – Web application security test tool for use in API testing and internal-facing application testing.

How Orasec Helps Your Internal Infrastructure Security

For organizations seeking expert assistance with internal infrastructure penetration testing, Orasec offers comprehensive security solutions tailored to modern business needs. Their specialized approach includes:

Internal Infrastructure Pentest

Advanced Penetration Testing Methodologies

Orasec employs sophisticated techniques of internal infrastructure penetration testing in addition to automated scanning. Their experienced security professionals conduct thorough testing through both automated tools and human techniques to identify vulnerabilities beyond automated detection.

Comprehensive Reporting and Remediation Guidance

After a test has been run, Orasec provides comprehensive reports that not only identify vulnerabilities but also include actionable, easy-to-understand remediation advice prioritized by risk. This actionable advice allows organizations to remediate the most critical issues first, realizing the maximum increase in security with the least investment in resources.

Continuous Security Monitoring

Apart from point-in-time scans, Orasec also offers continuous monitoring features that provide you with real-time visibility into your internal infrastructure security. This approach detects new vulnerabilities as and when they are introduced and maintains your security posture strong in the long run.

Compliance-Focused Testing

Orasec’s internal infrastructure penetration testing services are designed to assist organizations to be compliant with regulatory requirements for various sectors, such as financial services, healthcare, and retail. Their testing procedures adhere to top compliance standards such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.

You can read more about our integrated security approach to protect your organization comprehensively.

Conclusion

Internal infrastructure penetration testing gives organizations critical insight into security vulnerabilities that may otherwise go unseen until being exploited. By finding and remedying these vulnerabilities early, companies can greatly fortify their security stance and avoid expensive breaches. With trusted partners such as Orasec, organizations can develop solid testing programs that yield actionable information and quantifiable security gains. Don’t let the bad guys discover your vulnerabilities—act now to protect your internal infrastructure with full-spectrum penetration testing.

Ready to harden your security stance? Get in touch with our team today for a consultation on how to establish a solid internal infrastructure penetration testing program specific to your organization’s requirements.

FAQ Section

How frequently should we conduct internal infrastructure penetration testing?

The majority of security professionals suggest performing internal infrastructure penetration testing at least once a year, with further tests after major infrastructure changes, mergers/acquisitions, or major system upgrades.

What skills are we looking for in penetration testers?

Search for testers who hold industry-recognized credentials like OSCP, CEH, or GPEN, in addition to appropriate experience within your industry and tech stack. Also, look for testers who work from a documented methodology and produce thorough reports.

In what ways is internal penetration testing different from vulnerability scanning?

Whereas vulnerability scanning employs computers to detect known vulnerabilities, internal infrastructure penetration testing employs trained experts who manually take advantage of vulnerabilities, chain several weaknesses together, and show true-world attack scenarios that computers oftentimes miss.