You must think like a hacker to stop them. This is penetration test (pen testing). Depending on the organization’s needs, there are many pen testing methods that can be used.
Black box penetration testing is an example. It does not require any knowledge about the network or software, and it can be done against real-world hack scenarios.
This post will help you understand black box penetration testing. This post will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of black box penetration testing. Many of our clients request pen testing to reveal security problems in their systems and the steps required to fix them.
What is Black Box Penetration Testing?
Black box pen testing can be used to test a system for vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker to compromise the network’s security. Black box testing focuses on the inputs and outputs of the software.
The tester does not have access to the code, the implementation details or the inner workings of the software.
Test cases are created according to the requirements of the application. Only customers can use similar interfaces to gain access to the software.
Black-box testing is less time-consuming because of the limited information that is available to pen testers. The tester focuses only on the software’s GUI, and doesn’t need to look into the code to find process problems. The functional specifications are also less detailed because the code isn’t fully deployed.
Black Box Tests: Why?
- Black box testing can quickly be used to identify problems in functional specifications.
- Because the tester and designer work separately, it provides objective tests.
- Testing is done “from the position of the user.”
- The black box method is used to identify security holes in the system and help find hidden GUI errors.
- Black box testing simulates the behaviour of a user who doesn’t know the program’s internal structure.
Test Types
These testing are done using the “black box” method
- Functional:Functional testing is used to verify that the output matches the functional specifications.
- Regression – This test proves that an application previously in use still works well after certain modifications have been made. Regression testing ensures that nothing has changed.
- Nonfunctional:Nonfunctional Testing’s primary goal is to verify a specification that specifies the standards for measuring system performance. These requirements combine non-functional requirements such as usability and look and feel.
Test Procedure
- Make sure to review the specifications of the software.
- To verify that the system is running them correctly, select appropriate units. Next, choose incontinental inputs to verify that the system can locate them.
- For every input, determine the intended output.
- Use selected inputs to create test cases.
- Execute the test cases.
- Compare the outputs realized with the outputs intended.
- Test the system again after debugging it.
Test Techniques
Some of the black-box techniques for penetration testing that are used by teams include:
Decision Table Testing (DTT).
A black box testing technique, the decision table allows you to test multiple input combinations. This technique presents these inputs and the outcomes in a table. It is a tabular representation that shows the input conditions and the resulting actions.
Equivalence Class Partitioning
Black box penetration testing separates the input domain into various data categories. New test cases can be made by using the separated classes. A group of correct or wrong states can be defined by each equivalence.
Boundary Value Analysis (BVA).
BVA is used to evaluate the boundaries or ends of classes. This is a spin-off of ECP, but it’s used mainly when classes are ordered, numerically or sequenced. Its boundary values are the minimum and maximum values for a partition.
Error Guessing
An error guessing technique is used to identify the most common code errors. It helps to discover defects that systemic methods cannot find. It is based on the previous interaction of the tester with the system and the ability for the tester to determine where the errors might recur.
What tools do ethical hackers use for black box testing?
Recorders and playbacks are two of the black box penetration tools. They can track scripts such as Perl, Java and VB.
Selenium
Selenium is a platform that can be used to create web apps. You can use it to write functional tests even if you don’t have any scripting language knowledge. This framework allows you to create test cases using a language such as Scala or Ruby that is suitable for specific domains. For testing web applications.
Appium
Appium is cross-platform testing software that allows you to test code on different platforms, such as Android, Windows, or iOS. This means that you can use the same code you wrote for Android for iOS, which saves you a lot of time and effort. Appium is similar to Selenium. It allows you to test your code in a variety of programming languages, including JavaScript, PHP Ruby, Python and C#.
HP QTP
QTP stands to QuickTest Professional and is a product by Hewlett Packard. This tool allows testers to automate functional testing without having to monitor the script.
HP QTP uses Visual Basic Scripting to automate the software. It doesn’t need to be installed by itself, as it is accessible as part of Windows OS.
Ranorex
Ranorex GmbH, an Austrian software development company, launched Ranorex Studio in 2007. It is a Windows commercial platform that offers testing for mobile, desktop and web apps.
Ranorex does not require any scripting software. It was developed using Microsoft’s.NET platform. Ranorex can be used with the standard programming languages C# or VB.NET to edit recordings and create custom tests.
Testing Penetration Testers Facing Challenges
This method can be insufficient for testing because it is very likely to miss an error. Let’s take an example from the real world.
The client was given the option of choosing from a variety of tariff plans and other services when he submitted a payment form and registered for a VPN provider. The registration was complete after the payment and selection. The client was able to log in to his account. This process was tested thoroughly. Everything worked perfectly until we introduced a new promotion plan to draw customers.
This promotion was the first. The client registered under the promo plan and was credited with a bonus. He also received free access for 30 to one friendly service. The client had the option to choose from three friendly services and was granted free access when he registered for the second promotion.
Then, something went wrong. All new customers were given access to the friendly service only from the first promotion. There was a lot of customer anger and support issues. Evidently, the system was not working properly due to unresolved bottlenecks. The defects are less likely to be missed if multiple testers run pen tests.
Black Box Penetration Testing: How to Get Started
Before you start pen-testing, it is important to know the cost. It is also important to establish a budget that includes a defined price for penetration testing. It is a good idea to review the security procedures in place and identify areas that need improvement.
A risk assessment is also a good idea to see how data breaches could impact your business.
Organizations should also hire certified penetration testers in order to have practical experience with different pen testing methods.