This course is a highly specialized program in penetration testing and vulnerability management, focusing on the practical skills required to assess the resilience of networks, cloud systems, and applications against cyberattacks. The training content is aligned with the latest CompTIA exam objectives (PT0-003), integrating strategic penetration test planning with advanced technical skills demanded in modern enterprise environments.
Note: This program does not grant a certificate of attendance. It is specifically designed to prepare and train participants to pass the official examination, equipping them with a high level of professional competence to successfully obtain the CompTIA PenTest+ certification accredited by CompTIA.
Course Objectives
- Establish a professional methodology for planning penetration testing engagements and defining scope in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Enable participants to apply reconnaissance and information-gathering techniques to identify active assets and services.
- Explain vulnerability scanning mechanisms and analyze results to prioritize remediation based on risk severity.
- Strengthen the ability to exploit vulnerabilities in networks, cloud environments, mobile devices, and web applications.
- Apply code analysis techniques and scripting skills to automate penetration testing tasks.
- Prepare candidates to produce professional technical reports that clearly document findings and provide actionable remediation recommendations.
Training Content Overview
- Penetration Testing Fundamentals
- Planning and Scoping Penetration Tests
- Information Gathering
- Vulnerability Scanning
- Vulnerability Analysis
- Exploitation and Pivoting
- Network Exploitation
- Physical Security and Social Engineering Exploitation
- Application Exploitation
- Host Exploitation
- Scripting for Penetration Testing
- Reporting and Communication
Detailed Training Content
Chapter 1: Penetration Testing Fundamentals
- Definition and objectives of penetration testing.
- Differences between penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.
- Types of penetration tests (Black Box, White Box, Gray Box).
- Core phases of the penetration testing lifecycle.
- Legal and ethical considerations.
Practical exercises and applied questions on penetration testing fundamentals.
Chapter 2: Planning and Scoping
- Defining penetration testing objectives.
- Establishing scope and constraints.
- Identifying target assets.
- Internal vs. external testing scopes.
- Authorization documentation and Rules of Engagement.
Practical exercises and applied questions on planning and scope definition.
Chapter 3: Information Gathering
- Reconnaissance concepts.
- Passive reconnaissance techniques.
- Active reconnaissance techniques.
- Identification of IP addresses, domains, and services.
- Utilization of information-gathering tools.
Practical exercises and applied questions on reconnaissance methodologies.
Chapter 4: Vulnerability Scanning
- Role of vulnerability scanning in penetration testing.
- Types of vulnerability scanning tools.
- Automated vs. manual scanning approaches.
- Identification of common vulnerabilities.
- Interpretation of preliminary scan results.
Practical exercises and applied questions using vulnerability scanning tools.
Chapter 5: Vulnerability Analysis
- Classification of vulnerabilities based on severity.
- Understanding false positives.
- Identification of exploitable vulnerabilities.
- Correlation of scan results with target systems.
- Development of an exploitation plan.
Practical exercises and applied questions on vulnerability analysis and risk prioritization.
Chapter 6: Exploitation and Pivoting
- Exploitation concepts and techniques.
- Gaining initial access.
- Lateral movement (pivoting) within networks.
- Expanding access and maintaining persistence.
Practical exercises and applied questions on exploitation and lateral movement.
Chapter 7: Network Exploitation
- Exploitation of network protocol weaknesses.
- Attacks against network services.
- Exploiting misconfigurations.
- Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks.
- Network traffic analysis.
Practical exercises and applied questions on network exploitation techniques.
Chapter 8: Physical and Social Engineering Exploitation
- Physical security concepts.
- Types of social engineering attacks.
- Exploiting human vulnerabilities.
- Real-world social engineering scenarios.
- Security awareness and mitigation strategies.
Practical exercises and applied questions on physical and social engineering attacks.
Chapter 9: Application Exploitation
- Introduction to web application security.
- Exploiting OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.
- SQL injection and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).
- Authentication bypass and session management flaws.
- Application logic analysis.
Practical exercises and applied questions on web application exploitation.
Chapter 10: Host Exploitation
- Exploiting operating system vulnerabilities.
- Privilege escalation techniques.
- Exploiting local services.
- Misconfiguration analysis.
- Maintaining system access.
Practical exercises and applied questions on host exploitation and privilege escalation.
Chapter 11: Scripting for Penetration Testing
- Importance of scripting in security testing.
- Scripting fundamentals for cybersecurity.
- Automation of repetitive tasks.
- Modifying existing exploits.
- Reading and understanding security scripts.
Practical exercises and applied questions on scripting techniques in penetration testing.
Chapter 12: Reporting and Communication
- Importance of the final penetration testing report.
- Components of a professional penetration test report.
- Documentation of vulnerabilities and exploitation steps.
- Development of security recommendations.
- Communication skills with technical and executive stakeholders.
Target Audience
- Penetration Testers.
- Vulnerability Analysts.
- Cybersecurity Engineers.
- Network and Systems Security Specialists.
- Security Consultants seeking to validate offensive security expertise.
- Security+ certified professionals pursuing specialization in offensive cybersecurity.
The CompTIA PenTest+ certification enhances your professional standing as a technical expert capable not only of identifying vulnerabilities but also of managing them strategically and professionally. This program represents a strategic investment in advancing your career within offensive cybersecurity, opening significant opportunities in a highly competitive job market that demands skilled professionals capable of safeguarding modern digital infrastructures.
