CyberCode Academy

Course 10 - Network Security Fundamentals | Episode 6: Attack Mitigation, Vulnerability Assessment, and Penetration Testing

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In this lesson, you’ll learn about:
  • The top real-world network threats and how to think like an attacker
  • The full process of conducting a vulnerability assessment
  • Tools and methodologies used in modern vulnerability scanning
  • How penetration testing works and its legal, ethical, and operational requirements
  • Red team vs. blue team roles
  • Best practices for reporting and mitigating discovered vulnerabilities
Modern Network Defense Using an Offensive Security Mindset 1. Thinking Like an Attacker
  • Defense is inherently harder than offense, so defenders must understand attacker mindset and methodology.
  • Understanding how attacks work is essential for proper mitigation.
  • A widely referenced list (e.g., from firms like Netrix) highlights the most common network attacks, including:
    • Denial-of-Service (DoS)
    • Man-in-the-Middle
    • Phishing and spear phishing
    • Drive-by attacks
    • Password attacks
    • SQL injection
    • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), CSRF/XSURF variants
    • Eavesdropping
    • Birthday attacks
    • Malware attacks
2. Vulnerability Assessment Vulnerability assessments identify weaknesses in an organization’s systems before an attacker does. Definition and Purpose
  • A structured evaluation of security policies, controls, and system configurations.
  • A combination of automated scanning and manual analysis.
  • Verifies whether an organization’s defenses align with its intended security posture.
Assessment Steps
  1. Network Discovery
    • Use tools like Nmap or Zenmap to map the environment.
    • Identify open ports, services, and protocols.
    • Establish scope and baseline information.
  2. Vulnerability Scanning
    • Dedicated scanners identify known vulnerabilities in devices and applications.
    • Examples commonly used in labs or controlled learning environments include:
      • Nessus
      • OpenVAS
      • Aunetis
    • Application-level scanners include:
      • Burp Suite
      • Nikto
      • Wapiti
      • SQLMap
    • Many tools are pre-packaged in specialized security testing operating systems (e.g., Kali Linux, Parrot OS).
  3. Analyzing and Validating Results
    • Remove false positives.
    • Evaluate severity and risk.
    • Determine potential impact and remediation urgency.
3. Penetration Testing (Ethical Hacking) Penetration testing goes beyond vulnerability assessment by attempting controlled exploitation in an authorized test environment. Purpose
  • Simulates real-world attacks to evaluate the organization's true security posture.
  • Helps validate defenses, identify exploitable paths, and strengthen systems.
Key Components A. Tools and Platforms
  • Specialized security operating systems like Kali Linux and Parrot OS.
  • Frameworks such as Metasploit provide structured exploit testing in controlled environments.
B. Penetration Test Types
  • White Box: Full internal knowledge (IP ranges, architecture, credentials).
  • Black Box: No prior knowledge, simulating an external attacker.
  • Gray Box: Partial information, simulating an insider or semi-informed adversary.
C. Teams
  • Red Team: Offensive testers simulating adversaries.
  • Blue Team: Defensive personnel monitoring, detecting, and mitigating attacks.
D. Legal and Ethical Requirements
  • A formal contract must define:
    • Scope of testing
    • Rules of engagement
    • Permission to perform active tests
  • Ensures compliance with laws (such as the CFAA in the U.S.) and protects testers from liability.
E. Final Deliverable
  • A structured professional report including:
    • Executive summary
    • Risk-ranked list of vulnerabilities
    • Technical analysis and reproduction details
    • Clear mitigation recommendations for the security team


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CyberCode AcademyBy CyberCode Academy