PTEs

PTES, or Penetration Testing Execution Standard, is a framework that defines a structured approach to conducting professional penetration testing. It aims to provide a repeatable, thorough, and communicable methodology for assessing the security posture of systems, networks, and applications. The standard is vendor-neutral and technology-agnostic, focusing on process and outcomes rather than specific tools.

The PTES framework is organized into phases: Pre-engagement and scoping, Information gathering, Threat modeling, Vulnerability analysis, Exploitation, Post-exploitation, and Reporting. In pre-engagement, testers clarify objectives, define rules of engagement, confirm legal authorization, and establish success criteria. Information gathering combines passive intelligence collection and active scanning to map assets and exposures. Threat modeling identifies critical assets, potential attack paths, and risk scenarios to prioritize testing. Vulnerability analysis validates findings, correlates evidence, and assesses potential impact and likelihood. Exploitation attempts, conducted within scope, test identified weaknesses to verify real risk. Post-exploitation focuses on maintaining control, expanding access only as permitted, and assessing data exposure and persistence. The final phase, reporting, translates technical findings into actionable guidance, including risk ratings, remediation steps, and recommended mitigations.

PTES is commonly used alongside other standards such as NIST SP 800-115 or OWASP guidance. It emphasizes ethical conduct, client consent, confidentiality, and legal compliance, ensuring that testing is conducted within agreed-upon boundaries. While PTES provides a robust methodological baseline, actual testing outcomes depend on tester expertise and the environment.