Ethical hacking is a structured approach to identifying vulnerabilities in a system, network, or application. It involves penetration testing and security assessments to strengthen cybersecurity defenses. Ethical hackers, also known as white hat hackers, follow a systematic process to ensure their tests are thorough and effective.
The five phases of ethical hacking provide a structured methodology to assess security and simulate real-world cyberattacks. These phases help organizations identify, mitigate, and prevent potential threats before malicious hackers exploit them.
1. Reconnaissance (Information Gathering)
Objective: Gather as much information as possible about the target.
This is the first phase, where hackers collect information about the target system, network, or organization. Ethical hackers use passive (indirect) and active (direct) reconnaissance techniques.
Types of Reconnaissance:
Passive Reconnaissance – Collecting data without interacting directly with the target (e.g., Google search, WHOIS lookup, social media research).
Active Reconnaissance – Directly engaging with the target (e.g., scanning IPs, using network tools like Nmap).
Common Tools Used:
- 🔹 Google Dorking – Using advanced Google search operators to find sensitive data.
- 🔹 WHOIS Lookup – Gathering domain registration details.
- 🔹 Shodan – Searching for internet-connected devices.
- 🔹 Maltego – Visualizing relationships between people, companies, and networks.
Goal: Understand the target’s security posture and identify potential entry points.
2. Scanning and Enumeration
Objective: Identify live hosts, open ports, services, and vulnerabilities.
After reconnaissance, ethical hackers perform scanning and enumeration to gather more details about the target’s systems and network.
Types of Scanning:
Network Scanning – Identifies active devices, IP addresses, and open ports.
Port Scanning – Detects open ports and running services.
Vulnerability Scanning – Finds security weaknesses using automated tools.
Common Tools Used:
- 🔹 Nmap – Scans open ports and services.
- 🔹 Nessus – Conducts vulnerability assessments.
- 🔹 OpenVAS – An open-source vulnerability scanner.
- 🔹 Netcat – Analyzes network connections.
Goal: Identify security weaknesses that could be exploited in later phases.
3. Gaining Access (Exploitation)
Objective: Exploit vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access.
This phase involves actively attempting to breach the target system using the weaknesses found in the previous phases. Ethical hackers mimic real-world attackers by exploiting software vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or weak passwords.
Common Attack Techniques:
Password Cracking – Using brute-force, dictionary attacks, or credential stuffing.
SQL Injection (SQLi) – Exploiting database vulnerabilities.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) – Injecting malicious scripts into websites.
Phishing Attacks – Using fake emails or websites to steal credentials.
Common Tools Used:
- 🔹 Metasploit – A penetration testing framework.
- 🔹 Hydra – A password-cracking tool.
- 🔹 SQLmap – Automated SQL injection testing.
- 🔹 Burp Suite – Web application penetration testing.
Goal: Gain control of the system, establish persistence, and understand the impact of an attack.
4. Maintaining Access (Persistence)
Objective: Ensure long-term access to the compromised system.
Once ethical hackers gain access, they test persistence techniques that real attackers use to maintain access even after the system is rebooted. This helps security teams improve intrusion detection and prevention measures.
Common Persistence Techniques:
Creating Backdoors – Installing hidden access points for future entry.
Privilege Escalation – Gaining higher user rights to execute administrative tasks.
Rootkits and Trojans – Hiding malicious code inside legitimate programs.
Credential Dumping – Extracting passwords and hashes for continued access.
Common Tools Used:
- 🔹 Mimikatz – Extracts credentials from memory.
- 🔹 Empire – A post-exploitation framework.
- 🔹 Cobalt Strike – Simulates advanced persistent threats (APT).
Goal: Identify how long an attacker can stay undetected and help organizations improve incident response.
5. Covering Tracks and Reporting
Objective: Remove traces of hacking activities and document findings.
After testing the security of a system, ethical hackers analyze logs and footprints left behind. This helps organizations understand how attackers erase evidence to avoid detection.
Common Methods of Covering Tracks:
Clearing Log Files – Deleting system logs to erase evidence.
Modifying Timestamps – Changing file creation/modification dates.
Disabling Security Tools – Tampering with antivirus or monitoring software.
Using Anonymous Proxies – Hiding the attacker’s identity.
Goal: Teach security teams how to track and detect malicious activities effectively.
Final Step: Documentation and Reporting
Once all testing phases are complete, ethical hackers provide a detailed security report with:
Findings – List of vulnerabilities discovered.
Exploitation Details – Steps taken to gain access.
Impact Analysis – Potential consequences of each vulnerability.
Recommendations – Security fixes and best practices.