Penetration Testing Standards (OWASP, NIST) (en)
Standar Penetration Testing (Pentest): A Comparison of OWASP and NIST
Penetration testing (pentesting) refers to the practice of testing the security of a system, application, or network to identify potential vulnerabilities or security flaws. Two commonly used standards in pentesting are OWASP and NIST.
OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project)
OWASP is a non-profit organization focused on web application security. One of their major contributions is a standardized guide for testing the security of web applications. Some key elements of OWASP related to penetration testing are:
- OWASP Top Ten: A list of the ten most critical web application security risks, used as an important reference for conducting web application pentests. These risks include Injection, Broken Authentication, Sensitive Data Exposure, and others.
- OWASP Testing Guide: A comprehensive guide containing a methodology for testing the security of web applications. It involves identifying vulnerabilities in various areas of the application, from input validation, authentication, session management, to server configuration.
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
NIST is a U.S. government agency that provides standards and guidelines for information technology. In the context of penetration testing, NIST has released several guidelines used to direct the pentesting process in a more formal and structured manner. Some NIST documents related to pentesting are:
- NIST SP 800-115 (Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment): This guide offers specific steps in conducting information security testing, including penetration testing. It covers various approaches, such as network, application, and system testing, as well as methods for gathering information and exploiting vulnerabilities.
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework: This standard is broader than just pentesting but can be used to support network and application security through risk identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery from threats.
Comparison of OWASP and NIST in Pentesting
- OWASP focuses on web application security, offering more specific guidance for identifying weaknesses in web-based applications.
- NIST has a broader scope and includes standards for overall system security, not just for web applications but also network infrastructure and information technology.
Both are important in the security industry, and the choice between them depends on the scope and needs of the organization in securing their systems.