Internal Penetration Testing Methodology
A comprehensive guide to internal network penetration testing, covering Active Directory attacks, lateral movement, privilege escalation, and enterprise infrastructure compromise.
What You'll Learn
- Active Directory enumeration & attacks
- Credential harvesting techniques
- Kerberos & NTLM exploitation
- Lateral movement & pivoting
- Privilege escalation paths
- Domain dominance techniques
Methodology Overview
Pre-Engagement
- Scoping
- Authorization
- Rules of Engagement
Reconnaissance
- Network Discovery
- AD Enumeration
- Asset Mapping
Scanning
- Port Scanning
- Service Detection
- Vulnerability Scan
Enumeration
- SMB/LDAP
- Kerberos
- Database Enum
Exploitation
- Credential Attacks
- Relay/Kerberos
- Initial Access
Post-Exploitation
- Privilege Escalation
- Lateral Movement
- Domain Dominance
Reporting
- Evidence Collection
- Executive Summary
- Technical Report
Guide Sections
Pre-Engagement
Scoping, authorization, rules of engagement, network architecture review
Reconnaissance
Internal network discovery, AD enumeration, infrastructure mapping
Scanning
Host discovery, port scanning, service identification, OS fingerprinting
Enumeration
SMB, LDAP, Kerberos, DNS, and database enumeration techniques
Exploitation
Credential attacks, relay attacks, Kerberos exploitation, initial access
Post-Exploitation
Privilege escalation, lateral movement, persistence, domain dominance
Reporting
Evidence collection, risk assessment, findings documentation, remediation
Tools
Essential tools for internal network penetration testing
Red Team Operations
C2 frameworks, evasion techniques, operational security, adversary simulation
Advanced⚠️ Legal Disclaimer
Internal penetration testing requires explicit written authorization. Unauthorized access to computer systems is illegal. Always ensure proper scope documentation and rules of engagement before beginning any assessment.
Related Guides & Resources
AD Attack Paths
Kerberos, delegation, ACL abuse, ADCS
Wireless Pentesting
WiFi attacks for initial access
Physical Security
Physical access and social engineering
Post-Exploitation Cheatsheet
Quick reference for lateral movement
Lab Setup
Build your own AD lab environment
Reporting Templates
Internal pentest report formats