Best Penetration Testing Project Ideas for Beginners

Duration: 3 hours

Project Complexity: Easy

Key Concepts Covered:

• Port Scanning
• Service Enumeration
• Vulnerability Assessment

Implementation Steps:

• Set up a vulnerable virtual machine (e.g., Metasploitable).
• Use Nmap to discover hosts and scan for open ports.
• Perform service version detection and OS fingerprinting.
• Launch Nessus and perform a vulnerability scan on the target.
• Analyze the scan report to identify and interpret critical vulnerabilities.

Required Pre-requisites:

• Basic Linux command-line knowledge
• Understanding of networking concepts
• Familiarity with virtual machines

Resources Required:

• Nmap & Nessus tools
• Metasploitable2 VM
• VirtualBox or VMware

Real-World Application:

• Used by security teams for proactive network defense.
• Helps organizations meet compliance and audit requirements.

Get Started

Duration: 2 hours

Project Complexity: Easy

Key Concepts Covered:

• Brute-force & Dictionary Attacks
• Password Hashing
• Authentication Protocols

Implementation Steps:

• Install John the Ripper and/or Hydra on your system.
• Obtain or generate sample password hashes or login targets.
• Choose or create a wordlist (e.g., rockyou.txt).
• Run John/Hydra with proper flags to perform the attack.
• Analyze results and identify cracked credentials.

Required Pre-requisites:

• Basic understanding of password hashing
• Familiarity with terminal commands
• Knowledge of authentication systems

Resources Required:

• John the Ripper or Hydra
• Sample password hashes or login services
• Wordlists (e.g., rockyou.txt)

Real-World Application:

• Assists in auditing password strength within systems.
• Demonstrates risks of weak or reused credentials in cybersecurity.

Get Started

Duration: 3 hours

Project Complexity: Easy

Key Concepts Covered:

• Web Vulnerability Scanning
• OWASP Top 10
• Passive and Active Recon

Implementation Steps:

• Install and launch OWASP ZAP.
• Set up a test web application (e.g., DVWA or Juice Shop).
• Configure your browser or proxy to route traffic through ZAP.
• Perform passive and active scans of the target application.
• Review scan results and identify security issues.

Required Pre-requisites:

• Basic web application knowledge
• Understanding of HTTP/HTTPS
• Familiarity with proxy tools

Resources Required:

• OWASP ZAP
• Test web apps (DVWA, bWAPP, Juice Shop)
• A browser with proxy support

Real-World Application:

• Used by developers and testers to detect security flaws early.
• Helps ensure web applications are secure before deployment.

Get Started

Duration: 3 hours

Project Complexity: Easy

Key Concepts Covered:

• Exploitation Techniques
• Payload Deployment
• Post-Exploitation Basics

Implementation Steps:

• Set up a vulnerable VM (e.g., Metasploitable2) in a virtual environment.
• Launch Metasploit and identify a suitable exploit for the target.
• Configure payloads and target settings in Metasploit.
• Execute the exploit and gain access to the target system.
• Perform basic post-exploitation tasks (e.g., gather system info).

Required Pre-requisites:

• Basic Linux and terminal usage
• Understanding of networking and IP addressing
• Familiarity with virtual machines

Resources Required:

• Metasploit Framework
• Metasploitable2 or a similar vulnerable VM
• VirtualBox or VMware

Real-World Application:

• Provides foundational skills for ethical hacking and red teaming.
• Simulates real-world penetration test workflows in a safe environment.

Get Started

Duration: 2 hours

Project Complexity: Easy

Key Concepts Covered:

• Wordlist Generation
• Social Engineering Basics
• Brute Force Optimization

Implementation Steps:

• Choose a target (fictional or test) and gather public data (e.g., website text).
• Use CeWL to crawl web content and generate a base wordlist.
• Use Crunch to generate combinations of possible passwords.
• Combine and clean wordlists using text processing commands.
• Use the final list in a password cracking tool (optional test).

Required Pre-requisites:

• Basic Linux terminal knowledge
• Understanding of password cracking
• Familiarity with text processing

Resources Required:

• CeWL and Crunch
• Target webpage or sample data
• Text editors or command-line tools

Real-World Application:

• Enhances the success rate of targeted brute-force attacks.
• Assists in simulating realistic password attack scenarios for audits.

Get Started

Duration: 4 hours

Project Complexity: Medium

Key Concepts Covered:

• Packet Sniffing
• Handshake Capture
• Dictionary-Based Cracking

Implementation Steps:

• Set up a test Wi-Fi network with WEP or WPA2 encryption.
• Use airmon-ng and airodump-ng to monitor traffic and capture handshakes.
• Deauthenticate a client to trigger a handshake (WPA2).
• Crack the captured handshake using aircrack-ng and a wordlist.
• Analyze results and test network access.

Required Pre-requisites:

• Knowledge of wireless networking
• Familiarity with Linux terminal commands
• Basic understanding of encryption types

Resources Required:

• Aircrack-ng suite
• Wi-Fi adapter that supports monitor mode
• Wordlists (e.g., rockyou.txt)
• Test the router and client device

Real-World Application:

• Helps assess wireless network security in homes and businesses.
• Educates on the importance of strong encryption and passwords.

Get Started

Duration: 4 hours

Project Complexity: Medium

Key Concepts Covered:

• SQL Injection Techniques
• Input Validation
• Error-Based and Union-Based Injection

Implementation Steps:

• Set up a vulnerable web app (e.g., DVWA or bWAPP).
• Identify injectable parameters via form fields or URLs.
• Use SQL syntax to test for vulnerability (e.g., ‘ OR 1=1 –).
• Perform data extraction using UNION or error-based techniques.
• Document findings and suggest remediation.

Required Pre-requisites:

• Basic SQL knowledge
• Understanding of web request/response cycles
• Familiarity with HTML forms and URLs

Resources Required:

• DVWA or bWAPP
• Web browser
• Burp Suite (optional for deeper analysis)

Real-World Application:

• Helps in securing web apps by understanding how attackers exploit databases.
• Common vulnerabilities are tested in security audits and bug bounties.

Get Started

Duration: 5 hours

Project Complexity: Hard

Key Concepts Covered:

• System Enumeration
• Misconfiguration Exploitation
• Privilege Escalation Vectors

Implementation Steps:

• Gain initial low-privilege access on a test machine (e.g., via Metasploit).
• Perform system enumeration using tools like LinPEAS or WinPEAS.
• Identify vulnerable services, SUID files, or weak permissions.
• Exploit the identified vector to gain elevated access.
• Confirm privilege escalation and secure the system (optional hardening).

Required Pre-requisites:

• Knowledge of Linux/Windows internals
• Familiarity with common escalation techniques
• Basic understanding of exploitation tools

Resources Required:

• Vulnerable VM (Linux/Windows)
• linpeas/winPEAS or manual checks
• Exploitation tools (Metasploit, custom scripts)

Real-World Application:

• Critical for assessing internal threats in compromised environments.
• Common step in real-world red teaming and penetration testing.

Get Started

Duration: 6 hours

Project Complexity: Hard

Key Concepts Covered:

• Reconnaissance & Enumeration
• Exploitation & Privilege Escalation
• Reporting & Remediation

Implementation Steps:

• Perform reconnaissance using tools like Nmap and Dirb on the target app.
• Identify and exploit web vulnerabilities (e.g., XSS, SQLi, authentication bypass).
• Access backend services or databases through chained exploits.
• Escalate privileges if possible and maintain access.
• Document findings in a structured pentest report with recommendations.

Required Pre-requisites:

• Strong understanding of OWASP Top 10
• Familiarity with Linux, networks, and web app architecture
• Experience with pentesting tools and scripting

Resources Required:

• Multi-tier test web app (e.g., DVWA + MySQL backend)
• Tools: Nmap, Burp Suite, SQLmap, Metasploit
• Virtualized test environment (e.g., VirtualBox/VMware)

Real-World Application:

• Simulates professional penetration testing engagements.
• Helps identify full-stack vulnerabilities and security gaps.

Get Started

Duration: 5 hours

Project Complexity: Hard

Key Concepts Covered:

• AD Enumeration
• Kerberos and NTLM Attacks
• Privilege Escalation in AD

Implementation Steps:

• Perform AD enumeration using tools like Nmap and BloodHound to discover users, groups, and permissions.
• Identify weak configurations, such as poorly configured trusts or weak passwords.
• Exploit vulnerabilities using tools like Mimikatz to dump credentials and escalate privileges.
• Pivot through the network, escalating from low-level user to domain admin.
• Document findings and recommend security hardening measures.

Required Pre-requisites:

• Understanding of Active Directory structure
• Familiarity with networking and Windows OS
• Basic knowledge of common penetration testing tools

Resources Required:

• Windows Server VM with Active Directory
• BloodHound, Mimikatz, PowerShell
• Tools for SMB/LDAP enumeration

Real-World Application:

• Critical for securing enterprise networks against privilege escalation and lateral movement.
• Common test for corporate IT environments and security audits.

Get Started