A well-structured penetration testing report not only identifies vulnerabilities but also provides actionable recommendations to protect critical assets. IdealSolutions, a leading cybersecurity company in Pakistan with branches in the USA, Spain, and Dubai, has been delivering comprehensive penetration testing services since 2016. This guide explores every essential element of a penetration test report, offering examples, formatting tips, and best practices for businesses and technical teams.

Executive Summary in Penetration Test Reports

The executive summary provides a high-level overview of the penetration test findings. It is designed for non-technical stakeholders, such as C-level executives or management teams. This section should be concise, typically 1–2 pages, highlighting the overall security posture, critical vulnerabilities, and remediation priorities. For instance:

• Total number of vulnerabilities identified: 24
• High-risk vulnerabilities: 5
• Medium-risk vulnerabilities: 10
• Low-risk vulnerabilities: 9
• Overall risk rating: High

The executive summary should emphasize business impact and suggested next steps without technical jargon, enabling decision-makers to prioritize resources effectively.

Scope of Testing

Clearly defining the scope of penetration testing is essential to set expectations and establish boundaries. IdealSolutions recommends including:

• Assets tested: Websites, mobile applications, APIs, cloud environments, network infrastructure.
• Testing depth: Black-box, white-box, or grey-box testing.
• Excluded systems: Any environments or systems intentionally excluded from the test.
• Timeline: Start and end dates of testing phases.

A well-documented scope ensures accountability and legal compliance while guiding the technical team on where to focus testing efforts.

Methodology Breakdown

A structured methodology demonstrates how vulnerabilities were identified and validated. This section typically spans 3–5 pages and includes:

• Reconnaissance: Passive and active information gathering about targets.
• Vulnerability Identification: Automated scans, manual testing, and configuration reviews.
• Exploitation: Controlled attempts to validate vulnerabilities and assess potential impacts.
• Post-Exploitation: Analyzing the extent of compromise, lateral movement paths, and sensitive data exposure.

Tools used, such as Burp Suite, Nessus, Nmap, SQLmap, ZAP Proxy, and custom scripts, should be listed with version numbers for reproducibility.

Technical Findings and Vulnerability Details

This section is the core of any penetration testing report, detailing each identified vulnerability. It should include:

• Vulnerability Name: Clear, standardized naming (e.g., OWASP Top 10, CVE references).
• Description: Detailed explanation of the issue and potential impact.
• Evidence: Screenshots, log extracts, or code snippets confirming the vulnerability.
• Risk Rating: Based on CVSS scores or internal risk matrices.
• Affected Assets: Servers, applications, or endpoints impacted.
• Recommendation: Step-by-step remediation guidance.

For example:

• Vulnerability: SQL Injection
• Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.8)
• Evidence: Screenshot of database query response
• Recommendation: Implement parameterized queries and input validation

Each finding should maintain semantic relevance to the asset it affects, ensuring clarity and actionable guidance.

Remediation Steps and Prioritization

Remediation recommendations should align with risk levels, business priorities, and resource availability. A structured remediation table often includes:VulnerabilityRisk RatingRecommended ActionResponsible TeamTimelineSQL InjectionCriticalImplement prepared statementsDev Team2 WeeksWeak Password PolicyHighEnforce MFA and password complexityIT Team1 Month

This allows organizations to quickly track progress and ensure critical issues are addressed first.

Tools and Techniques Used

A penetration test report should document manual and automated tools used during the engagement, including:

• Web Application Scanning: OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite
• Network Scanning: Nmap, Nessus, OpenVAS
• API Security Testing: Postman, custom scripts
• Mobile App Analysis: Frida, Objection, Appium
• Cloud Assessments: AWS Config, Terraform drift analysis, GCP IAM review

Including this information demonstrates the depth of testing and supports audit and compliance needs.

Evidence and Screenshots

Visual proof strengthens the credibility of findings. Screenshots, exploit code samples, and logs provide:

• Clear validation of vulnerabilities
• Traceable documentation for remediation verification
• Supporting material for compliance audits

Reports may include 100–200 screenshots for large engagements, particularly in red team or multi-asset assessments.

Risk Ratings and CVSS Scores

Risk rating should combine quantitative scoring and qualitative assessment. The CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) standardizes vulnerability severity, typically:

• Critical: 9–10
• High: 7–8.9
• Medium: 4–6.9
• Low: 0–3.9

Use heatmaps, graphs, and trend analysis to visualize risk distribution across assets, enhancing executive comprehension.

False Positive Handling

A section should clarify which findings are false positives and provide justification. This avoids unnecessary remediation efforts and supports accuracy. IdealSolutions ensures all vulnerabilities are verified before inclusion.

Compliance and Standards Mapping

Penetration testing often aligns with regulatory requirements, including:

• ISO 27001 / Annex A
• PCI DSS v4.0
• SOC 2 Type II
• GDPR / HIPAA
• NIST SP 800-53

Each technical finding should reference applicable standards to demonstrate compliance alignment.

Technical Appendices

Appendices provide detailed technical information for developers and security teams. Typical inclusions:

• Exploit scripts and PoCs
• Full output from automated scanners
• Asset inventories and network diagrams
• Timeline of events and attack narratives
• CVSS vector breakdowns and mitigation validations

Executive Dashboard and Visualization

For large-scale engagements, an executive dashboard provides at-a-glance insights:

• Risk heatmaps
• Vulnerability trend charts
• Asset criticality matrix
• Remediation progress tracking

Interactive dashboards, exported as PDF or Word, allow management to filter and review data efficiently.

Retesting and Verification

Post-remediation, retesting ensures vulnerabilities are fixed. The report should document:

• Remediation effectiveness
• New or remaining vulnerabilities
• Timeline of retests

Including a rescan summary table quantifies improvements and supports continuous security assurance.

Report Formatting and Distribution

Penetration test reports should maintain consistent formatting for readability and legal clarity:

• PDF or Word formats with watermarking for confidentiality
• Version control and document archival policies
• Restricted distribution lists for sensitive findings

For organizations requiring repeated engagements, versioning and change tracking are essential.

Industry Best Practices

IdealSolutions emphasizes:

• Clear separation between technical and executive content
• Prioritization of actionable remediation
• Maintaining semantic consistency throughout the report
• Integration with security dashboards and SIEM tools
• Providing multiple perspectives: technical, managerial, and compliance-focused

Specialized Penetration Reports

Depending on asset types, reports may include:

• Web Application Reports: Focus on OWASP Top 10, input validation, and session management.
• Network Penetration Reports: Map topology, open ports, and firewall gaps.
• Mobile App Reports: Sandbox escapes, API misconfigurations, and credential storage.
• Cloud Reports: Misconfigurations in AWS, Azure, GCP; IaaS, PaaS, SaaS evaluations.
• Red Team vs Blue Team Reports: Adversary emulation, detection gaps, and defensive recommendations.

Each specialized report maintains consistent structure while addressing asset-specific threats and risks.

Appendices, Glossaries, and References

Reports should conclude with:

• Glossary of terms and acronyms (e.g., CVE, CVSS, MFA, API)
• Reference standards (OWASP, NIST, ISO)
• Attachments: Exploit code, screenshots, network diagrams, and audit trails

This ensures clarity for all stakeholders and provides a knowledge base for future assessments.

Length and Content Recommendations

Typical reports vary in length based on engagement complexity:

• Small engagements: 15–30 pages
• Medium engagements: 40–70 pages
• Large enterprise or red team engagements: 100–200 pages

Content should balance technical depth with executive readability, maintaining semantic cohesion throughout.

Confidentiality and Legal Considerations

Penetration testing reports contain sensitive security information. Best practices include:

• Confidentiality clauses and NDAs
• Watermarking and encryption
• Restricted access distribution
• Legal disclaimers regarding exploit reproduction

FAQ