Pentest Report Checklist

Pentest Report Checklist

Ensure Quality, Coverage & Compliance

Unlike Red Team reports, a Penetration Testing Report prioritizes "Coverage" over narrative. Clients need a comprehensive list of every vulnerability in their system, from Low to Critical severity. Use this checklist to ensure your report leaves no stone unturned.

1

Executive Summary (Non-Technical)

• Security Posture Overview A high-level summary of the system's security status (e.g., Poor, Average, Robust).
• Business Risk Translation Explanation of financial, legal, or reputational impact without technical jargon.
• Visual Analytics Pie charts or bar graphs showing the distribution of vulnerabilities by severity.

2

Scope & Methodology

• Target Definition Exact list of tested URLs, IP addresses, and API endpoints.
• Testing Standard Reference to standards used (e.g., OWASP Top 10, PTES, NIST).
• Testing Methodology Specification of approach: Black Box, Grey Box (Authenticated), or White Box.

3

Detailed Technical Findings

• Clear Titles & Severity Specific titles and Risk Levels (e.g., Critical, High) for each finding.
• CVSS Score & Vector Standardized scoring (e.g., CVSS v3.1: 9.8 Critical) for objective assessment.
• Affected Assets Precise location of the flaw (URL, Parameter, or API Endpoint).
• Evidence (Screenshots/Logs) HTTP Requests/Responses and screenshots including the URL bar.

4

Reproduction Steps

• Steps to Reproduce A clear, step-by-step guide allowing developers to recreate the issue.
• Payloads Used Specific attack payloads (e.g., `' OR 1=1 --`) displayed in code blocks.

5

Remediation

• Root Cause Analysis Identification of the underlying issue (e.g., Missing Input Validation).
• Code-Level Remediation Specific code examples (PHP, Python, Java) showing the secure implementation.
• References Links to official documentation or OWASP Cheatsheets.

A standardized checklist ensures no critical vulnerability goes unreported and helps developers fix issues faster.