Pentest Reporting & Bug Bounty

45 min

The Penetration Test Report

A high-quality penetration test report is arguably the most important deliverable. It must communicate complex technical findings in a way that both executives and technical teams can understand and act upon.

Report Structure

PROFESSIONAL PENTEST REPORT STRUCTURE
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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1-2 pages)
   ─ Business impact overview
   ─ Risk rating (Critical/High/Medium/Low)
   ─ Top 3-5 findings in plain English
   ─ Strategic recommendations

2. METHODOLOGY & SCOPE
   ─ Testing approach (black/grey/white box)
   ─ Scope (IPs, domains, applications)
   ─ Testing timeline
   ─ Tools used

3. TECHNICAL FINDINGS
   For each finding include:
   ─ Title & severity (CVSS score)
   ─ Description (what is the vulnerability)
   ─ Proof of Concept (screenshots, code)
   ─ Business impact (what can attacker do)
   ─ Remediation steps (specific, actionable)
   ─ References (CVE, OWASP, CWE)

4. REMEDIATION ROADMAP
   ─ Prioritized fix list
   ─ Quick wins vs long-term items
   ─ Re-test recommendations
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Bug Bounty Programs

Bug bounty programs allow independent security researchers to responsibly disclose vulnerabilities in exchange for monetary rewards.

Platforms: HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, Synack, YesWeHack
Scope: Always read program scope; only test in-scope assets
Disclosure: Report to vendor; wait for fix before public disclosure
Payouts: Critical bugs can pay $10,000 – $500,000+ (Google, Apple, Meta)

🏆 Bug Bounty Tips

1. Read the program scope completely before testing. 2. Focus on business logic flaws — underreported and often high-reward. 3. Document everything — clear PoC = faster triage. 4. Be patient with duplicate findings. 5. Build relationships with security teams.