Projects

Objective

Project Duration

The capstone project is designed to allow students to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical settings by conducting a full-scale security audit or penetration test. This hands-on experience will involve real-world scenarios such as web applications, IoT devices, or network infrastructures, enabling students to showcase their skills in identifying vulnerabilities and formulating effective defense strategies.

Project Components

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1. Reconnaissance

  • Objective
  • Activities
  • Tools
  • Deliverables

Gather information about the target to identify potential vulnerabilities without directly engaging with it.

Passive Reconnaissance

Use publicly available sources to collect information without interacting directly with the target system.

Active Reconnaissance

Interact with the target to discover open ports, services, and system details.

  • Nmap: For network scanning to identify open ports and services.
  • WHOIS Lookup: For domain information.
  • Recon-ng and Maltego: For open-source intelligence gathering (OSINT) to map data about individuals, companies, or IP addresses.

A comprehensive profile of the target, detailing network structure, entry points, and other critical information.

2. Vulnerability Assessment

  • Objective
  • Activities
  • Tools
  • Deliverables

Identify weaknesses within the system or application that could potentially be exploited.

Automated Vulnerability Scanning

Use tools to identify known vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

Manual Analysis

Apply manual techniques to validate the results of automated scans and discover issues that scanners may miss.

  • Nessus and OpenVAS: For identifying system vulnerabilities.
  • Burp Suite: For web application vulnerability assessment, testing for common vulnerabilities such as SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), etc.
  • OWASP ZAP: For detecting vulnerabilities in web applications.

A prioritized list of vulnerabilities found in the target, categorized by severity and potential impact.

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3. Exploitation

  • Objective
  • Activities
  • Tools
  • Deliverables

Attempt to exploit identified vulnerabilities to confirm their existence and assess their impact.

Safe Exploitation

Execute controlled exploitation to assess the potential impact of each vulnerability.

Document Findings

Keep a detailed record of each vulnerability exploited, the method used, and the results.

  • Metasploit Framework: For simulating real-world attacks.
  • Custom Scripts: Develop custom scripts to perform specific exploits where necessary.
  • Kali Linux Tools: Use a suite of pre-installed tools for penetration testing.

Verified vulnerabilities with documented exploit attempts, providing insights into the practical impact of each security flaw.

4. Reporting

  • Objective
  • Activities
  • Deliverables

Compile findings into a professional and comprehensive security audit report.

Executive Summary

High-level summary for stakeholders.

Methodology

A breakdown of tools and techniques used in reconnaissance, assessment, and exploitation phases.

Findings and Analysis

Detailed descriptions of each vulnerability, including screenshots, logs, and supporting evidence.

Remediation Recommendations

Suggested actions to mitigate each vulnerability, categorized by urgency and difficulty.

A professional report that can be presented to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, showcasing the student’s findings and offering actionable insights.

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5. Presentation of Findings and Defense Strategies

  • Objective
  • Activities
  • Deliverables

Communicate the project’s findings and proposed remediation strategies effectively to peers or stakeholders.

Prepare a Visual Presentation

Summarize the project scope, methods, findings, and recommendations in a clear and engaging format.

Q&A Session

Defend findings and engage in discussions about alternate approaches, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the project.

Enhanced communication and presentation skills, with students articulating complex technical findings in a way that is accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences.

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