Pentesting an E-commerce Company
The Engagement
The Scenario
An eminent e-commerce company seeking to enhance its internal and external security measures engaged NextdoorSEC to perform an exhaustive evaluation of its cybersecurity defenses.
They also requested a comprehensive penetration test on their custom-built customer service web application. The company’s prime objective was to assess the efficacy of its IT security controls in protecting its trade secrets and customer data and to gain insights into its system vulnerabilities and potential countermeasures.
The Objective
The objectives of the penetration testing engagement were as follows:
External Penetration Test
- Breach the system from an outsider’s perspective mimicking an unknown, malicious attacker
- Extract sensitive information such as account credentials, customer data, trade secrets, etc.
- Attack the custom-built web application to extract customer data without any pre-provided account credentials
Internal Penetration Test
- Attack and compromise sensitive servers, such as the file server, domain controller server, and CRM server.
- Extract sensitive information, such as account credentials, customer data, trade secrets, etc.
All penetration tests by NextdoorSEC were conducted from a “blackbox” perspective, meaning with zero initial information about the target company apart from its name. This approach ensures the simulated ethical hacking attacks are as realistic as possible.
The Process
NextdoorSEC employs the same tools and strategies used by malicious actors against businesses. This includes manual and automated testing methods using custom-built and industry-standard tools.
During the internal penetration test, a NextdoorSEC consultant was placed on-site with the full consent of the IT manager. The results of this test stunned the IT manager and the company’s senior management.
For the external penetration test, a few of the company’s public-facing domains and services, including their custom-built web application, were targeted, yielding impressive results.
Upon completion of testing, the company received a detailed report, including an executive summary, technical findings, and remediation recommendations.
Results
✅ Swift System Control
Our consultants secured full domain admin access in just one hour, granting them control over all computers and servers within the company’s network, such as domain controllers, file servers, and email servers.
✅ Mastering the Firewall
Full administrative access was obtained on the company’s central firewall, allowing NextdoorSEC consultants to amend any security rules as needed, thus revealing a key point of vulnerability.
✅ Network Control in the Bag
Our consultants achieved full administrative access to the company’s network routers. In a real attack scenario, this level of control could allow a malicious actor to manipulate the company’s entire network.
✅ Help Desk Impersonation Achieved
The consultants from NextdoorSEC successfully attempted to impersonate the company’s IT Help Desk from an external access point, demonstrating a method a malicious attacker could use to gain further access and conduct more destructive activities.
✅ Web Server and App Takeover
Our team gained full administrative access to the server hosting the company’s custom-built customer service web application and the web application itself, showcasing a serious security concern.
✅ IT Manager’s PC Compromised
NextdoorSEC successfully gained full administrative access to the IT Manager’s PC, a critical security breach that would be catastrophic for the company if it were the work of an actual cyber attacker.
✅ Telecommunication System Breached
NextdoorSEC achieved full administrative access to the company’s PBX systems, revealing a vulnerability that could allow attackers to place and record calls, create phone extensions, and more.
✅ Breaching the Top Brass
Our team got full administrative access to all senior management staff PCs, a security flaw that could allow attackers to extract sensitive business strategy information.
✅ Fortify Your E-commerce: Book a Pen Test Today!
These findings underscore the vital need for robust security measures and regular penetration testing, particularly for businesses operating in the e-commerce sector. Through such testing, companies can identify and rectify potential security vulnerabilities, thus strengthening their overall cybersecurity posture.
Word on the street
We're not like average security penetration testing companies. We've earned a reputation for delivering tailored solutions to businesses of all sizes. From mom-and-pop shops to tech startups, our expertise keeps your data safe and sound. Our clients appreciate our customized approach and commitment to transparency. Join the Nextdoorsec fam, one of the reliable vulnerability assessment companies and rest easy knowing your security is in good hands.
Nextdoorsec is an exceptional security company that provides thorough and detailed reports that are easy to understand. Their team is highly knowledgeable and responsive, always willing to answer any questions and provide guidance on how to properly address security vulnerabilities according to industry best practices. With Nextdoorsec's help, we were able to identify and address previously undetected security gaps in our systems, giving us greater confidence in our overall security posture. We highly recommend Nextdoorsec for any organization looking to improve their security posture and protect their valuable assets.
Pieter van der Meer
Cloud Architect
Nextdoorsec provided our organization with top-notch security services. Their team was incredibly thorough and professional, and their level of communication was outstanding. They kept us informed at every step of the process and were always available to answer any questions we had. We were particularly impressed with their commitment to transparency and their ability to provide actionable recommendations for improving our security posture. We would highly recommend Nextdoorsec to any organization looking to enhance their security and protect their valuable assets.
Lars Jansen
CTO
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