Gaining Access

Gaining Access in System Hacking

Why Gaining Access is Important

Gaining access is a critical phase in ethical hacking where attackers attempt to obtain entry into target systems after gathering necessary information. This phase is crucial because:

• It represents the actual point of penetration into a system
• It tests whether the reconnaissance and scanning efforts were successful
• It helps identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors
• It allows security professionals to demonstrate real-world risks to organizations

What is Gaining Access?

Gaining access is the third phase in the five-phase hacking methodology, following reconnaissance and scanning. In this phase, an ethical hacker attempts to exploit discovered vulnerabilities to enter the target system. This can involve:

• Password cracking
• Privilege escalation
• Buffer overflows
• Session hijacking
• Social engineering attacks
• Exploitation of known vulnerabilities

The ultimate goal is to obtain sufficient system privileges to accomplish the testing objectives.

How Gaining Access Works

Password Attacks

1. Dictionary Attack: Uses a list of commonly used passwords to attempt authentication
2. Brute Force Attack: Tries every possible combination of characters until the correct password is found
3. Rainbow Table Attack4. Social Engineering: Manipulates people into revealing passwords

Exploitation Techniques

1. Software Exploitation: Takes advantage of bugs or vulnerabilities in applications
2. Hardware/Physical Exploitation: Uses physical access to devices to gain entry
3. Network-based Exploitation: Exploits weaknesses in network protocols or configurations

Tools Commonly Used

• Metasploit Framework
• John the Ripper
• Hydra
• Mimikatz
• Hashcat
• Cain & Abel
• Aircrack-ng

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Gaining Access

1. Know the Attack Methodologies: Understand the difference between passive and active attacks, targeted and non-targeted approaches.

2. Understand Password Complexity: Memorize what makes passwords strong or weak and the time complexity of different cracking methods.

3. Learn Tool Specifics: CEH exams often ask about specific tools, their purposes, and command options.

4. Focus on Attack Sequences: Questions may present scenarios asking which attack would be most effective or which should be attempted first.

5. Recognize Countermeasures: Be familiar with defensive strategies against various access techniques.

6. Memorize Common Ports and Services: Know which services run on which ports as they're often targets for gaining access.

7. Practice with Scenarios: The exam includes scenario-based questions that test your ability to apply concepts in realistic situations.

8. Pay Attention to Question Wording: Look for keywords like "most effective," "least intrusive," or "best practice" which guide your answer selection.

9. Connect to Other Phases: Understand how gaining access relates to other phases of the ethical hacking methodology.

10. Study Legal Implications: Know the legal boundaries of access attempts and authorization requirements.

With proper preparation on these topics, you'll be well-equipped to handle gaining access questions on the CEH or similar security certification exams.