WHAT MAKES A “GOOD” PENTEST

REPORT (AND WHY IT MATTERS)?

INTRODUCTION:

The final output produced by an ethical hacker or

penetration tester is a penetration testing report. The size
and scope of these reports vary; some companies only
offer scan results, while others offer comprehensive
documents that are more than 100 pages long. The
needs of the organization frequently determine the
depth.
The findings of a simulated security evaluation intended
to find weaknesses in systems, networks, or applications
are compiled in a penetration test report. It describes the
procedures followed, the flaws found, their possible
effects, and suggestions for fixing them. This report is
crucial for helping organizations strengthen their
defenses and lower security risks.
The report highlights technical risks, ranks vulnerabilities,
and offers practical solutions. A strong report also
encourages regulatory compliance with frameworks like
ISO/IEC 27001, PCI DSS, and HIPAA. This strengthens
customer trust and product security by showcasing an
organization's dedication to safeguarding sensitive data
and securing infrastructure.

By demonstrating an organization's commitment to

protecting sensitive data and securing infrastructure, this
enhances customer trust and product security.
In the Qualys Threat Research Unit report it is said that in
2023 alone, over 26,000 vulnerabilities were discovered,
1,500 more than the previous year. Now consider the
extent of the harm that could result from these being
exploited and left unpatched.

WHY PENTEST REPORT MATTERS?

Reports from penetration tests are strategic instruments

that direct action rather than merely listing
vulnerabilities. By converting results into customized,
useful insights, they assist developers, compliance
officers, and executives.

The IT, legal, product, and third-party risk teams can all
benefit from these reports. They are used by developers
to correct errors. They are used by executives to
comprehend the impact on the business. They are used
by compliance teams to demonstrate due diligence in
audits.
An organized pentest report benefits organizations in the
following ways:
Recognize their true level of risk exposure
2. Sort and manage remediation according to severity.
3. Continue to strictly adhere to regulations such as
GDPR, SOC 2, or ISO 27001.
4. Avoid future violations that can cost money and trust.

When done correctly, the report serves as a link between

business decision-making and technical execution. Even
rigorous testing may fail without it.
KEY COMPONENTS OF A GOOD PENTEST REPORT

Without a thorough documentation, a pentest cannot be

considered successful. Thus A well-written report explains
what was tested, what was discovered, and what has to
be done next.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Non-technical stakeholders, such as managers or CISOs,

should read this section. The following should be briefly
included:

• What was tested;

• Why it was tested;

• Key findings and their risk levels;

• General security posture;

• Immediate action items

It should be succinct, understandable, and devoid of

jargon in order to provide prompt context for decision-
making.
TECHNICAL FINDINGS

For engineers, this is the foundation. Every vulnerability

should have the following information:

• Type and location of the problem;

• Method of discovery;

• Potential impact;

• Reproduction steps;

• Supporting documentation (such as logs or

screenshots).
The main aim is Clarity; a developer should be able to
take action without constant back and forth.

RISK PRIORITIZATION

Not every vulnerability is as dangerous as others. Setting

priorities aids teams in efficiently allocating their time
and resources.
The majority of reports employ a severity scale based on
the business impact or CVSS score, such as Critical, High,
Medium, and Low.
Teams can also more easily understand what needs to be
addressed first by including a visual risk matrix or table.
Teams can avoid feeling overburdened and concentrate
on what really matters by using this section.

ACTIONABLE REMEDIATION GUIDANCE

Every vulnerability should have the following: Links to
outside resources (like OWASP guides); short-term
mitigations if necessary; and specific fix steps.
Steer clear of ambiguous instructions. The key is
accuracy.

PROOF OF CONCEPT (POC)

This section demonstrates the validity of each problem.

Sample HTTP requests, screenshots, output from
programs like Metasploit, and replication steps are a few
examples.
It demonstrates that the threat is real.

METHODOLOGY AND TOOLS USED

This part fosters trust. The test type (black-box,

white-box, or gray-box) as well as the scope and
timeline should be explained.
• Tools utilized, such as Burp Suite and Nmap

RETESTING AND VALIDATION

If retesting took place after remediation, this section

provides an overview of:

• What was fixed;

• What wasn't;

• How risk levels have changed.

PROFESSIONAL FORMATTING AND PRESENTATION

A report that is well-structured is easier to read. Use:

• Table of contents (for lengthy reports);

• Bullet points and tables;

• Clear headings

Effective formatting demonstrates professionalism

and aids in keeping stakeholders' attention on the
important things.

COMMON MISTAKES IN PENTEST REPORTS

60% of ethical hackers claim that they can breach most

environments in less than five hours after discovering a
vulnerability, according to the SANS Institute. Reporting
errors may facilitate that task.

POORLY DEFINING SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

Misunderstandings arise when the test scope is not

clearly defined. What was and wasn't tested must be
made clear in the report. This can be avoided with a well-
defined scope section and a Statement of Work (SOW).
LACKING CLARITY, STRUCTURE AND PRIORITIZATION

Security teams may have to address low-risk

vulnerabilities before critical ones if there are no explicit
severity ratings. To prevent misunderstandings, label
findings with a consistent scale such as OWASP or CVSS.
PRIORITIZING WHILE OVERLOOKING QUALITY

Inadequate analysis may arise from rushing to meet

deadlines. To maintain speed and quality, set reasonable
deadlines and make use of automation or standardized
templates.

LEVERAGING GENERIC REPORTING TOOLS

Context may be lost in automated reports. Always adjust

results to the particular business context. Examine and
modify automated results to conform to the practical use
case.

NOT RUNNING PENTEST REGULARLY ENOUGH

It is insufficient to rely only on yearly scans. Pentests

ought to be ongoing and frequent. Whereas continuous
testing can help significantly cutting down on the 258
days it takes on average to find and contain a breach,
according to IBM's research.
OVEREMPHASIZING TECHNICAL JARGON WHILE
NEGLECTING NON-TECHNICAL STAKEHOLDERS

These reports are viewed by C-suite executives

frequently, but the technical jargon may cause
misunderstandings within. So to promote broader
understanding, use simple language, define acronyms,
and provide glossaries, summaries, and illustrations.

FAILING TO PROVIDE ACTIONABLE

RECOMMENDATIONS

There are high chances that the teams may feel

overburdened in the absence of a clear plan. Every
discovery should be supported by long-term plans and
prioritized, doable actions.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING PENETRATION

TESTING REPORTS

1. Standardization: It Implement frameworks like

MITRE ATT&CK or OWASP, so everyone will be on the
same page.

2. Automation: It Utilize automation tools to

streamline your data collection, risk assessments,
and overall business reporting.
 3. Training: It’s main Focus is on continued
education for the whole business, from the security
team to the C-Suite, for a better understanding of
business impact.

4. Feedback Loops: Gather feedback from

stakeholders to refine your reporting outputs.

5. Invest in Tools: Find the right tools to help you

with your pentesting today and tomorrow like a
Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)
tool.

BEST PRACTICES FOR WRITING A REPORT

There are six basic steps to writing a great penetration

report. Each step builds on the one before it (like a
ladder) to enhance the quality of the data, the
organization of the conclusions, and the usability of the
report for stakeholders.

1. Create a strategy: Outlining the testing in advance

and creating report templates act as a checklist of
necessary information and a repository for testing details.

2. Take note of the technical details: Include log files,

notes, and screenshots in the report; however, to make
documentation less invasive, record the pentest and
describe it, then take screenshots afterward.
3. Start with an early draft: Start with the most
significant errors, solutions, and results.

4. Classify and summarize key findings: Clients will

be able to address issues according to the level of risk
they pose if criticality, vulnerability, system, and other
significant findings are included.

5. Edit the draft: Here, you should concentrate on

spelling, grammar, and punctuation to make the content
in formal, everyday English. You should also use non-
technical language to help managers and IT generalists
understand the risks.

6. Arrange and edit: Move non-essential information to

the appendices and double-check the information to
remove errors, make the report easier to read, and
concentrate on the most significant findings.

CONCLUSION

The effectiveness of a penetration test depends on the

report that is produced after it. Finding vulnerabilities is
vital, but what really adds value is communicating them
effectively and in a way that motivates action. The gap
between security teams, developers, compliance officers,
and leadership is filled by a well-organized pentest report.
It explains why it matters and how to fix it in addition to
pointing out what's broken.
A good report becomes more than just documentation; it
becomes a roadmap for improved security, lowering the
risk of breaches and assisting organizations in meeting
compliance requirements. And that kind of direction and
clarity is not only useful, but necessary in a world where
cyber threats are changing more quickly than ever
before.

Turning insights into action and safeguarding what

matters most must be your unwavering goal, regardless
of whether you are a pentester writing the report or an
organization reading it.