How to Write a High-Quality Penetration Testing Report

1. Scope

The scope defines what was tested and, just as importantly, what was not tested. This section sets expectations and prevents misunderstandings between stakeholders.

What to Include

• Target assets (domains, IP ranges, applications, APIs, internal networks, etc.)
• Testing type (black-box, gray-box, white-box)
• In-scope and out-of-scope systems
• Timeframe of the engagement
• Any limitations or constraints

Why It Matters

A clearly defined scope ensures:

• Legal and contractual clarity
• Accurate interpretation of findings
• Confidence that results are relevant to the intended systems

2. Methodology

The methodology explains how the penetration test was performed. This demonstrates professionalism, repeatability, and alignment with industry standards.

What to Include

Testing approach (manual testing, automated scanning, or hybrid)

Frameworks or standards used (e.g., OWASP Testing Guide, PTES, NIST, MITRE ATT&CK)

Phases of testing, such as:

• Reconnaissance
• Enumeration
• Exploitation
• Post-exploitation
• Privilege escalation

Why It Matters

This section reassures stakeholders that:

• The test followed recognized best practices
• Findings are credible and defensible
• Results can be compared across future assessments

3. Executive Summary (Critical Section)

The executive summary is the most important part of the report. Many decision-makers will only read this section, so it must be clear, concise, and non-technical.

What to Include

• Overall security posture
• High-level risk assessment
• Key findings (especially critical and high-risk issues)
• Business impact
• A brief statement on remediation urgency

Best Practices

• Avoid technical jargon
• Focus on risk rather than vulnerabilities
• Write for executives, managers, and non-technical stakeholders

Example

“The penetration test identified several high-risk vulnerabilities that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive customer data. Immediate remediation is recommended to reduce the likelihood of data breaches and regulatory impact.”

4. Vulnerability Findings

Each vulnerability should be documented in a clear, consistent, and repeatable format. This is where technical depth is required.

Recommended Vulnerability Structure

4.1 Vulnerability Title

A short, descriptive name (e.g., SQL Injection in Login Endpoint).

4.2 Description

Explain what the vulnerability is and where it exists.

• Affected endpoint, host, or component
• Root cause (e.g., lack of input validation)

4.3 Impact

Describe the potential consequences if the vulnerability is exploited.

• Data exposure
• Account compromise
• Privilege escalation
• Business, legal, or reputational damage

4.4 Likelihood

Explain how easy the vulnerability is to exploit.

• Required skill level
• Authentication requirements
• Public exploit availability

You may classify likelihood as Low / Medium / High or map it to a risk scoring system such as CVSS.

4.5 Recommendation

Provide clear, actionable remediation guidance.

• Specific fixes (e.g., parameterized queries, input validation)
• Configuration changes
• Defense-in-depth recommendations

Avoid vague advice such as “apply security best practices.”

4.6 Steps to Reproduce (Proof of Concept)

This section enables technical teams to verify and fix the issue.

What to Include

• Preconditions (authentication, role, tools used)
• Step-by-step reproduction instructions
• Example requests or payloads (where appropriate)
• Expected and actual results

Best Practices

• Keep steps clear and concise
• Do not include unnecessary exploit code
• Ensure steps are reproducible in a safe environment

5. Risk Rating and Prioritization (Optional but Recommended)

Summarize vulnerabilities by severity to help teams prioritize remediation.

Common Approaches

• CVSS scores
• Risk matrix (Impact × Likelihood)
• Severity categories (Critical, High, Medium, Low)

6. Conclusion

The conclusion ties the findings back to the organization’s overall security posture.

What to Include

• Summary of testing results
• Overall risk level
• Recommended next steps (retesting, continuous monitoring, security improvements)

Final Thoughts

A strong penetration testing report is:

• Clear for executives
• Actionable for engineers
• Defensible for auditors

By structuring your report with a defined scope, transparent methodology, a strong executive summary, and well-documented vulnerabilities with reproducible steps, you ensure your pentest delivers real security value, not just technical findings.