Official OSCP Certification Guide: Download OSCP 200 Book Free Now!

Course Info

Are you interested in becoming a certified penetration tester? If so, you've come to the right place! In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the exciting world of the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification and the valuable resources at your disposal to help you succeed. Let's embark on this thrilling journey together.

Benefits

Increase OSCP Preparedness with OffSec Academy
The journey to becoming an OSCP-certified professional is no small feat. It requires extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in the world of penetration testing. Fortunately, OffSec Academy is here to guide you every step of the way. With expert instructor-led streaming sessions, you'll receive top-tier training and mentorship to bolster your skills and confidence.

Access to Recently Retired OSCP Exam Machines
One of the best ways to prepare for the OSCP exam is by practicing on machines that closely mimic the real thing. OffSec Academy provides you with access to a diverse range of OSCP exam machines, allowing you to sharpen your skills and become intimately familiar with the challenges you'll face during the actual exam.

Introduction to the Latest Hacking Tools and Techniques
The field of cybersecurity is in a constant state of evolution, with new tools and techniques emerging regularly. OffSec Academy ensures that you stay at the forefront of these developments by providing you with insights into cutting-edge hacking tools and methodologies. This knowledge will not only help you pass the OSCP exam but also make you a more effective penetration tester in the real world.

Training from the Experts Behind Kali Linux
Kali Linux is the go-to operating system for many penetration testers and ethical hackers. As an OSCP aspirant, you'll receive training from the very experts who maintain and develop Kali Linux. This unique opportunity allows you to gain deep insights into the inner workings of the OS and leverage its full potential during your penetration testing endeavors.

Learn the "Try Harder" Method and Mindset
The OSCP certification is renowned for its rigorous and challenging nature. It's not meant to be easy, but rather to push you to your limits and beyond. OffSec Academy instills in you the "Try Harder" mentality, encouraging you to persevere through difficult scenarios and develop the problem-solving skills needed to excel in the world of penetration testing.

About the Exam

The OSCP exam is the ultimate test of your penetration testing skills. Here's what you need to know:

• 24-Hour Exam: The OSCP exam is a 24-hour marathon, during which you'll face a series of challenges designed to assess your abilities in real-world scenarios. This timeframe tests not only your technical skills but also your endurance and time management.
• Proctored: To maintain the integrity of the exam, it is proctored. This means that your actions will be monitored to ensure compliance with the rules and guidelines.

Learn More About the Exam: If you want to dive deeper into the specifics of the OSCP exam, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the exam guide provided by Offensive Security. This guide will outline the exam's structure, rules, and expectations.

Who Is This Course For?

The OSCP certification is a prestigious credential sought after by a variety of professionals:

• Infosec Professionals Transitioning into Penetration Testing: If you're currently working in the field of information security and are looking to transition into penetration testing, the OSCP is an excellent choice. It equips you with the hands-on skills required for this role.
• Pentesters Seeking One of the Best Pentesting Certifications: Seasoned penetration testers often pursue the OSCP certification to validate their expertise and enhance their career prospects.
• Those Interested in Pursuing a Penetration Tester Career Path: If you're new to cybersecurity but aspire to become a penetration tester, the OSCP is an ideal starting point. It provides you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed for this exciting career.
• Security Professionals: Whether you're a network administrator, a system administrator, or work in any other security-related role, OSCP certification can complement your existing skill set and open up new career opportunities.
• Other Technology Professionals: Even if you don't work directly in security, the OSCP can be a valuable asset. It equips you with the ability to identify and address vulnerabilities, enhancing the security posture of your organization.

Prerequisites

Before embarking on your OSCP journey, it's essential to meet certain prerequisites:

• Solid Understanding of TCP/IP Networking: A strong grasp of TCP/IP networking fundamentals is crucial, as it forms the backbone of all internet communication.
• Reasonable Windows and Linux Administration Experience: You should be comfortable with administering both Windows and Linux systems. Familiarity with common administrative tasks is essential.
• Familiarity with Basic Bash and/or Python Scripting: Scripting is a valuable skill for penetration testers. While you don't need to be a programming expert, a basic understanding of Bash and Python scripting will serve you well during the course.

PEN-200 (PWK) Syllabus

To succeed in the OSCP certification, you'll need to navigate a comprehensive syllabus that covers a wide range of topics. Let's explore the key learning modules:

Penetration Testing with Kali Linux: General Course

• Introduction: Get acquainted with the course and understand what's included.
• How to Approach the Course: Develop a learning model based on increasing uncertainty.
• Summary of PWK Learning Modules: Gain an overview of the entire curriculum.

Introduction to Cybersecurity

• The Practice of Cybersecurity: Recognize the unique challenges of information security and the interplay between offensive and defensive security.
• Threats and Threat Actors: Understand how attackers and defenders learn from each other and differentiate between risks, threats, vulnerabilities, and exploits.
• The CIA Triad: Explore the importance of protecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
• Security Principles, Controls, and Strategies: Comprehend the significance of multiple layers of defense, threat intelligence, access control, and security policies.
• Cybersecurity Laws, Regulations, Standards, and Frameworks: Gain insights into legal and regulatory issues surrounding cybersecurity and various frameworks used by organizations.
• Career Opportunities in Cybersecurity: Identify potential career paths in the cybersecurity field.

Effective Learning Strategies

• Learning Theory: Understand educational theories and memory mechanisms, including the challenges faced by learners.
• Unique Challenges to Learning Technical Skills: Recognize the differences and advantages of digital learning materials and the challenges of preparing for unknown scenarios.
• OffSec Methodology: Grasp the concept of a Demonstrative Methodology and its relevance to preparing for unknown scenarios.
• Case Study: chmod -x chmod: Review a sample of learning material on executable permissions and understand OffSec's teaching approach.

Tactics and Common Methods

• Learn about Retrieval Practice and Spaced Practice: Understand effective learning techniques.
• Explore the SQ3R and PQ4R Method: Examine methods such as the Feynman Technique and the Leitner System.
• Advice and Suggestions on Exams: Develop strategies for managing exam-related stress and determine your readiness to take the exam.
• Practical Steps: Create a long-term learning strategy, use time wisely, and find a supportive community.

Report Writing for Penetration Testers

• Understanding Note-Taking: Review the deliverables for penetration testing engagements and the importance of portable notes.
• Writing Effective Technical Penetration Testing Reports: Understand the purpose of technical reports, construct an executive summary, and describe findings and recommendations.

Information Gathering: The Penetration Testing Lifecycle

• Introduction to Information Gathering: Understand the stages of a penetration test and the role of information gathering.
• Passive Information Gathering: Explore passive information gathering approaches, including Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), web server, and DNS enumeration.
• Active Information Gathering: Learn techniques such as port scanning, enumeration of DNS, SMB, SMTP, SNMP, and Living off the Land techniques.

Vulnerability Scanning

• Vulnerability Scanning Theory: Gain a basic understanding of the vulnerability scanning process, types of vulnerability scans, and considerations.
• Vulnerability Scanning with Nessus: Install, configure, and use Nessus for vulnerability scanning, including authenticated scans.
• Vulnerability Scanning with Nmap: Learn about the Nmap Scripting Engine (NSE) and perform lightweight vulnerability scans with Nmap.

Introduction to Web Applications

• Web Application Assessment Methodology: Understand web application security testing requirements, methodologies, and common vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10).
• Web Application Assessment Tools: Perform enumeration techniques on web applications and learn how to use Burp Suite for testing.

Web Application Enumeration

• Enumeration and Inspection: Explore methods to enumerate and inspect headers, cookies, source code, and conduct API testing.

Common Web Application Attacks

• Directory Traversal: Understand directory traversal vulnerabilities, exploitation techniques, and character encoding.
• File Inclusion Vulnerabilities: Differentiate between file inclusion and directory traversal vulnerabilities, and exploit local and remote file inclusion.
• File Upload Vulnerabilities: Identify and exploit file upload vulnerabilities.
• Command Injection: Learn about command injection and how to leverage it for system access.

SQL Injection Attacks

• SQL Theory and Database Types: Refresh your SQL theory and understand different database types.
• Manual SQL Exploitation: Manually identify and exploit SQL injection vulnerabilities, including UNION-based, Error-based, and Blind SQLi.

SQL Injection Attacks

• Manual and Automated Code Execution: Exploit MSSQL databases with xp_cmdshell, automate SQL injection with SQLmap, and understand code execution techniques.

Client-Side Attacks

• Target Reconnaissance: Gather information for client-side attacks and perform client fingerprinting.
• Exploiting Microsoft Office: Install Microsoft Office and leverage Microsoft Word Macros.
• Abusing Windows Library Files: Prepare and execute attacks using Windows library files and shortcuts.

Locating Public Exploits

• Getting Started: Understand the risks and importance of analyzing exploit code before execution.
• Online Exploit Resources: Access and differentiate between various online exploit resources.
• Offline Exploit Resources: Explore multiple exploit frameworks, SearchSploit, and Nmap NSE scripts.

Exploiting a Target

• Follow a Basic Penetration Test Workflow: Enumerate a target system and exploit vulnerabilities to gain limited shell access.

Fixing Exploits

• Fixing Memory Corruption Exploits: Understand buffer overflow theory, cross-compile binaries, and modify/update memory corruption exploits.
• Fixing Web Exploits: Troubleshoot and fix web application exploits.

Antivirus Evasion

• Antivirus Evasion Software: Recognize known vs. unknown threats and understand antivirus key components and detection engines.
• AV Evasion in Practice: Learn testing best practices, manually evade AV solutions, and leverage automated AV evasion tools.

Password Attacks

• Attacking Network Services Logins: Attack SSH, RDP, and HTTP POST login forms.
• Password Cracking Fundamentals: Understand password cracking fundamentals, mutate wordlists, and attack password manager key files and SSH private keys.
• Working with Password Hashes: Obtain and crack NTLM and Net-NTLMv2 hashes, pass NTLM hashes, and relay Net-NTLMv2 hashes.

Windows Privilege Escalation

• Enumerating Windows: Understand Windows privileges, access control mechanisms, and automated enumeration tools.
• Leveraging Windows Services: Hijack service binaries, DLLs, and exploit unquoted service paths.
• Abusing Other Windows Components: Leverage scheduled tasks, exploit known vulnerabilities, and abuse privileges for code execution.

Linux Privilege Escalation

• Enumerating Linux: Explore file and user privileges on Linux, perform manual and automated enumeration, and locate exposed confidential information.
• Insecure File Permissions: Exploit insecure cron jobs and file permissions for privilege escalation.

Port Redirection and SSH Tunneling

• Port Forwarding with NIX Tools: Learn about port forwarding, understand when to use it, and use tools like Socat.
• SSH Tunneling: Master SSH tunneling, including local, dynamic, remote, and remote dynamic port forwarding.
• Port Forwarding with Windows Tools: Understand port forwarding and tunneling with ssh.exe, Plink, and Netsh.

Advanced Tunneling

• Tunneling Through Deep Packet Inspection: Explore HTTP and DNS tunneling and perform tunneling with Chisel and dnscat.

The Metasploit Framework

• Getting Familiar with Metasploit: Set up and navigate Metasploit, use auxiliary and exploit modules.
• Using Metasploit Payloads: Understand staged and non-staged payloads, explore the Meterpreter payload, and create executable payloads.
• Performing Post-Exploitation with Metasploit: Use core Meterpreter post-exploitation features, post-exploitation modules, and pivot with Metasploit.
• Automating Metasploit: Create resource scripts and use them in Metasploit.

Active Directory

• Introduction and Enumeration: Explore Active Directory manual enumeration techniques.

This extensive syllabus covers all the crucial aspects of penetration testing, ensuring that you have the knowledge and skills required to excel in the OSCP certification.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the OSCP certification is not just a milestone in your career; it's a gateway to a world of opportunities in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity. By enrolling in the PEN-200 (PWK) course offered by OffSec Academy, you're setting yourself up for success. Embrace the "Try Harder" mindset, hone your skills, and prepare to conquer the OSCP exam. Your journey to becoming an OSCP-certified professional starts here. Good luck!