Blog
What are the 5 Stages of Ethical Hacking? 2025
Table of Contents
What are the 5 Stages of Ethical Hacking?
As the digital landscape evolves, the risks associated with cyber threats are escalating. The need for ethical hackers — professionals who test network systems for vulnerabilities to strengthen them — has never been greater. To ensure the effectiveness of their investigations, ethical hackers usually follow a structured approach. Here, we’ll delve into the five critical stages of ethical hacking.
1. Reconnaissance (Information Gathering)
What Happens in This Phase?
Ethical hackers collect maximum data about the target system to plan their approach.
Two Types of Reconnaissance:
| Type | Description | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Passive Recon | Uses public data (WHOIS, social media) | Low risk |
| Active Recon | Directly probes systems (ping scans) | Higher risk |
Why It Matters:
✔ Uncovers publicly exposed data (e.g., employee emails, old passwords)
✔ Helps map attack surfaces before testing
2. Scanning (Vulnerability Detection)
Key Objectives:
- Identify live hosts & IP addresses
- Detect open ports & services (HTTP, FTP, SSH)
- Find software vulnerabilities (outdated CMS, unpatched OS)
Top Scanning Tools:
🔹 Nmap (Network mapping)
🔹 Nessus (Vulnerability scanner)
🔹 Burp Suite (Web app testing)
Why It Matters:
✔ Reveals weak points for targeted attacks
✔ Avoids wasting time on inactive systems
3. Gaining Access
What it is: This is the phase where actual hacking takes place. Ethical hackers try to exploit the vulnerabilities they’ve found to enter the system.
Methods: Various methods, from buffer overflow attacks to session hijacking or even using malware.
Importance: Successfully gaining access validates the existence of the vulnerability. It also provides insights into what kind of damage a malicious hacker could achieve if they were to exploit the same weakness.
4. Maintaining Access
What it is: Here, the ethical hacker simulates a real-world attack scenario where a malicious hacker would attempt to create a backdoor for themselves, ensuring they have continued access to the network.
Methods: Techniques like rootkits, Trojans, and other malware types.
Importance: This stage is crucial for understanding the depth of a potential breach. By establishing that a malicious entity can maintain long-term access, organizations realize the profound importance of regular security check-ups and updates.
5. Analysis and Reporting
What it is: After the testing, ethical hackers must report their findings to the organization’s concerned parties. This report typically includes a summary of the assessment, vulnerabilities found, data accessed, and recommendations for securing the system.
Importance: The report provides organizations with actionable insights. By understanding the vulnerabilities and receiving recommendations on rectifying them, organizations can take immediate action to fortify their digital assets.
Ethical Hacking vs. Malicious Hacking
| Stage | Ethical Hacker | Black Hat Hacker |
|---|---|---|
| Reconnaissance | Uses legal OSINT tools | Steals data illegally |
| Gaining Access | Stops after proving vulnerability | Deploys ransomware/data theft |
| Reporting | Provides fixes | Sells exploits on the dark web |
Conclusion
Ethical hacking is a systematic process that helps organizations identify potential vulnerabilities in their systems. These five stages ensure that the ethical hacker’s approach is thorough, covering all aspects of potential cyber threats. As cyberattacks are happening more frequently and getting more complicated, organizations need to understand these stages. They need to use this knowledge effectively. This helps protect their digital assets.
Read More Blogs
IS ETHICAL HACKING IN DEMAND?
AWS CLOUD SECURITY COURSE IN SAKET, NEW DELHI
TRANSITIONING TO A THRIVING CAREER IN CYBER SECURITY
MOBILE APPLICATION SECURITY COURSE IN SAKET
WHAT ARE THE 10 RULES THAT ETHICAL HACKERS FOLLOW?