Pentest Checklist V2

Pentest Checklist

Overview

This public intake copy packages plugins/antigravity-awesome-skills/skills/pentest-checklist from https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills into the native Omni Skills editorial shape without hiding its origin.

Use it when the operator needs the upstream workflow, support files, and repository context to stay intact while the public validator and private enhancer continue their normal downstream flow.

This intake keeps the copied upstream files intact and uses the external_source block in metadata.json plus ORIGIN.md as the provenance anchor for review.

AUTHORIZED USE ONLY: Use this skill only for authorized security assessments, defensive validation, or controlled educational environments. # Pentest Checklist

Imported source sections that did not map cleanly to the public headings are still preserved below or in the support files. Notable imported sections: Purpose, Inputs/Prerequisites, Outputs/Deliverables, Constraints.

When to Use This Skill

Use this section as the trigger filter. It should make the activation boundary explicit before the operator loads files, runs commands, or opens a pull request.

• This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.
• Use when the request clearly matches the imported source intent: Provide a comprehensive checklist for planning, executing, and following up on penetration tests. Ensure thorough preparation, proper scoping, and effective remediation of discovered vulnerabilities.
• Use when the operator should preserve upstream workflow detail instead of rewriting the process from scratch.
• Use when provenance needs to stay visible in the answer, PR, or review packet.
• Use when copied upstream references, examples, or scripts materially improve the answer.
• Use when the workflow should remain reviewable in the public intake repo before the private enhancer takes over.

Operating Table

Workflow

This workflow is intentionally editorial and operational at the same time. It keeps the imported source useful to the operator while still satisfying the public intake standards that feed the downstream enhancer flow.

1. Clarify testing purpose - Determine goals (find vulnerabilities, compliance, customer assurance)
2. Validate pentest necessity - Ensure penetration test is the right solution
3. Align outcomes with objectives - Define success criteria
4. Why are you doing this pentest?
5. What specific outcomes do you expect?
6. What will you do with the findings?
7. Type - Purpose - Scope

Imported Workflow Notes

Imported: Core Workflow

Phase 1: Scope Definition

Define Objectives

• Clarify testing purpose - Determine goals (find vulnerabilities, compliance, customer assurance)
• Validate pentest necessity - Ensure penetration test is the right solution
• Align outcomes with objectives - Define success criteria

Reference Questions:

• Why are you doing this pentest?
• What specific outcomes do you expect?
• What will you do with the findings?

Know Your Test Types

Enumerate Likely Threats

• Identify high-risk areas - Where could damage occur?
• Assess data sensitivity - What data could be compromised?
• Review legacy systems - Old systems often have vulnerabilities
• Map critical assets - Prioritize testing targets

Define Scope

• List in-scope systems - IPs, domains, applications
• Define out-of-scope items - Systems to avoid
• Set testing boundaries - What techniques are allowed?
• Document exclusions - Third-party systems, production data

Budget Planning

Budget Reality Check:

• Cheap pentests often produce poor results
• Align budget with asset criticality
• Consider ongoing vs. one-time testing

Phase 2: Environment Preparation

Prepare Test Environment

• Production vs. staging decision - Determine where to test
• Set testing limits - No DoS on production
• Schedule testing window - Minimize business impact
• Create test accounts - Provide appropriate access levels

Environment Options:

Production  - Realistic but risky
Staging     - Safer but may differ from production
Clone       - Ideal but resource-intensive

Run Preliminary Scans

• Execute vulnerability scanners - Find known issues first
• Fix obvious vulnerabilities - Don't waste pentest time
• Document existing issues - Share with testers

Common Pre-Scan Tools:

# Network vulnerability scan
nmap -sV --script vuln TARGET

# Web vulnerability scan
nikto -h http://TARGET

Review Security Policy

• Verify compliance requirements - GDPR, PCI-DSS, HIPAA
• Document data handling rules - Sensitive data procedures
• Confirm legal authorization - Get written permission

Notify Hosting Provider

• Check provider policies - What testing is allowed?
• Submit authorization requests - AWS, Azure, GCP requirements
• Document approvals - Keep records

Cloud Provider Policies:

• AWS: https://aws.amazon.com/security/penetration-testing/
• Azure: https://docs.microsoft.com/security/pentest
• GCP: https://cloud.google.com/security/overview

Freeze Developments

• Stop deployments during testing - Maintain consistent environment
• Document current versions - Record system states
• Avoid critical patches - Unless security emergency

Phase 3: Expertise Selection

Find Qualified Pentesters

• Seek recommendations - Ask trusted sources
• Verify credentials - OSCP, GPEN, CEH, CREST
• Check references - Talk to previous clients
• Match expertise to scope - Web, network, mobile specialists

Evaluation Criteria:

Define Methodology

• Select testing standard - PTES, OWASP, NIST
• Determine access level - Black box, gray box, white box
• Agree on techniques - Manual vs. automated testing
• Set communication schedule - Updates and escalation

Testing Approaches:

Define Report Format

• Review sample reports - Ensure quality meets needs
• Specify required sections - Executive summary, technical details
• Request machine-readable output - CSV, XML for tracking
• Agree on risk ratings - CVSS, custom scale

Report Should Include:

• Executive summary for management
• Technical findings with evidence
• Risk ratings and prioritization
• Remediation recommendations
• Retesting guidance

Phase 4: Monitoring

Implement Security Monitoring

• Deploy IDS/IPS - Intrusion detection systems
• Enable logging - Comprehensive audit trails
• Configure SIEM - Centralized log analysis
• Set up alerting - Real-time notifications

Monitoring Tools:

# Check security logs
tail -f /var/log/auth.log
tail -f /var/log/apache2/access.log

# Monitor network
tcpdump -i eth0 -w capture.pcap

Configure Logging

• Centralize logs - Aggregate from all systems
• Set retention periods - Keep logs for analysis
• Enable detailed logging - Application and system level
• Test log collection - Verify all sources working

Key Logs to Monitor:

• Authentication events
• Application errors
• Network connections
• File access
• System changes

Monitor Exception Tools

• Track error rates - Unusual spikes indicate testing
• Brief operations team - Distinguish testing from attacks
• Document baseline - Normal vs. pentest activity

Watch Security Tools

• Review IDS alerts - Separate pentest from real attacks
• Monitor WAF logs - Track blocked attempts
• Check endpoint protection - Antivirus detections

Phase 5: Remediation

Ensure Backups

• Verify backup integrity - Test restoration
• Document recovery procedures - Know how to restore
• Separate backup access - Protect from testing

Reserve Remediation Time

• Allocate team availability - Post-pentest analysis
• Schedule fix implementation - Address findings
• Plan verification testing - Confirm fixes work

Patch During Testing Policy

• Generally avoid patching - Maintain consistent environment
• Exception for critical issues - Security emergencies only
• Communicate changes - Inform pentesters of any changes

Cleanup Procedure

• Remove test artifacts - Backdoors, scripts, files
• Delete test accounts - Remove pentester access
• Restore configurations - Return to original state
• Verify cleanup complete - Audit all changes

Schedule Next Pentest

• Determine frequency - Annual, quarterly, after changes
• Consider continuous testing - Bug bounty, ongoing assessments
• Budget for future tests - Plan ahead

Testing Frequency Factors:

• Release frequency
• Regulatory requirements
• Risk tolerance
• Past findings severity

Imported: Purpose

Provide a comprehensive checklist for planning, executing, and following up on penetration tests. Ensure thorough preparation, proper scoping, and effective remediation of discovered vulnerabilities.

Examples

Example 1: Ask for the upstream workflow directly

Use @pentest-checklist-v2 to handle <task>. Start from the copied upstream workflow, load only the files that change the outcome, and keep provenance visible in the answer.

Explanation: This is the safest starting point when the operator needs the imported workflow, but not the entire repository.

Example 2: Ask for a provenance-grounded review

Review @pentest-checklist-v2 against metadata.json and ORIGIN.md, then explain which copied upstream files you would load first and why.

Explanation: Use this before review or troubleshooting when you need a precise, auditable explanation of origin and file selection.

Example 3: Narrow the copied support files before execution

Use @pentest-checklist-v2 for <task>. Load only the copied references, examples, or scripts that change the outcome, and name the files explicitly before proceeding.

Explanation: This keeps the skill aligned with progressive disclosure instead of loading the whole copied package by default.

Example 4: Build a reviewer packet

Review @pentest-checklist-v2 using the copied upstream files plus provenance, then summarize any gaps before merge.

Explanation: This is useful when the PR is waiting for human review and you want a repeatable audit packet.

Imported Usage Notes

Imported: Examples

Example 1: Quick Scope Definition

**Target:** Corporate web application (app.company.com)
**Type:** Gray box web application pentest
**Duration:** 5 business days
**Excluded:** DoS testing, production database access
**Access:** Standard user account provided

Example 2: Monitoring Setup

# Enable comprehensive logging
sudo systemctl restart rsyslog
sudo systemctl restart auditd

# Start packet capture
tcpdump -i eth0 -w /tmp/pentest_capture.pcap &

Best Practices

Treat the generated public skill as a reviewable packaging layer around the upstream repository. The goal is to keep provenance explicit and load only the copied source material that materially improves execution.

• Keep the imported skill grounded in the upstream repository; do not invent steps that the source material cannot support.
• Prefer the smallest useful set of support files so the workflow stays auditable and fast to review.
• Keep provenance, source commit, and imported file paths visible in notes and PR descriptions.
• Point directly at the copied upstream files that justify the workflow instead of relying on generic review boilerplate.
• Treat generated examples as scaffolding; adapt them to the concrete task before execution.
• Route to a stronger native skill when architecture, debugging, design, or security concerns become dominant.

Troubleshooting

Problem: The operator skipped the imported context and answered too generically

Symptoms: The result ignores the upstream workflow in plugins/antigravity-awesome-skills/skills/pentest-checklist, fails to mention provenance, or does not use any copied source files at all. Solution: Re-open metadata.json, ORIGIN.md, and the most relevant copied upstream files. Check the external_source block first, then restate the provenance before continuing.

Problem: The imported workflow feels incomplete during review

Symptoms: Reviewers can see the generated SKILL.md, but they cannot quickly tell which references, examples, or scripts matter for the current task. Solution: Point at the exact copied references, examples, scripts, or assets that justify the path you took. If the gap is still real, record it in the PR instead of hiding it.

Problem: The task drifted into a different specialization

Symptoms: The imported skill starts in the right place, but the work turns into debugging, architecture, design, security, or release orchestration that a native skill handles better. Solution: Use the related skills section to hand off deliberately. Keep the imported provenance visible so the next skill inherits the right context instead of starting blind.

Imported Troubleshooting Notes

Imported: Troubleshooting

Related Skills

• @00-andruia-consultant - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.
• @00-andruia-consultant-v2 - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.
• @10-andruia-skill-smith - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.
• @10-andruia-skill-smith-v2 - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.

Additional Resources

Use this support matrix and the linked files below as the operator packet for this imported skill. They should reflect real copied source material, not generic scaffolding.

Imported Reference Notes

Imported: Quick Reference

Pre-Pentest Checklist

□ Scope defined and documented
□ Authorization obtained
□ Environment prepared
□ Hosting provider notified
□ Team briefed
□ Monitoring enabled
□ Backups verified

Post-Pentest Checklist

□ Report received and reviewed
□ Findings prioritized
□ Remediation assigned
□ Fixes implemented
□ Verification testing scheduled
□ Environment cleaned up
□ Next test scheduled

Imported: Inputs/Prerequisites

• Clear business objectives for testing
• Target environment information
• Budget and timeline constraints
• Stakeholder contacts and authorization
• Legal agreements and scope documents

Imported: Outputs/Deliverables

• Defined pentest scope and objectives
• Prepared testing environment
• Security monitoring data
• Vulnerability findings report
• Remediation plan and verification

Imported: Constraints

• Production testing carries inherent risks
• Budget limitations affect thoroughness
• Time constraints may limit coverage
• Tester expertise varies significantly
• Findings become stale quickly