A penetration testing report outlines the process, findings, and recommendations from a simulated attack on a company’s systems, applications or infrastructure. Its purpose is to help organisations understand how attackers could exploit their weaknesses and what they can do about them.
While the technical test is the core of the engagement, the report is the product that drives internal action. A well-constructed report helps decision-makers prioritise work and allows security teams to focus on remediation.
What Makes a Good Penetration Test Report?
A good penetration test report balances technical depth with a clear explanation. It should be detailed enough for engineers and IT staff to work from, while remaining accessible to management and other stakeholders.
It’s not just a list of vulnerabilities. It should provide context, highlight potential impact, and recommend realistic next steps. Reports that are too technical without interpretation are often overlooked or misunderstood. Likewise, those who oversimplify leave security teams with gaps.
Clarity, structure and real-world relevance are what separate a good report from a generic one.
What Should a Penetration Testing Report Include?
Here is what’s typically included in a well-structured penetration test report:
1. Executive Summary
The executive summary offers a high-level overview of the penetration test and is intended primarily for non-technical readers. It provides a concise summary of the assessment across one or two pages, highlighting the main findings, the overall risk level, and the scope of the engagement. The dates of the test are noted, along with a brief description of the systems or environments assessed.
Each finding is summarised in a sentence or two, giving decision-makers a quick understanding of the issues identified. Where appropriate, these summaries include links to the full technical details later in the report, allowing technical teams to review individual findings in greater depth.
A risk heat map or severity breakdown is often included, showing the number of vulnerabilities categorised as Critical, High, Medium, or Low.
2. Objectives and Scope
This section details what systems, applications, or environments were tested. It also outlines any exclusions or limitations that were agreed upon before the assessment.
Examples might include:
- Web application testing of https://example.com
- nternal infrastructure testing across three office locations
- External perimeter testing, including exposed cloud services
This section should list the specific IP addresses or hostnames that were authorised for testing. It acts as a formal record of the approved targets and ensures that all testing activities remain within the agreed boundaries. Penetration testers must not engage with systems outside this scope.
The scope must align with the approved Rules of Engagement (ROE), a separate and legally binding document that defines what may be tested, how testing will be conducted, and any applicable restrictions. The scope detailed here should mirror the scope outlined in the ROE.
Where relevant, a Scope Exclusions section should also be included. This outlines any prohibited testing activities, such as Denial of Service (DoS) testing, which are often excluded due to the potential impact on business operations.
More details on specific testing types, such as external penetration testing or physical penetration testing, can influence the structure and findings of the report.
3. Methodology
Explains the methodologies used and references any recognised frameworks or standards (e.g. OWASP, NIST, OSSTMM).
It should also outline the tools used and testing techniques, though not necessarily every command or line of code.
4. Findings and Risk Ratings
This is the main body of the report, where each vulnerability is documented in detail. The following information should be included for every finding:
- Title of the issue (e.g. SQL Injection on login page)
- Severity rating (e.g. High)
- Description of the vulnerability
- Affected assets or endpoints
- Proof of concept (evidence that the flaw is real)
- Risk or business impact
- Remediation advice
- References for further reading (e.g. CVE identifiers or OWASP resources)
Each finding should follow a consistent format, combining technical accuracy with clear explanations that are understandable to a broader audience.
The severity rating assigned to each issue reflects the potential impact and likelihood of exploitation. This is typically illustrated using a severity chart.
However, the structure of these charts can vary between penetration testing providers. While many use categories such as Critical, High, Medium, and Low, others may apply different naming conventions or risk scoring methods. These classifications are not standardised across the industry, so the specific model used should be clearly outlined in the report.
5. Screenshots or Proof of Concept (PoC)
Where appropriate, screenshots or excerpts from tool outputs can help reinforce findings and offer validation. These are especially useful for internal stakeholders who want assurance that the issue was confirmed.
6. Remediation Advice
Every finding should include clear remediation guidance. It should outline what needs to be changed, removed, or reconfigured to reduce or eliminate the risk. Where possible, offer safer alternatives or recommended settings.
7. Post-Engagement Summary
A short section summarising any progress made during testing, such as vulnerabilities fixed in real time or retesting outcomes. It might also include a statement on whether further testing is advised.
8. Appendices
Optional but useful, this could include:
- List of tools used
- Glossary of terms
- Full vulnerability scans (if relevant)
- Detailed methodology
- User credentials or test accounts provided (and confirmation they’ve been disabled)
What Is the Standard Penetration Test Report?
There’s no one-size-fits-all report, but many providers follow similar structures based on frameworks like:
- OWASP Testing Guide (for web applications)
- CREST reporting standards
- NIST SP 800-115 guidelines
A standard report aims to offer clarity across three main audiences:
- Executives and decision-makers
- IT and security teams
- Compliance or audit departments
If compliance requirements are involved (e.g. ISO 27001, PCI-DSS), the report should include specific evidence to demonstrate that relevant controls have been tested.
What Are the 5 Stages of Penetration Testing?
Understanding the five core phases of a penetration test can help clarify what’s being reported:
1. Planning and Reconnaissance
Scope is defined, targets identified, and initial information gathering begins.
2. Scanning
Tools and manual methods are used to discover open ports, services, and vulnerabilities.
3. Gaining Access
The tester attempts to exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to systems or data.
4. Maintaining Access
In some tests, persistence techniques are used to simulate long-term compromise.
5. Analysis and Reporting
Findings are documented and organised into the final report, including steps to reproduce, impact, and fixes.
Each of these stages contributes directly to what appears in the final report.
Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Assessment
Penetration testing and vulnerability scanning are invaluable tools for organisations looking to assess the security of their IT networks.
During a penetration test, a qualified, independent expert uses a combination of manual and automated methods to simulate a real-world attack on an organisation’s systems. The frequency of penetration tests is important for maintaining security; we recommend conducting tests at least annually.
Although the two are often confused, a vulnerability assessment (VA) is not the same as a penetration test.
| Aspect | Vulnerability Assessment | Penetration Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Identify known weaknesses | Simulate real-world attacks |
| Approach | Mostly automated scans | Manual and targeted testing |
| Depth | Surface-level | In-depth exploitation |
| Output | List of vulnerabilities | Exploitable paths with impact |
| Skill | Low to medium | High (requires specialist expertise) |
A vulnerability assessment might show that a server is running outdated software. A penetration test goes further by trying to exploit it and demonstrating what an attacker could do next.
This difference affects the reporting style too. Vulnerability assessment reports tend to be longer lists generated by tools, whereas penetration test reports include more context, structure, and interpretation.
The Importance of a Strong Penetration Testing Report
Penetration testing goes beyond merely exploiting weaknesses; it’s about delivering a clear, actionable assessment of an organisation’s security.
A well-crafted report serves as a tool for clients to improve their security strategy. It provides insights to determine:
- Remediations: Specific actions to address and mitigate identified vulnerabilities.
- Security Budgeting: Guidance on the resources and personnel required to strengthen the security team.
- Tool and Process Investments: Recommendations for new defensive tools and strategies to bolster overall protection.
- Training Needs: Identifying areas where the security team would benefit from further cybersecurity training.
A penetration testing report is not just a list of findings but a roadmap for improvement. Clear reporting helps security teams and organisations communicate technical issues in a way that is easily understood, particularly by non-technical stakeholders such as executives.
Turn Penetration Test Results into Real Security Improvements
A good penetration test is only as valuable as the report that follows. Without clear documentation, actionable insights, and proper context, even the most advanced testing can fail to drive meaningful change.
That’s why at Rootshell, we take a better approach. Instead of delivering a static report, we provide results through the interactive Rootshell platform. This cloud-based platform gives clients real-time access to findings, threat prioritisation, and remediation guidance all in one place.
At Rootshell Security, we don’t just identify risks, we help you understand and act on them. Book a demo to see how our penetration testing services and Platform can help transform the way you manage and remediate vulnerabilities.
