FEP3370 Advanced Ethical Hacking 8.0 credits
This course is centered around a penetration testing project, where students learn practical skills of offensive cyber security by attacking a computer network deployed for training purposes. A variety of attack techniques and tools are explored, for network and vulnerability scanning, exploit deployment, command and control, password cracking, etc. Additionally, this course includes an element of exploit development and testing.
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Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
The main activity of the course is a project where students attack a corporate computer network with the aim of exfiltrating specific information. The network is rigged by the course responsibles in a virtual environment. Tools for network and vulnerability scanning, platforms for exploit development, command and control, password cracking, etc. are presented during the course, but students are free to employ methods and tools of their own choice.
Additionally, students are tasked with the development and testing of a new vulnerability exploit.
Intended learning outcomes
After completed course, the student should be able to
• establish resources to support offensive security operations,
• perform reconnaissance and discovery to plan operations,
• access credentials, such as account names, passwords and access tokens,
• achieve initial access to networks and systems,
• execute malicious code on remote devices,
• establish command and control capabilities to communicate with compromised systems,
• elevate privileges on systems to gain higher-level permissions,
• persist on networks by maintaining access across interruptions,
• move laterally, pivoting through the computing environment,
• avoid detection by network defenders,
• collect and exfiltrate data from computing environments,
• assess the security of computer systems, applications, and services,
• carry out legal and ethical security testing.
Course disposition
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
Recommended prerequisites
Equipment
Literature
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
Examination
- EXA1 - Examination, 8.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
Other requirements for final grade
• Submission of required data files exfiltrated from exploited network
• Submission and approval of developed exploit and test results
• Participation in all seminars
• Submission of weekly progress reports
Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Examiner
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
Course web
Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.
Course web FEP3370