After completing a penetration test, you are in the process of post-engagement cleanup. What is the BEST action to take to ensure that no backdoors or remote access methods remain accessible to potential attackers?
Check for updates on all the software installed on the systems
Uninstall all penetration testing tools from the client's systems
Remove all reverse shells and backdoors installed during the testing
Change all passwords used during the penetration testing engagement
The correct answer is to remove all reverse shells and backdoors that were installed during the testing process. This action ensures that no unauthorized entry points remain, which could be exploited by an attacker. Simply uninstalling tools doesn't guarantee that access methods created by those tools are also removed. Changing all passwords could be a prudent post-engagement action but it may not remove any shells that were installed. Checking for updates is important, but it focuses on patch management rather than the removal of intentionally installed access methods.
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What are reverse shells and how do they work?
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Why is simply uninstalling tools not enough for post-engagement cleanup?