PenTest++: Elevating Ethical Hacking with AI and Automation

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2502.09484v1
• Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:46:23 GMT
• Title: PenTest++: Elevating Ethical Hacking with AI and Automation
• Authors: Haitham S. Al-Sinani, Chris J. Mitchell,
• Abstract summary: PenTest++ is an AI-augmented system that integrates automation with generative AI (GenAI) to optimise ethical hacking. It balances automation with human oversight, ensuring informed decision-making at key stages.
• Score: 2.3020018305241337
• License:
• Abstract: Traditional ethical hacking relies on skilled professionals and time-intensive command management, which limits its scalability and efficiency. To address these challenges, we introduce PenTest++, an AI-augmented system that integrates automation with generative AI (GenAI) to optimise ethical hacking workflows. Developed in a controlled virtual environment, PenTest++ streamlines critical penetration testing tasks, including reconnaissance, scanning, enumeration, exploitation, and documentation, while maintaining a modular and adaptable design. The system balances automation with human oversight, ensuring informed decision-making at key stages, and offers significant benefits such as enhanced efficiency, scalability, and adaptability. However, it also raises ethical considerations, including privacy concerns and the risks of AI-generated inaccuracies (hallucinations). This research underscores the potential of AI-driven systems like PenTest++ to complement human expertise in cybersecurity by automating routine tasks, enabling professionals to focus on strategic decision-making. By incorporating robust ethical safeguards and promoting ongoing refinement, PenTest++ demonstrates how AI can be responsibly harnessed to address operational and ethical challenges in the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

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