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Exam Information
Official specifications published by EC-Council
Exam Format
Advanced Professional
Registration
$1000 USD
Remote Proctored Online (Aspen Platform) or online proctoring
Validity
3 years
Earn 120 ECE (EC-Council Continuing Education) credits over 3 years; Pay annual continuing education fee of $250 USD; Retake and pass the CPENT exam
CPENT Exam Topics and Domains
CPENT is organized into 14 weighted domains. Expect to work with Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Cloud API testing tools, Metasploit Framework, and more.
1
Introduction to Penetration Testing and Methodologies
7%
Penetration Testing Fundamentals
Penetration Testing Concepts and ApproachesPenetration Testing Methodologies and FrameworksAI-Driven Penetration Testing
- Understand fundamental penetration testing concepts and approaches
- Apply industry-standard methodologies and frameworks
- Distinguish between different types of penetration tests
- Utilize AI-driven tools for enhanced penetration testing
2
Penetration Testing Scoping and Engagement
7%
Scoping and Rules of Engagement
Defining Scope and ObjectivesRisk Assessment and Planning
- Define clear scope and objectives for penetration tests
- Establish rules of engagement with clients
- Conduct risk assessments and threat modeling
- Create comprehensive penetration testing plans
3
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
7%
OSINT Collection and Analysis
Passive Information GatheringWebsite and Infrastructure Analysis
- Collect intelligence from publicly available sources
- Use OSINT tools and frameworks effectively
- Analyze digital footprints and infrastructure
- Build comprehensive target profiles using passive techniques
4
Social Engineering Penetration Testing
7%
Social Engineering Techniques and Testing
Phishing and PretextingPhysical Security Testing
- Design and execute social engineering campaigns
- Test human vulnerabilities and security awareness
- Perform physical security assessments
- Measure organizational susceptibility to social engineering
5
Network Penetration Testing - External
7%
External Network Assessment
External Network ReconnaissanceExternal Vulnerability Exploitation
- Conduct external network reconnaissance and enumeration
- Identify and exploit externally accessible vulnerabilities
- Bypass perimeter security controls
- Gain initial access from an outsider's perspective
6
Network Penetration Testing - Internal
7%
Internal Network Assessment
Internal Reconnaissance and EnumerationLateral Movement and Pivoting
- Conduct internal network reconnaissance from an insider's perspective
- Enumerate Active Directory and domain resources
- Perform lateral movement and credential theft
- Execute double pivoting to access hidden networks
7
Network Penetration Testing - Perimeter Devices
7%
Perimeter Device Security Assessment
Firewall TestingIDS/IPS and Router/Switch Testing
- Test security of perimeter devices including firewalls
- Evade IDS/IPS detection systems
- Exploit router and switch vulnerabilities
- Perform VLAN hopping and network segmentation attacks
8
Web Application Penetration Testing
14%
OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities
Injection AttacksBroken Authentication and Session ManagementCross-Site Scripting (XSS)API Security Testing
- Identify and exploit OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities
- Test web application authentication and session management
- Perform comprehensive API security assessments
- Exploit injection, XSS, and authorization flaws
9
Wireless Penetration Testing
7%
Wireless Network Security Testing
WLAN Security TestingRFID and NFC Testing
- Test wireless network security (WLAN, RFID, NFC)
- Exploit wireless encryption weaknesses
- Perform wireless network attacks and MitM
- Clone RFID badges and test NFC security
10
IoT Penetration Testing
7%
Internet of Things Security Assessment
IoT Device Security TestingIoT Network and Cloud Security
- Test security of IoT devices and networks
- Extract and analyze IoT firmware
- Exploit IoT protocols and communication channels
- Assess IoT cloud and API security
11
OT/SCADA Penetration Testing
7%
Operational Technology Security Testing
SCADA System TestingICS Network Security
- Understand OT and SCADA system architectures
- Test security of industrial control systems
- Exploit SCADA protocols and PLCs
- Assess ICS network segmentation and security
12
Cloud Penetration Testing
7%
Cloud Security Assessment
Cloud Infrastructure TestingCloud Application and Container Security
- Test security of cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Identify and exploit cloud misconfigurations
- Assess container and Kubernetes security
- Test serverless and cloud-native applications
13
Binary Analysis and Exploitation
7%
Reverse Engineering and Exploitation
Binary Analysis TechniquesExploit Development
- Perform binary analysis and reverse engineering
- Identify vulnerabilities in compiled applications
- Develop custom exploits for binary vulnerabilities
- Bypass modern exploit mitigation techniques
14
Report Writing and Post Testing Actions
7%
Penetration Test Reporting
Executive Summary and Technical ReportingPost-Testing Activities
- Write comprehensive penetration testing reports
- Document findings with appropriate evidence
- Provide actionable remediation recommendations
- Conduct post-testing activities and client debriefings
How do I earn this certification?
Passing CPENT earns the CPENT (Certified Penetration Testing Professional) certification. It sits in the Penetration Testing & Ethical Hacking track.
Current Level Exams
CPENT AI - Certified Penetration Testing Professional with AI
Next Level Options
- LPT Master - Licensed Penetration Tester MasterAutomatically earned by scoring 90%+ on CPENT exam
- CCISO - Certified Chief Information Security Officer Leadership track for experienced security professionals
Alternative Paths
- CHFI - Computer Hacking Forensic InvestigatorComplementary forensics skills for incident response
- ECIH - EC-Council Certified Incident Handler Defensive security and incident handling skills
- CASE - Certified Application Security Engineer Deep dive into secure coding and application security
- CND - Certified Network Defender Network defense and blue team skills
- CEH v13 AI - Certified Ethical Hacker with AI AI-driven threat detection and ethical hacking techniques
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for CPENT is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2024-12-01
Updates
- AI-Powered Penetration Testing Tools CPENT AI v1.0 New AI-driven modules integrated across all 14 CPENT modules • Release date: 2024-06-01
- Kubernetes and Container Security Updated Module 12 Enhanced container escape techniques and Kubernetes cluster exploitation • Release date: 2024-08-01
- WPA3 Wireless Security Testing Updated Module 9 New WPA3 attack techniques added to wireless testing module • Release date: 2024-07-01
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by Penetration testers seeking advanced practical certification and Security consultants and auditors.
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) certification or equivalent
- CEH Practical certification
- ECSA Practical certification
- 2+ years of information security experience (required for direct exam attempt without training)
- Solid understanding of networking, OS internals (Windows/Linux), and scripting
- Prior hands-on penetration testing experience