Always Listen To The Guy On The Ground

When executing a physical penetration test, the primary goal is to assess and exploit vulnerabilities in a facility's physical security. But how do you maximize your chances of success, especially when time is limited? The answer often lies in the people who work there. These employees—ranging from normal employees to janitors and security guards, cafeteria staff and maintenance workers—are your key to uncovering the hidden weak spots that no amount of high-tech reconnaissance or surveillance can easily reveal.

The guy on the ground is a metaphor for the person who has the most experience and is actually physically present in the location you wish to operate and learn about. When you are engaged in a physical pentest, you will likely only have days to a week to learn everything there is about a building, its staff and all its vulnerabilities.

Timing, luck and other factors will all play their part in which pieces of information you will uncover or even witness in that limited time frame, but the guy on the ground likely already knows them all … you just have to meet the metaphor and win his trust.

I would like to take a minute and give credit to this concept to Pete Blaber, a former Delta Force Commander and author of excellent books including “The mission, the men and me”.

Guy on the Ground: Social Engineering

One of the most significant challenges in physical pentesting is the limited time available for recon. Even with thorough planning, it’s nearly impossible to identify every weak spot or security gap within a facility. Some vulnerabilities are transient or conditional, like a server room access control system being temporarily offline for repairs, which might only happen on a specific day, or a employee birthday party that will be held late at night during your testing period. These kinds of nuances are often known only to the employees who work there, and traditional recon methods, like surveillance or mapping, might completely miss them.

This is where social engineering shines. By engaging with employees or contractors—be it the maintenance staff, cleaning crew, or security guards—you can extract vital, time-sensitive information that can greatly enhance the success of your penetration test. The importance of social engineering in physical pentesting cannot be overstated. By building rapport with the people who know the facility best, you can uncover hidden vulnerabilities and obtain access to sensitive areas far more efficiently than through external reconnaissance alone.