Tailgating is the term used to describe a situation where a penetration tester bypasses physical access controls and gains access to a facility by entering at the same time as an employee.
Tailgating:
Definition: Tailgating occurs when an unauthorized person follows an authorized person into a restricted area without the latter’s consent or knowledge. The authorized person typically opens a door or checkpoint, and the unauthorized person slips in behind them.
Example: An attacker waits near the entrance of a building and enters right after an employee, bypassing security measures.
Physical Security:
Importance: Physical security is a crucial aspect of overall security posture. Tailgating exploits human factors and weaknesses in physical security controls.
Prevention: Security measures such as turnstiles, mantraps, and security personnel can help prevent tailgating.
Pentest References:
Physical Penetration Testing: Tailgating is a common technique used in physical penetration tests to assess the effectiveness of an organization’s physical security controls.
Social Engineering: Tailgating often involves social engineering, where the attacker relies on the politeness or unawareness of the employee to gain unauthorized access.
By understanding and using tailgating, penetration testers can evaluate the effectiveness of an organization’s physical security measures and identify potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors.
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