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Learning Penetration Testing with Python

You're reading from   Learning Penetration Testing with Python Utilize Python scripting to execute effective and efficient penetration tests

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Product type Paperback
Published in Sep 2015
Publisher
ISBN-13 9781785282324
Length 314 pages
Edition 1st Edition
Languages
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Author (1):
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Christopher Duffy Christopher Duffy
Author Profile Icon Christopher Duffy
Christopher Duffy
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Table of Contents (12) Chapters Close

Preface 1. Understanding the Penetration Testing Methodology FREE CHAPTER 2. The Basics of Python Scripting 3. Identifying Targets with Nmap, Scapy, and Python 4. Executing Credential Attacks with Python 5. Exploiting Services with Python 6. Assessing Web Applications with Python 7. Cracking the Perimeter with Python 8. Exploit Development with Python, Metasploit, and Immunity 9. Automating Reports and Tasks with Python 10. Adding Permanency to Python Tools Index

Understanding how to parse XML files for reports

We are going to use nmap XMLs as an example to show how you can parse data into a useable format. Our end goal will be to place the data in a Python dictionary of unique results. We can then use that data to build structured outputs that we find useful. To begin, we need an XML file that can be parsed and reviewed. Run an nmap scan of your localhost with the nmap -oX test 127.0.0.1 command.

This will produce a file that highlights the two open ports using XML markup language, as shown here:

Understanding how to parse XML files for reports

With an actual XML file, we can review the components of the data structure. Understanding how an XML file is designed will better prepare you to generate the code that will read it. Specifically, the descriptions here are based on what the etree library classifies the components of an XML file as. The etree library handles the XML data conceptually like a tree, with relevant branches, subbranches, and even twigs. In computer science terms, we call this...

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