Penetration Testing Report: A Complete Guide 2025

• A penetration testing report is the key deliverable summarizing all vulnerabilities, impacts, and remediation steps from a security assessment.
• In 2025’s high-risk threat environment, well-crafted reports help translate technical findings into actionable business priorities and meet compliance goals.
• With IBM citing U.S. breach costs averaging $9.48M, using pentest reports to identify and fix high-risk gaps is essential.
• A strong report includes both an executive summary for leadership and detailed technical findings for engineers.
• Properly documented reports also support audit compliance, satisfying standards like PCI DSS 11.3 and SOC 2 CC4.1.

What Is a Penetration Testing Report?

A penetration testing report is the final document produced after a pentest that lays out what was tested and what was found. It contains a detailed analysis of every vulnerability uncovered during the test describing each issue, its risk, and remediation steps. For example, one expert guide describes it as a document that contains a detailed analysis of the vulnerabilities uncovered during the security test. It records the vulnerabilities, the threat they pose, and possible remedial steps. In practice, a report always includes a high level executive summary for non technical stakeholders and in-depth technical findings for engineers.

This report is the bridge between security testing and security action. Executives use it to understand business impact and make risk decisions, while developers and IT staff use it to fix issues. In short, it’s both the elevator pitch for management and the field manual for remediation. Curious about the penetration test itself? See our article What is Penetration Testing? for background.

Why Penetration Testing Reports Matter in 2025

With cyber threats and regulations multiplying, a clear pentest report is more important than ever. Each year, attackers grow bolder and breaches more costly. IBM’s 2023 report found the U.S. average data breach cost $9.48 million. By identifying and documenting risks before an attacker does, organizations save money and prevent damage. In fact, a recent survey showed 72% of companies felt their pentests prevented a real breach. A good report helps teams fix high risk issues quickly and proves to stakeholders that you’re serious about security.

Compliance is another driving force. Many standards expect evidence of pen testing. For instance, PCI DSS 11.3 explicitly covers penetration testing: it states tests should cover both network and app layers internally and externally and that test methodologies and results should be documented and retained. Likewise, SOC 2’s Trust Services Criteria CC4.1 encourage diverse security evaluations, specifically mentioning penetration tests as one option. Even if not strictly mandated SOC 2 doesn’t require pentesting, auditors often expect one and review the report to confirm that critical vulnerabilities were addressed.

Moreover, customers and partners increasingly demand assurance. A polished pentest report or accompanying attestation can demonstrate robust defenses to clients, investors, or regulators. It can even be a marketing point: one firm notes that pentest reports help achieving compliance with industry standards and building trust with customers by showing you’re transparent about security.

Key Components of a Penetration Testing Report

A professional report typically has three main parts:

• Executive Summary High Level Overview: Written for executives and non technical stakeholders. It should briefly state the test’s scope and goals, highlight the most critical findings in business terms, and outline high level recommendations. For example, the summary might explain that malicious access to customer data was possible and suggest broad strategies like deploying MFA or patching critical servers. OWASP advises keeping this section clear and jargon free: focus on objectives, key risks, and business impact, not technical details.
• Technical Findings Detailed Vulnerabilities: This is for security engineers and developers. List each vulnerability with a unique ID, a title, and a severity rating e.g. CVSS score. For each finding include:
  • A description of the issue, what it is, why it matters.
  • Steps to reproduce or evidence screenshots, logs, exploit code showing how the flaw was found.
  • The impact and exploitability how an attacker could abuse it.
  • Suggested remediation specific fixes or mitigations for each issue.OWASP’s reporting guidelines stress giving enough detail so the technical team can reproduce and fix the flaw. Every finding should be actionable: After all, it is the whole point of the assessment to find and fix vulnerabilities. Optionally, you can also map issues to standards e.g. OWASP Top 10, CWE IDs and include any proof of concept code.
• Remediation & Recommendations: Toward the end, summarize how to fix the issues. This section often lists prioritized fixes for example, apply the patch for X vulnerability first and longer term security suggestions, secure development practices, user training, etc.. The report should not just hand over problems; it should clearly guide the team on next steps. As one guide puts it, the report should name steps to take to further enhance the security posture, ideally in the order they should be done.

Additional sections often include the scope and methodology what systems were tested, in what mode e.g. black box or gray box and appendices, detailed logs, tool output, evidence. For compliance, also include an attestation letter or summary that certifies the test was done by authorized testers and summarizes the overall result. Many organizations provide an attestation statement alongside the report to share with partners or regulators.

Internal vs External Penetration Testing Quick Comparison

External testing seeks to identify vulnerabilities that attackers may exploit on public networks, while Internal testing identifies vulnerabilities that could be exploited internally by malicious employees.

Another key comparison is between penetration testing vs vulnerability scanning. A vulnerability assessment or scan is typically an automated process that finds and lists potential issues. In contrast, penetration testing is an active attempt to exploit vulnerabilities. As PCI DSS notes, a vulnerability scan simply identifies and reports noted vulnerabilities, whereas a penetration test attempts to exploit the vulnerabilities to determine whether unauthorized access or other malicious activity is possible. In other words, scanning says X and Y are problems; pentesting says we exploited X to get admin, here’s proof, and here’s how to fix it.

How to Write an Effective Penetration Testing Report

Putting the report together is as important as the test itself. Here are practical steps practitioners recommend:

1. Gather and organize your data. After testing, collect all notes, logs, screenshots, and proof of concept code. Organize this by asset or vulnerability. Clean up any sensitive data like real credentials before including logs.
2. Define the scope and objectives up front. Clearly restate what was tested assets, IP ranges, app names and what the goals were external web app test, internal network audit, etc.. Include the testing dates, environment, and any rules of engagement. This provides context so readers know what was and wasn’t covered.
3. Draft the Executive Summary first. Write the high level summary in plain business language. State the purpose of the test, and then highlight the most critical findings and their business impact. For example: We were able to access the customer database finding: SQL injection which could compromise user data. We recommend patching the database server and enabling input validation. Keep it concise. OWASP suggests this section be like an elevator pitch for executives.
4. List detailed findings for engineers. For each vulnerability: assign an ID and title, describe the issue, rate its severity e.g. CVSS score, explain the technical impact, and document exact reproduction steps or screenshots. Then give precise remediation advice. OWASP’s guide recommends including all details an engineer needs to reproduce and fix the issue. Use tables or bulleted lists for clarity.
5. Provide remediation and evidence. After each finding, spell out the fix e.g. Apply patch KB1234 or disable Service X. Whenever possible, show evidence of the exploit screenshots or code. This ties the problem to the solution. Remember, as one guide stresses, the report should always include suggested fixes. It is the whole point of the assessment to find and fix vulnerabilities.
6. Include appendices and tools. Attach any raw data that’s too detailed for the main body network scans, code snippets, full logs. Also list the tools and versions used. If you followed standards like OWASP or NIST, mention that. Some teams include a CVSS scoring rubric or a testing checklist as attachments.
7. Review and refine. Ensure the report flows logically and doesn’t bury key points. Avoid excessive jargon in the summary. A few experts recommend having the report reviewed by both a security peer and a non technical stakeholder to catch gaps. As OWASP notes, clear non technical context in the summary is crucial.
8. Deliver with context. When you present the report, walk through the executive summary first. Then let technical staff examine the details. Finally, ensure leadership understands the next steps and why they matter.

Common Mistakes What to Avoid

• Too much jargon. Reports often fail when the executive summary reads like a technical log. OWASP recommends using plain language for business impact. If C level folks can’t understand your findings, they may not act on them.
• Missing or vague fixes. Listing a problem without a clear remedy is a disservice. Every finding should come with a recommended action. Vague advice like improve password policy isn’t enough; specify, for example, require 12 character passwords and enable multi factor auth on all admin accounts.
• Dumping scan results. A table of every port or alert without explanation is overwhelming. Use summaries and only include raw outputs in appendices. Focus the main report on validated issues, not every false positive or minor alert.
• Ignoring scope details. Failing to document scope systems tested, credentials used leads to confusion later was X in scope?. Always specify testing conditions up front.
• Unbalanced structure. Some reports spend pages on methodology and snippets of code but neglect the clear so what? narrative. Balance the technical depth with concise takeaways.

By following a structured format and keeping the audience in mind, you’ll maximize the report’s value. Remember: the goal isn’t just to write a document, but to guide real security improvements.

Penetration testing reports are more than just paperwork they are the blueprint for fixing security gaps. By documenting findings clearly and recommending concrete fixes, a report turns a pen test from a one time audit into continuous security improvement. In today’s landscape with rampant cyber threats and strict audits, a well written report is essential for any organization serious about resilience.

Ready to strengthen your defenses? The threats of 2025 demand more than awareness they require readiness. If you want to validate your security posture, uncover hidden risks, or build a resilient defense strategy, DeepStrike is here to help. Our team of experienced practitioners provides clear, actionable guidance to protect your business.

Explore our penetration testing services to see how we can uncover vulnerabilities before attackers do. Drop us a line our experts are always ready to dive in.

About the Author

Mohammed Khalil is a Cybersecurity Architect at DeepStrike, specializing in advanced penetration testing and offensive security operations. With certifications including CISSP, OSCP, and OSWE, he has led numerous red team engagements for Fortune 500 companies, focusing on cloud security, application vulnerabilities, and adversary emulation. His work involves dissecting complex attack chains and developing resilient defense strategies for clients in the finance, healthcare, and technology sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a penetration testing report?

A penetration testing report is the end result of a pentest. It’s a written document that details all vulnerabilities found, how they can be exploited, and how to fix them. Think of it as a roadmap for improving security: it includes a high level executive summary plus detailed technical sections covering each finding.

• What are the key sections of a pentest report?

Typically, a professional report has an Executive Summary goals, overall risk, business impact, Technical Findings each vulnerability with severity, description, evidence, and remediation, and Recommendations prioritized fixes and next steps. Appendices often list test scope/methodology, tool output, and references. OWASP’s guidelines and industry templates recommend this structure to clearly address both management and technical audiences.

• Who should read a penetration testing report?

Multiple roles: Executives and managers read the summary to understand business risk and compliance status. Security and IT teams use the technical details to implement fixes. Developers examine specific code or config issues. It can even be shared with auditors or clients as proof of diligence. In fact, a pentest report can support certifications like SOC 2 or ISO 27001, demonstrating you’ve tested and fixed vulnerabilities.

• How often should penetration testing be done?

Industry best practices suggest at least annually or after any major change. For example, PCI DSS requires yearly tests or after significant upgrades. In dynamic environments like continuous deployment, more frequent or continuous testing via a PTaaS model is recommended. Regular reports keep security posture up to date. At a minimum, updating your report annually and after each re-test ensures new vulnerabilities haven’t crept in.

• Is penetration testing required for compliance audits?

It depends on the standard. Some explicitly require documented pentests PCI DSS 11.3, HIPAA guidance, etc., while others like SOC 2 consider them a strong recommendation but not mandatory. For instance, SOC 2’s CC4.1 trusts ongoing evaluations including penetration testing, so doing a pentest helps demonstrate your controls. In general, even if not strictly required, a good report can greatly simplify an audit and provide valuable evidence of security efforts.

• How is a pentest report different from a vulnerability scan?

A vulnerability scan assessment automatically finds known issues and lists them. A pentest goes further by actively exploiting vulnerabilities to show their real impact. In simple terms: a scan says these issues exist, whereas penetration testing proves how they can be used maliciously. Thus, pentest reports usually have more depth, context, and prioritization than simple scan reports.