312-40

The EC-Council 312-40 exam, Certified Ethical Hacking (CEH) v12, covers a broad range of cybersecurity concepts and techniques. The main points can be categorized as follows:

I. Fundamental Concepts:

• Networking Fundamentals: IP addressing, subnetting, routing protocols (basic understanding), TCP/IP model, network topologies. This is foundational knowledge needed to understand how attacks work.
• Security Principles: Risk management, vulnerability management, security policies, incident response, and ethical considerations. Understanding the "why" behind ethical hacking.
• Operating Systems: Basic understanding of Windows and Linux operating systems, particularly regarding security configurations and vulnerabilities.

II. Reconnaissance and Footprinting:

• Information Gathering: This is the first phase of ethical hacking. Techniques include passive and active reconnaissance, using search engines, whois, DNS lookups, etc., to gather information about the target.
• Footprinting Techniques: Identifying network and system vulnerabilities by analyzing publicly available information.

III. Scanning and Enumeration:

• Network Scanning: Using tools like Nmap to identify open ports, services running, and potential vulnerabilities.
• Vulnerability Scanning: Using tools like Nessus to identify known software and configuration vulnerabilities.
• Enumeration: Gathering detailed information about systems and services to identify potential attack vectors.

IV. System Hacking:

• Windows based systems: Exploiting vulnerabilities in Windows-based systems. This includes various attacks like password cracking, privilege escalation, and exploiting known vulnerabilities in Windows applications and services.
• Linux based systems: Similar to Windows, but focusing on Linux specific vulnerabilities and exploitation techniques.

V. Network Attacks and Penetration Testing:

• Denial of Service (DoS) attacks: Understanding and identifying different types of DoS attacks.
• Session Hijacking: Intercepting and exploiting network sessions.
• SQL injection: Exploiting vulnerabilities in database applications.
• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Identifying and exploiting XSS flaws in web applications.
• Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks: Intercepting communication between two parties.
• Penetration Testing Methodology: Understanding the different phases and approaches to penetration testing (e.g., black box, white box, grey box).

VI. Web Application Security:

• Common Web Vulnerabilities: OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL injection, XSS, broken authentication).
• Secure Coding Practices: Understanding the basics of secure coding to prevent vulnerabilities.
• Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): Functionality and usage of WAFs.

VII. Sniffing, Spoofing, and Evasion:

• Packet Sniffing: Capturing network traffic.
• IP Spoofing: Disguising the source IP address.
• Evasion Techniques: Methods to bypass security measures (e.g., IDS/IPS).

VIII. Social Engineering and Physical Security:

• Social Engineering Techniques: Manipulating individuals to gain access to information or systems.
• Physical Security: Identifying vulnerabilities in physical security, such as unsecured access points or weak locks.

IX. Cryptography:

• Basic cryptography concepts: Encryption, hashing, digital signatures. Focus is on understanding how these concepts relate to security vulnerabilities.

It's crucial to remember that the exam emphasizes practical knowledge and the ability to apply security tools and techniques. Understanding the underlying concepts is just as important as knowing how to use the tools. The exam tests your ability to recognize, exploit, and mitigate vulnerabilities. The specific tools and techniques examined may vary slightly between exam versions, so always check the official EC-Council documentation for the most up-to-date information.