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Why PCI DSS Penetration Testing Is Essential
Merchants and service providers that store, process, or transmit cardholder data face a consistently high‑threat environment. Attackers target weak segmentation boundaries, exploitable application flaws, and connected systems that provide indirect access to the CDE. Without effective penetration testing, exploitable pathways to the CDE may remain undetected, creating both a tangible breach risk and a clear failure to satisfy PCI DSS compliance obligations.
Validates that deployed security controls withstand realistic attack techniques.
Identifies vulnerabilities in infrastructure, applications, and network isolation.
Demonstrates alignment with PCI DSS Requirement 11.3.
Reduces the probability of a CDE compromise and subsequent regulatory impact.
What PCI DSS Penetration Testing Detects
Iterasec’s PCI DSS penetration testing identifies vulnerabilities that could enable attackers to compromise cardholder data. Common findings include:
Segmentation Bypass
Firewall, ACL, VLAN, or routing misconfigurations allowing unauthorized communication between non‑CDE and CDE segments.
Application‑Layer Exploits
Injection flaws (SQLi, NoSQLi), authentication bypass, insecure session handling, insecure direct object references, and weaknesses in payment APIs or gateways.
Privilege Escalation
Ability for low‑privilege accounts to obtain elevated rights within the CDE due to configuration flaws, patch gaps, or overly permissive RBAC rules.
Unnecessary Service Exposure
Insecure or non‑essential services exposed within CDE‑connected networks that may facilitate intrusion.
Outdated or Vulnerable Software
Unsupported OS versions, unpatched libraries, or outdated payment application components.
Weak Cryptographic Practices
Deprecated SSL/TLS protocols, insecure cipher usage, and improper certificate or key management.
Lateral Movement Paths
Techniques to pivot from compromised non‑CDE hosts into CDE networks.
Data Leakage Vectors
Accidental exposure of sensitive cardholder data via verbose error messages, debug endpoints, log misconfigurations, or misconfigured cloud storage.
Key PCI DSS Requirements Addressed
Documented Methodology
Testing covers external and internal networks, application layers, segmentation controls (where applicable), and includes defined remediation verification.
Internal Penetration Testing
Annual and post-change testing within the trusted network to identify lateral movement, privilege escalation, and internal misconfigurations.
External Penetration Testing
Annual and post-change testing from an external perspective, targeting internet-facing systems and services with potential CDE impact.
Remediation and Retesting
All exploitable vulnerabilities and weaknesses must be addressed and retested to confirm fixes.
Segmentation Testing
Testing at least every six months and after changes to verify CDE isolation from other networks.
Why Choose Iterasec for PCI DSS Penetration Testing
Standards and methodologies
- OWASP, OSSTM, MITRE, NIST
- CWE/SANS Top 25
- CIS Benchmarks
- Cloud security guidelines from
Manual approach
- Humans, not scanners do pentesting
- Going beyond simply following checklists
- Deep insights on security design and architecture
Keeping customers informed
- Delivery High and Critical findings as we find them
- Weekly reports
High-quality reporting
- Detailed reports
- Weekly status reports
- Attestation letter
- CSV export
Re-tests
- Retesting idenditied vulerabiltiies
- Providing an updated report
AI-optimised process
- Adding efficiency
- Secure and wise approach to AI/LLM usage
Contact Iterasec to arrange PCI DSS penetration testing customized to your CDE and compliance needs.
Contact usExpert Cybersecurity Team
While certifications are necessary as a baseline, we go much deeper in building our expertise:
Rigorous recruitment process, where even candidates from large cybersecurity consulting firms fail
Expertise + certification, not the opposite
Continuous professional development and exchanging knowledge
Discover All Steps How Iterasec PCI DSS Pentesting Services Work
During our pentests, we follow industry-accepted security testing frameworks, including the PCI DSS Penetration Testing Guidance (v4.0), NIST SP 800-115, the OWASP Testing Guide, and the OWASP Top 10 and API Security Top 10, complemented by MITRE ATT&CK and other relevant standards. While we employ select automated tools for efficiency, the core of our work is manual, expert-driven analysis — ensuring findings are practical, relevant, and aligned with PCI DSS requirements.
We keep clients informed in the course of the project, providing regular status updates and immediate notifications for critical findings.
- 1A kick-off meeting to agree on the scope, inputs and communication
- 2Cloud pentest (2-5 weeks, depending on the scope)
- 3The final report that highlights the identified cloud security issues
Explore Our Sample PCI Penetration Testing Services Report
Please contact us, and we will send you a sample report covering several applications.
Talk to usWhat Clients Say About Our PCI DSS penetration testing company
“Iterasec delivered a detailed report, which identified vulnerabilities and included mitigations for each one. The team facilitated a smooth workflow through frequent communication. The team showed a keen interest in understanding our business.”
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FAQ
PCI DSS penetration testing is required to validate that security controls protecting the CDE effectively withstand real‑world attack techniques. PCI DSS Requirement 11.3 mandates both internal and external testing, while 11.3.3 covers segmentation verification. Without it, vulnerabilities may remain undiscovered, exposing payment card data to potential compromise and leaving the organization out of compliance.
PCI DSS penetration testing services must be performed at least annually and after any significant change that could impact the CDE’s security. Examples of significant changes include introducing new payment processing systems, modifying segmentation boundaries, or changing hosting infrastructure. Organizations with frequent changes or higher risk profiles often choose quarterly or semi‑annual PCI pen testing for stronger assurance.
A PCI penetration test typically includes internet‑facing systems, internal servers, payment applications, APIs, databases storing cardholder data, network segmentation controls, and any supporting infrastructure that could provide access to the CDE. The specific scope is determined during the engagement to match PCI DSS requirements and the organization’s architecture.
Yes. All organizations that store, process, or transmit cardholder data must perform PCI DSS penetration testing to comply with PCI DSS requirements. This includes both internal and external testing as well as segmentation verification if network isolation is used. Non‑compliance can result in financial penalties, increased transaction fees, and loss of ability to process payments.
No. Vulnerability scanning and PCI DSS penetration testing services are complementary but distinct requirements. Vulnerability scanning uses automated tools to identify known weaknesses, while penetration testing actively exploits vulnerabilities to validate risk and test the effectiveness of security controls. PCI DSS requires both.
Yes, external PCI penetration testing is typically conducted remotely. Internal testing, including segmentation verification, may be performed on‑site or via secure remote access to internal systems, depending on operational constraints. Iterasec, as a PCI DSS penetration testing vendor, ensures testing conditions accurately simulate attacker scenarios.
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