## What's in a Pentest Report

Here’s what you can expect in a Pentest Report.


:::info
Our pentest reports include what you need to further secure your systems.

:::

We provide the following [types of pentest reports](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/reports-YkC2da1roR#h-pentest-report-types):

* For [Agile](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/glossary-YfTMKeZ1VM#h-agile-pentest) pentests:
  * Automated Report
* For [Comprehensive](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/glossary-YfTMKeZ1VM#h-comprehensive-pentest) and [In-House](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/glossary-YfTMKeZ1VM#h-in-house-pentest) pentests:
  * Customer Letter
  * Attestation Report
  * Attestation Letter
  * Full Report
  * Full Report + Finding Details

The report type determines its contents. If you’ve purchased an appropriate [PtaaS tier](https://www.cobalt.io/pentest-pricing), you can [customize](https://docs.cobalt.io/articles/customize-your-report-uqGyfWEzaa) the contents of some reports.

Select a report section to navigate to it. Available sections depend on the report type. ![](https://brainfish-storage-prod.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/uploads/e1eb5d82-35e0-4c9f-bde1-0baec07941c1/e7ff85fd-8345-4ca5-8a7a-c635fff3f9e2/image.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAUPPN5IL36DGGCY5R%2F20260425%2Fus-east-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260425T134303Z&X-Amz-Expires=3000&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEMn%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMiJIMEYCIQCCnlN6BdSGOGeJURt%2FBcTzsN6WRSZGEnQLsqvSlBxGaQIhANK8NeLXFRHUtuW%2FO2TeFjrTMyJqjGE%2Bq7pQmUSWroIJKuYFCJL%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEQAhoMMzA4MTI1OTc1Mjg3Igwhkw%2FL4xY8oHk5wKoqugVeSI1H0jYEjx%2BSQ7D5ihTPUFwd77JWsenSlLxCQWyzkEjOoez1LoLQldnHk%2B%2F9NmvABV0LTkIjszKLZGiEWl8r%2FF9siwlf102qfAz0oApH3O5sgi8Bn8k1A8gjGrypEZnCdqTDWzSG2U5Zyn1Bu0Po1QHu42bWksg67fSw9zkQKEw7sI127iM0u8%2FOtvhxGoYnCrNYVKWGh0k3TFIkDOUAXaP75SNcOf%2FttShU38yKECnb2vbiabpdNHYZ3O6lpiEHTRlGxahD9EwyfFDXlXOWQmg5jFUJOyMAY9KsTbKlKAzPaIcLjmELXazI3mbyeoTj0hNAnCbwRl4xgLxMcHlg6pNeKk4Gprz96CgnQ5BsX7UQmOCSOSgtFjr%2FR5UbGb5F11GGoq9ihxTsAlLQYzItFeYwPkQWws8lOz2IgIe7nDj0YydQLms6Bu6qTgwklN%2B3aWg3sf%2BoYCTsrLkebu1AhI21U5w6xxfYq%2FXCDTmoJ%2FcdK9myA2j8iAej0ptYDn%2BcDJNtGxUEME%2BnIeHQ1adLnXTV2UEkdIO%2FjAWBwCxyLtYKv6zjIqhUy4qgsIsrvoSDAImz4gOvixBfPXjoV7RTs9cBxY2oyfYaP9oDxjjVOYYX75q8InzhKAQ9yjusid7MoeQVyVzZ5rypWjLDGsWVwAyZyrTsHlSw13J5bjtJqGww6BrwRnTNNsuRV6UaFiBeGeqXRmXeoqjFWblv7Ek82yIqRxqVHufrghcR1PpItVdZiHzQP3UI7cy0SZw08ncVGCE6OCSpKe95Lx5lTHPybopY%2FS0F2b%2FXdYgpZtww2tSiWv7dqrTlzraJwwWcU5IGkTuvHaXXy%2B%2Fz9XFsYZHW3xPYoi0tmA%2BGFK2BCPhAt6P%2BhEIDP%2BKyLdf4V4jLMwxDD9%2BOe4mTaITsWONDaFGGGcYwbxF4tOToazDt%2F7HPBjqPAX7jTtmWJtBaSrl5%2BESw1VM0FEA58a5oi6orA6yZCh8xVa4CaD6vnOAJNdLDT%2FiIJZgpgRQNLNXsIj2voOwr9nZK%2FU19gfTOPuPghBFISlMtHSB1jZCzIO8%2BXuKbgD2DpcXIrN5rWTFIoW56bFz8nH%2F%2F1i7uNUaebb5hjKJG8Q5T6cfiyNorT59rKY5nkosq&X-Amz-Signature=b47bec01162fdaeb0fd86357e8f703e52e7ac1dbacc64ee5094a9ebbac8fa276&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=attachment)

## Target

The [Pentest Target](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/pentest-details-LXoQDryEPD), which indicates the location of your asset.

## Test Period

The dates of the pentest engagement.

## Test Performed By

Pentesters who tested your asset. Each pentester name includes a link to their Cobalt profile.

## Executive Summary

The executive summary includes:

* A high-level summary of the tests that pentesters performed
* A table with the number of [findings](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/glossary-YfTMKeZ1VM#h-finding) that pentesters identified, categorized by different [severity levels](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/severity-levels-QCUIhkAYey)
* Highlights of any significant findings

## Scope of Work

The scope shown in the following subsections varies depending on the [asset type](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/asset-types-OQp8vLaQ85).

### Target Description

The report includes information on the asset that pentesters tested, along with the [environment](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/glossary-YfTMKeZ1VM#h-environment) you specified when planning the pentest:

* Production (for end users)
* Staging (proposed future production environment)
* Development (asset in work)

### In-Scope Testing Methodologies

In this section, we get into more specifics on the tests that pentesters performed. In general, we test to standards such as:

* [OWASP Top 10](https://owasp.org/Top10/)
* [OWASP Application Security Verification Standard](https://owasp.org/www-project-application-security-verification-standard/)

In this section we include a checklist of the tests that we performed on your assets. Depending on your asset, it may also include manual and automated steps that we use with black box and grammar-based fuzzing. For more information, see:

* [OWASP definition of Fuzzing](https://owasp.org/www-community/Fuzzing)
* [A brief introduction to fuzzing and why it’s an important tool for developers](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/a-brief-introduction-to-fuzzing-and-why-its-an-important-tool-for-developers/)

### Test Cases that Thwarted Exploitation Attempts

This section lists the tests that did *not* find vulnerabilities while testing your asset.

## Methodology

This section includes basic methodologies that pentesters used before, during, and after the test.

### Pre-Engagement

* Scoping
* Customer
* Documentation
* Information
* Discovery

### Penetration Testing

* Tool-assisted assessment
* Manual assessment
* Exploitation
* Risk Analysis
* Reporting

### Post Engagement

* Prioritized remediation
* Best practice support
* Retesting

## Risk Factors

We use a modified version of the [OWASP Risk Rating Methodology](https://owasp.org/www-community/OWASP_Risk_Rating_Methodology), based on their business impact and likelihood. We measure each factor on a scale from 1 (very low) to 5 (very high).

## Severity Definitions

Based on the [Risk Factors](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/customize-your-report-uqGyfWEzaa#h-risk-factors), we assign a rating to each finding, using the following equation:

```
Risk = Impact * Likelihood
```

For more information, see our documentation on [Severity Levels](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/severity-levels-QCUIhkAYey).

## Summary of Findings

When feasible, this section includes graphs that categorize vulnerabilities by:

* Type
* Severity

### Analysis

A short summary of each vulnerability. If you have a Full Report + Finding Details, you can find more information about each vulnerability in the appendix on [Finding Details](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/customize-your-report-uqGyfWEzaa#h-appendix-a-finding-details).

Where applicable, this section also includes a list of open ports and services.

### General Risk Profile

We include a color-coded chart based on impact and likelihood of each vulnerability.

## Recommendations

This section includes pentesters’ recommendations for what you can do to [mitigate](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/glossary-YfTMKeZ1VM#h-mitigate) and [remediate](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/glossary-YfTMKeZ1VM#h-remediate) each finding.

## Post-Test Remediation

This section includes the type, severity, and state of each finding, as well as whether the finding has been resolved.

For findings that you [Fixed](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/customize-your-report-uqGyfWEzaa) or marked as [Accepted Risk](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/remediate-findings-22WPR0Fnlv#h-mark-a-finding-as-accepted-risk), you can see a date when it was resolved.

## Terms

This section includes a disclaimer. Terms don’t appear in reports for [In-House Pentests](https://docs.cobalt.io/en-us/articles/glossary-YfTMKeZ1VM#h-in-house-pentest).

## Appendix A - Finding Details

In this section, you can see details for each finding. This includes the following:

* Vulnerability Type
* Description
* Affected URLs
* Proof of Concept of the vulnerability
* Severity
* Suggested Fix




Contents of a Pentest Report

Pentests

Overview

Asset Details

Pentest Details

Scope & Test Period

Preparation

Create a Pentest

Pentest Process

Pentest States

Coverage Checklist

Pentest Expectations

Set Up an In-House Pentest

Complete an In-House Pentest (For Pentesters)

In House Pentests

Severity Levels

Finding States

Remediate Findings

Findings

Customize Your Report

Co-branded Reports

Reports

How to get started with Cobalt

Getting Started

Risk Advisories

Assets are what we pentest

Asset Types

Create an Asset

Assets

Engagements Overview

Digital Risk Assessment

Secure Code Review

Engagements

Insights

Planning

Cobalt Methodologies Overview

Web Methodologies

API Methodologies

External Network Methodologies

Internal Network Methodologies

Mobile Methodologies

Cloud Configuration Review Methodologies

Cloud Pentest Methodology

Desktop Methodologies

AI/LLM Methodologies

Digital Risk Assessment Methodology

Secure Code Review Methodologies

Methodologies

Attack Surface Monitoring (ASM)

Attack Surface

DAST Scanner Overview

Best Practices

Integrations

Partial Scans: Reduced Scope

Scans

Sequence recorder

Targets

Target Authentication

Extra Hosts

Blackout Period

DAST Scanner

Account Overview

Account Settings

Password Best Practices

Sign In to Cobalt

Troubleshoot Sign-in Issues

User Account

Collaboration Overview

Collaborate on Pentests

Groups

Manage Pentest Collaborators

Manage Notifications

User Roles and Permissions

Collaboration

Organization Overview

Manage Users

Your Cobalt Contract

Configure SAML SSO

How to Configure SAML 2.0 for Cobalt 

SAML Migration: Update Your Configuration

SCIM Provisioning Setup Guide

Configure Organization Settings

Organization

Track Your Credits

Cobalt Credits

Cobalt PtaaS Tiers

Credits

Cobalt Integrations Overview

Troubleshooting

Create Jira tickets for Findings

Send email notifications for Findings from Outlook

Create GitLab tickets for Findings

Create GitHub tickets for Findings

HTTP Connector

Import Assets from Google Sheets

Map Cobalt Pentest Finding Severity to Jira Issue Priority

Modify Jira Issue Summary to contain Pentest Title

Create Azure DevOps Work Item for Findings

Send MS Teams notifications for Findings

How to Guides

Connect your applications

Integration Builder

Synchronize Cobalt Severity Levels with Jira

Push Cobalt Findings to Jira

Jira Cloud Integration

Jira Data Center Integration

Troubleshoot Your Jira Integration

Switching to a New Jira Instance

Integrate Jira with Cobalt

Slack

Microsoft Teams

Webhooks

DefectDojo

Kenna Security

Vanta

Carried Over Findings

Create Test Finding

Cobalt API Overview

Create a Personal Cobalt API Token

Get an Organization Token

Revoke Your Personal Cobalt API Tokens

Create or Modify an Asset

Import Findings to Google Sheets

Cobalt API

Glossary

March 2026

February 2026

January 2026

November 2025 

August 2025

July 2025

June 2025

May 2025

April 2025

March 2025

January 2025

December 2024

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

April 2024

March 2024

January 2024

What's New

Guide

Cobalt Product Documentation

Contents of a Pentest Report

Share

Share

Contents of a Pentest Report

Share

Share