Red Teaming & Adversary Simulation

Physical Access Red Team

  • May 8, 2025
  • 0

Sherlocked Security – Physical Access Red Team

Test the Resilience of Your Organization Against Physical Security Breaches

1. Statement of Work (SOW)

Service Name: Physical Access Red Team Testing
Client Type: Enterprises, Government, Financial Institutions, Healthcare
Service Model: Manual Testing of Physical Security Defenses to Simulate a Real-World Breach
Compliance Coverage: NIST 800-53, SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, HIPAA

Testing Types:

  • Physical Penetration Testing
  • Social Engineering Attacks (Tailgating, Impersonation)
  • Physical Breach Simulation through Entry Points
  • Testing of Badge Access and Key Management Systems
  • Biometric Access System Testing
  • Physical Device Tampering and Installation of Rogue Devices
  • Assessing Physical Security in Critical Infrastructure Areas
  • Testing Response and Detection Capabilities for Physical Breaches

2. Our Approach

[Pre-engagement] → [Physical Access Assessment] → [Entry Point Identification] → [Social Engineering Tactics (Impersonation, Tailgating)] → [Access Control System Testing (Badges, Biometrics)] → [Testing Physical Security Controls] → [Escalate to Sensitive Areas or Systems] → [Evaluate Response & Detection Mechanisms] → [Reporting & Remediation Planning] → [Retesting & Validation]

3. Methodology

[Kickoff & Scope Agreement] → [Assessment of Physical Security Measures] → [Attempt Physical Access to Secure Areas] → [Bypass or Exploit Physical Controls] → [Test Social Engineering Vulnerabilities] → [Escalate Privileges to Access Sensitive Systems] → [Evaluate Security Response & Monitoring] → [Analysis & Reporting of Findings] → [Remediation Recommendations & Retesting]

4. Deliverables to the Client

  1. Physical Security Penetration Testing Report: A detailed report on physical access vulnerabilities identified.
  2. Social Engineering Tactics Report: A summary of social engineering methods employed and their effectiveness.
  3. Access Control Findings: Documentation on weaknesses found in badge systems, biometrics, and key management systems.
  4. Physical Device Exploitation: An analysis of any physical device vulnerabilities or rogue devices installed during the engagement.
  5. Physical Security Risk Assessment: A risk assessment report based on the testing of entry points, restricted areas, and physical security controls.
  6. Response & Detection Evaluation: Insights into the effectiveness of your organization’s detection and response to physical security breaches.
  7. Remediation Recommendations: Actionable steps to strengthen physical security controls and mitigate identified risks.
  8. Retesting & Validation: Post-fix retesting to ensure physical security vulnerabilities are addressed.

5. What We Need from You (Client Requirements)

  • Details on physical security controls, access point locations, and sensitive areas (e.g., server rooms, executive offices).
  • Access to designated testing areas or permission to simulate attacks in specific zones.
  • Cooperation with security personnel to minimize disruptions during testing while maintaining the confidentiality of the engagement.
  • Information on existing physical access management systems (badges, biometrics, keys) for evaluation.
  • Permission to simulate social engineering attacks (e.g., impersonation, tailgating).
  • Cooperation in evaluating how quickly response teams can detect and react to physical security breaches.

6. Tools & Technology Stack

  • Proxmark3 for RFID badge cloning and badge access testing.
  • Lockpicks for physical lock bypassing in door access control systems.
  • USB Rubber Ducky and BadUSB for installing rogue devices or exploiting USB-based attacks.
  • Social Engineering Toolkit (SET) for testing human vulnerabilities through social engineering.
  • Hidden Cameras for surveillance monitoring in sensitive areas.
  • Keylogger Devices for physical device tampering and logging sensitive input data.
  • RATs (Remote Access Trojans) for installing backdoors during physical device exploitation.
  • Bump Keys for bypassing pin code locks or other mechanical entry points.

7. Engagement Lifecycle

1. Discovery Call → 2. Scope Definition & Security Setup → 3. Physical Access Testing → 4. Social Engineering Attack Execution → 5. Breach Simulation & Escalation → 6. Response & Detection Evaluation → 7. Draft Report Delivery → 8. Final Report & Remediation Steps → 9. Retesting & Certification

8. Why Sherlocked Security?

Feature Sherlocked Advantage
Comprehensive Physical Penetration Testing Simulate real-world physical attacks on access controls and entry points.
Social Engineering Expertise Test vulnerabilities in human elements such as tailgating, impersonation, and phishing.
Expert Access Control Testing Test the strength and security of badge access systems, biometrics, and key management.
Physical Device Exploitation Identify and exploit vulnerabilities in physical devices to escalate access or install rogue devices.
Security Response Evaluation Evaluate the responsiveness of physical security teams to a breach scenario.
Custom Physical Access Tools Use specialized tools and techniques tailored to your organization’s environment.

9. Real-World Case Studies

Physical Security Breach in a Government Facility

Client: National Government Agency
Scenario: Test physical access controls to sensitive governmental areas and offices.
Findings: Attackers successfully tailgated employees into a secure area by exploiting the lack of enforcement of entry procedures.
Fix: Security procedures were tightened, and additional personnel were assigned to monitor entry points. Training on tailgating prevention was implemented.

Social Engineering and Physical Breach in a Financial Institution

Client: Investment Bank
Scenario: Red team conducted social engineering attacks and tested badge systems.
Findings: Social engineering tactics, including impersonation as a vendor, successfully gained access to sensitive areas.
Fix: Biometric verification was introduced alongside badges, and security awareness training was increased.

10. SOP – Standard Operating Procedure

  1. Discovery call and scope discussion with security stakeholders.
  2. Identify and map entry points and physical security systems in place.
  3. Perform manual tests on physical security controls (badges, locks, biometrics).
  4. Test social engineering techniques to bypass human defenses.
  5. Conduct a physical breach simulation and escalate to high-value areas.
  6. Evaluate response and detection capabilities of security teams.
  7. Document findings, provide PoCs for successful breaches, and suggest remediations.
  8. Retest after fixes are applied to ensure vulnerabilities are closed.

11. Physical Access Red Team Checklist

1. Physical Entry Point Testing

  • Badge Access Testing:

    • RFID Badge Cloning: Attempt to clone or copy access badges (T1071).
    • Bypass Badge Systems: Test for weaknesses in access control systems, such as using duplicate or stolen badges.

  • Biometric Access Testing:

    • Fingerprint Scanner Testing: Bypass or spoof fingerprint scanners (T1071).
    • Facial Recognition Testing: Test for flaws in facial recognition software and spoofing attempts.

  • Lockpicking and Key Management:

    • Lockpicking: Use lockpicks to bypass physical locks and gain unauthorized access to rooms or equipment (T1071).
    • Bypass Mechanical Locks: Attempt to bypass pin code or key-based locks.

  • Tailgating and Impersonation:

    • Tailgating: Follow employees through access points without proper authorization (T1071).
    • Impersonation: Attempt to impersonate an employee or vendor to gain access (T1071).

2. Physical Device Testing

  • USB-based Exploits:

    • BadUSB & Rubber Ducky: Test for vulnerabilities in USB ports to install malicious payloads (T1071).
    • Keylogger Installation: Install physical keyloggers on devices to capture sensitive information (T1071).

  • Rogue Device Installation:

    • Hidden Cameras: Install covert surveillance devices in sensitive areas to monitor activity.
    • Wireless Access Points: Install rogue access points for network access (T1071).

3. Social Engineering Techniques

  • Phishing and Impersonation:

    • Use email and phone-based phishing attacks to gain physical access credentials.
    • Impersonate an official to gain entry to high-security areas.

  • Tailgating Vulnerabilities:

    • Exploit security lapses in tailgating procedures to enter secure zones without detection.

4. Response and Detection Evaluation

  • Physical Security Awareness:

    • Test if physical security staff are trained to detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts (T1071).
    • Check if security teams monitor real-time access control logs.

  • Video Surveillance:

    • Assess the effectiveness of video surveillance in detecting unauthorized access and identifying security gaps.

5. Remediation

  • Strengthen Badge Access and Biometric Systems:

    • Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for physical access (T1071).
    • Improve security measures for physical locks and access control devices.

  • Improve Social Engineering Awareness:

    • Train employees on the risks of tailgating and impersonation.
    • Enforce stricter entry and exit procedures in high-security areas.

  • Enhance Security Response:

    • Implement faster and more effective monitoring of physical security breaches.
    • Conduct regular drills to test response teams’ effectiveness in a real-world attack scenario.
Privilege Escalation Testing
Persistence & Post-Exploitation Techniques