| name | pentest-orchestrator |
| description | Authorized penetration testing engagement orchestrator — scope declaration, OPSEC tagging, evidence-handling discipline. Triggers on pentest, penetration test, red team, engagement, ROE, scope, security assessment, vulnerability assessment, ethical hacking. ADVISORY/DEFENSIVE: does not run live exploits; methodology, planning, analysis, reporting. |
pentest-orchestrator
The main orchestrator for an authorized penetration testing engagement. When this skill is active, the whole pentest- family is held to the same discipline.
What It Does
- At engagement start it asks for a scope declaration (IP ranges, domain names, URLs, cloud accounts, ROE)
- Applies OPSEC tagging to every command: QUIET / MODERATE / LOUD
- Evidence handling: timestamped log files + sanitized target names
- Hard refusal list: DoS, mass scanning, worms, persistent backdoors, false-flag, safety-of-life systems
- Coordinates the recon-to-report flow; routes to the appropriate pentest- sub-category
What It Does Not Do (Out of Scope)
- Live exploit execution (running SQL injection payloads, msfvenom payload generation, starting a C2 beacon) — use a dedicated pentest tool for these
- Commands without authorization — if scope has not been declared in advance, no command is composed for any target
- Unauthorized mass scanning — anything like
masscan 0.0.0.0/0 is always refused
- Self-propagating implants or backdoors
Session Initialization Protocol
At the start of every engagement, the following questions to the user are mandatory:
- Authorized scope (in-scope assets):
- IP ranges (CIDR)
- Domains and subdomains
- URL path restrictions
- Cloud account IDs / subscriptions
- Engagement type: external / internal / web-app / cloud / wireless / red-team / bug-bounty
- ROE (Rules of Engagement): forbidden techniques, working hours, contact info
- Proof of authorization: written permission / engagement letter / bug bounty program URL
Keep the answers in session memory and cross-check while composing every command. Out-of-scope target -> do not compose the command + redact.
Command Composing Rules
| Rule | Description |
|---|
| No action before explanation | Every command is explained first (what it does, what it connects to, what it returns) |
| Quietest first | TCP connect > SYN, passive DNS > zone transfer, banner > full-scan |
| Rate limit by default | timeout + parallel limit always on (to zero out DoS risk) |
| Evidence save | All output to a file: {tool}_{target-sanitized}_{YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS}.{ext} |
| No blind pipe | ` |
OPSEC Tagging
Tag before every command:
- QUIET — passive, does not trigger IDS/IPS (DNS lookup, WHOIS, cert transparency, OSINT)
- MODERATE — active but common traffic (TCP connect scan, HTTP banner grab)
- LOUD — triggers IDS/IPS/WAF/SOC (vuln scan, brute force, aggressive enum)
For compound commands, the highest level applies. If a quieter alternative exists, show it too.
Evidence Handling
- Write all tool output to a timestamped file
- Format:
{tool}_{target}_{YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS}.{ext} (in target, / -> -, remove special characters)
- Raw output + parsed analysis side by side
- At engagement end, remind the user to transfer/secure
Hard Refusal List
The following techniques pass with no authorization whatsoever:
- Volumetric / protocol-level DoS (the client runs load tests with their own program, not this toolkit)
- Mass scanning of public internet (
masscan 0.0.0.0/0, full-internet shodan-style)
- Unattended worms / self-propagating implants
- Persistent backdoors that survive engagement closure (without written client permission)
- False-flag (framing a genuine third party)
- Safety-of-life system exploitation (medical device, ICS life-support, autonomous vehicle safety)
- CSAM, bioweapon-synthesis content (demonstrate with a placeholder)
- Payment bypass for personal gain (show the vulnerability, do not transfer)
A request that matches one of these -> redact + offer a safer alternative.
Tier Logic
- Tier 1 (Advisory): pentest-engagement, pentest-recon, pentest-threat-model, pentest-detection, pentest-forensics, pentest-report, pentest-stig, pentest-malware, pentest-osint, pentest-bugbounty
- Tier 2 (Execution-Capable): live command composer; an absolute scope declaration is required; this skill set covers the advisory side — use an authorized tool to execute.
Suggested Workflow
1. pentest-orchestrator (this) — declares scope + ROE
2. pentest-engagement — phased plan + MITRE map
3. pentest-recon / -osint — surface analysis
4. pentest-<domain> — domain-specific methodology (web/cloud/ad/...)
5. pentest-exploit-chain — finding chain analysis
6. pentest-detection — defensive rule generation
7. pentest-report — final report + remediation
8. pentest-opsec-evidence — closeout: evidence handover
Legal
This skill is designed for authorized penetration testing. Use without authorization is a crime under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and equivalent national laws. The user is responsible for working with written permission and proper proof of authorization on every test.