Overview

The OWASP Penetration Test Reporting Standard (OPTRS) addresses the inconsistency in penetration test reports, where thousands of companies generate reports in different formats, making it difficult to integrate findings into security workflows.

By defining a structured, JSON-based format, OPTRS ensures that penetration test results are:

• Consistent. Standardized format for easy comparison across engagements.
• Machine-readable. Facilitates integration with SIEMs, vulnerability management tools, and automation workflows.
• Actionable. Findings are structured for better remediation tracking and risk prioritization.

Why OPTRS?

Without a standard, security teams face:

• Disparate reporting formats, leading to confusion and delays in addressing vulnerabilities.
• Lack of automation, requiring manual effort to extract insights from reports.
• Poor interoperability, making it hard to integrate findings into vulnerability management platforms.

OPTRS solves this by providing a universal format that simplifies security operations and accelerates risk mitigation.

Roadmap

Phase 1: Research and Development ✅Completed

• Gathered industry insights on best practices in penetration testing and reporting.
• Engaged with security professionals, penetration testers, and organisations to define essential reporting elements.

Phase 2: Drafting the Standard ✅Completed

• Developed a structured JSON-based schema for penetration test reports.
• Created templates and guidelines for structuring findings, risk ratings, and remediation steps.

Phase 3: Community Feedback and Review ⏳Current Phase

• Engaging the OWASP community and industry experts for feedback.
• Refining the standard based on real-world usability and adoption challenges.

Phase 4: Standardization and Advocacy 🚀Upcoming

• Publish the final version of OPTRS on OWASP.
• Work with security vendors, penetration testing firms, and industry bodies such as CREST International to drive adoption.
• Promote awareness through conferences, webinars, and security meetups.

Phase 5: Ongoing Maintenance and Updates 🔄Planned

• Establish a governance process for continuous improvement.
• Regularly update the standard to reflect changes in penetration testing methodologies.

Current Progress

A structured JSON schema for penetration test reports has been developed, with:

• Clear categorization of findings
• Automation-ready format
• Interoperability with security tools

JSON Standard Representation

Below is a visual representation of the OPTRS JSON format:

View the full JSON schema and sample reports here (Insert Link or Reference)

Get Involved

• Security professionals and penetration testers. Provide feedback on the draft standard.
• Organisations and vendors. Adopt OPTRS to improve penetration test reporting efficiency.
• Developers. Help build validation tools, integrations, and extensions for OPTRS.

Join the discussion and contribute.

Contact us on OWASP Slack:OWASP Slack #penetration-testing Channel