OWASP Penetration Test Reporting Standard (OPTRS)

Overview

The OWASP Penetration Test Reporting Standard (OPTRS) provides a structured, machine-readable JSON format for penetration test reports.

Why OPTRS?

Penetration testing reports often lack consistency, automation capabilities, and interoperability across security tools. OPTRS solves this by:

• Standardizing report structures for better comparability
• Enabling automation with a JSON-based format
• Improving interoperability between security teams, SIEMs, and vulnerability management tools
• Providing clear, actionable insights for faster remediation

Schema

The OPTRS JSON schema defines a structured format for penetration test reports, ensuring that findings are:

• Categorized properly
• Easily ingested by security tools
• Machine-readable for automation workflows

📄 View the OPTRS JSON Schema

Example JSON Report

For a real-world example of how OPTRS structures a penetration test report, see the sample report:

📄 OPTRS Sample Report

Roadmap

The OPTRS development follows a structured, community-driven approach.

✅ Phase 1: Research and Development (Completed)

• Industry research and collaboration with penetration testing professionals

✅ Phase 2: Drafting the Standard (Completed)

• Development of the OPTRS JSON schema and reporting structure

⏳ Phase 3: Community Feedback and Review (Current Phase)

• Open feedback from penetration testers, security teams, and OWASP contributors

🚀 Phase 4: Standardization and Advocacy (Upcoming)

• Official OWASP publication and industry adoption efforts

🔄 Phase 5: Ongoing Maintenance and Updates (Planned)

• Continuous updates based on industry changes and feedback

How to Use OPTRS

1. Adopt the Schema: Use OPTRS as the format for penetration test reports.
2. Integrate with Security Tools: Automate ingestion into SIEMs, vulnerability management platforms, or custom dashboards.
3. Contribute Feedback: Help refine the standard by sharing feedback.

Get Involved

We encourage security professionals, penetration testers, and developers to:

• Provide feedback on the schema
• Adopt OPTRS in security assessments
• Contribute to development and integrations

💬 Join the Discussion on GitHub

Join the conversation in our GitHub Discussions forum to collaborate, share insights, and help improve OPTRS.

📩 Contact & Community

For direct collaboration, you can also join the OWASP Slack:
OWASP Slack #penetration-testing Channel