It’s normal for penetration test results to vary between runs, even when testing the same scope.
Just like traditional manual penetration testing, methodology is not a step-by-step checklist that performs the exact same actions every time. Each test focuses on different areas of the target during the scoped testing window, based on observations made during execution.
As a result, a vulnerability identified in a previous test may not be the primary focus of a subsequent test, even when the scope remains the same.
Common reasons results may differ
Differences between test results can occur due to:
Changes in the target environment, such as code updates, configuration changes, or infrastructure modifications
Remediation efforts that addressed previously identified vulnerabilities
Shifts in testing focus, allowing different attack paths or behaviors to be explored
New techniques or exploits becoming relevant when significant time has passed between tests
This adaptive approach allows each test to be unique and helps organizations identify new or emerging threats rather than repeatedly testing the same paths.
💡 Helpful to know
If your goal is to specifically verify whether a previously identified vulnerability has been remediated, RedVeil provides one-click remediation validation on all findings.
Users can have all open findings retested:
Or individual findings can be retested:
This allows you to directly confirm whether a fix was implemented correctly without relying on a full re-test to rediscover the issue.