Tools and Utilities

Here we can find some tools and utilities commonly used for processes related to exploitation:

Exploit DB

• Web repository that retains exploits for software and applications

• https://www.exploit-db.com/

Searchsploit

• Kali package for acceding to exploitDB

Commands

• Installation

sudo apt install exploitdb

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• Usage

searchsploit $Keywords

Metasploit

• Exploitation framework with tools for every phase of pen-testing

Modules

• Auxiliary: Any supporting module

• Encoders: Encode exploit and payload for bypassing signature-based antivirus

• Evasion: For antivirus evasion

• Exploits: Exploits, organized by target system

• Nops: No Operation, CPU will do nothing for one cycle, often used as a buffer to achieve consistent payload sizes

• Payloads: Different payloads that can open shells on the target system

  • Adapters: Convert single payloads into different form

  • Single: Also called in-line, do not need to download an additional component to run.

  • Stagers: Set up a connection channel between Metasploit and the target system. First, the stager is uploaded on the target system and then it downloads the rest of the payload (stage)

  • Stages: Downloaded by the stager, allows to use larger-sized payloads

• Post: For post-exploitation

The difference between staged and single payloads is the use of _ or / in notation

Example: shell_reverse_tcp (Single) ---shell/reverse_tcp (Staged)

Common parameters

• RHOSTS: IP address of the target system

• RPORT: Port on the target system the vulnerable application is running on

• PAYLOAD: Payload that will be used with the exploit

• LHOST: Attacking machine (local) IP address

• LPORT: Port (local) that will be used for the reverse shell to connect back to

• SESSION: Session ID of the connection with Metasploit. Used with post-exploitation modules connected to the target system

Commands

• Installation

sudo apt install metasploit-framework

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• Start the console

msfconsole
msf6\> sessions        #See all sessions
msf6\> session -i $id  #Change to a session

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• List modules

tree -L 1 /usr/share/metasploit-framework/modules        #Types
tree -L 1 /usr/share/metasploit-framework/modules/$type  #Specific module type

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• Search module

msf6\> search $query
msf6\> use $queryNumber #Use module from last search list (0 is the first)
msf6 > search type:$type $query #Filter by specific module type

The query value can be a keyword, CVE number, exploit/module name, or target system

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• Usage

msf6\> use exploit/$exploit path
# This will enter in context of the exploit, below is an example
msf6\> use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue     #The exploit used
msf6 exploit(windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue)\>        #The terminal context set

'''\> info             #Display information about the module (''')
'''\> show options     #Display options for the actual context 
'''\> show payloads    #Display payloads that can be used with the exploit
'''\> show $module     #Can be used with every module type

'''\> set $parameter $value  #Set parameters in context
'''\> unset $parameter       #Unset a parameter
'''\> unset all              #Unset all parameters
'''\> setg $parameter $value #Set parameters globally
'''\> unsetg $parameter      #Unset global parameter

'''\> check       #Verify if vulnerable without exploiting
'''\> exploit     #Run exploit
'''\> run         #Same that exploit
'''\> exploit -z  #Run exploit and background session
'''\> background  #Background session, also CTLR+Z can be used
'''\> back        #Exit from context

meterpreter > $commands #Once accessed an exploit, the terminal will change to meterpreter and here we apply the commands of the spectific module

Payloads for Everything

A repository that contains payloads for diverse purposes and attacks

• https://github.com/swisskyrepo/PayloadsAllTheThings

Evil-WinRM

Tool to connect remotely to a Windows WinRM instance

• Install

sudo apt install evil-winrm

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• Access to WinRM

sudo evil-winrm -i $ip -u $user -p $password