Penetration testing allows you to answer the question, “How can someone with malicious intent mess with my network?” Using pen-testing tools, white hats and DevSec professionals are able to probe networks and applications for flaws and vulnerabilities at any point along the production and deployment process by hacking the system.
One such penetration testing aid is the Metasploit Project. This Ruby-based open-source framework allows testing via command line alterations or GUI. It can also be extended through coding to act as an add-on that supports multiple languages.
One such penetration testing aid is the Metasploit Project. This Ruby-based open-source framework allows testing via command line alterations or GUI. It can also be extended through coding to act as an add-on that supports multiple languages.
Metasploit definition:-
Metasploit is a penetration testing framework that makes hacking simple. It's an essential tool for many attackers and defenders. Point Metasploit at your target, pick an exploit, what payload to drop, and hit Enter.
It's not quite as simple as that, of course, so let's begin at the beginning. Back in ye olden days of yore, pentesting involved a lot of repetitive labor that Metasploit now automates. Information gathering? Gaining access? Maintaining persistence? Evading detection? Metasploit is a hacker's Swiss army chainsaw (sorry, Perl!), and if you work in information security, you're probably already using it.
Better still, the core Metasploit Framework is both free and libre software and comes pre-installed in Kali Linux. (It's BSD-licensed, in case you're curious). The framework offers only a command-line interface, but those wanting GUI-based click-and-drag hacking plus some other cool features can drop a bundle for per-seat licenses to Metasploit Pro.
With Metasploit, the pen testing team can use ready-made or custom code and introduce it into a network to probe for weak spots. As another flavor of threat hunting, once flaws are identified and documented, the information can be used to address systemic weaknesses and prioritize solutions.
Security outfit Rapid7 acquired both Metasploit and Moore in 2009. (Moore left the project in 2016.) Metasploit has since become the de facto framework for exploit development, despite competition from Canvas and Core Impact. Today it is common for zero day reports to include a Metasploit module as proof of concept.
Once you've identified a weakness, hunt through Metasploit's large and extensible database for the exploit that will crack open that chink and get you in. For instance, NSA's EternalBlue exploit, released by the Shadow Brokers in 2017, has been packaged for Metasploit and is a reliable go-to when dealing with unpatched legacy Windows systems.
Like fine wine and cheese, pair the exploit with a payload to suit the task at hand. Since what most folks are wanting is a shell, a suitable payload when attacking Windows systems is the ever-popular Meterpreter, an in-memory-only interactive shell. Linux boxes get their own shellcode, depending on the exploit used.
Once on a target machine, Metasploit's quiver contains a full suite of post-exploitation tools, including privilege escalation, pass the hash, packet sniffing, screen capture, keyloggers, and pivoting tools. You can also set up a persistent backdoor in case the machine in question gets rebooted.
More and more features are being added to Metasploit every year, include a fuzzer to identify potential security flaws in binaries, as well as a long list of auxiliary modules too long to list here.
This is only a high-level view of what Metasploit can do. The framework is modular and easily extensible and enjoys an active community. If it doesn't do exactly what you want it to do, you can almost certainly tweak it to suit.
Offensive Security, the folks who maintain Kali and run the OSCP certification, also offer Metasploit Unleashed, a free training course that asks only for a donation to hungry children in Africa in return. The No Starch Metasploit book is also an indispensable resource that, like all No Starch Press books, comes with a DRM-free ebook.
The Metasploit project offers detailed documentation and its YouTube channel is another good resource for the beginning penetration tester.
Metasploit now includes more than 1677 exploits organized over 25 platforms, including Android, PHP, Python, Java, Cisco, and more. The framework also carries nearly 500 payloads, some of which include:
Command shell payloads that enable users to run scripts or random commands against a host. Dynamic payloads that allow testers to generate unique payloads to evade antivirus softwareMeterpreter payloads that allow users to commandeer device monitors using VMC and to take over sessions or upload and download filesStatic payloads that enable port forwarding and communications between networks.
Like Coca-Cola, Metasploit comes in different flavors. In addition to the free/libre Metasploit Framework, Rapid7 also produces the Metasploit Community Edition, a free web-based user interface for Metasploit, and Metasploit Pro, the big daddy with the non-free add-ons for pentesters who prefer a GUI or MS Office-like wizards to perform baseline audits, and want to phish their clients as part of an engagement. Rapid7 offers a feature comparison on its website.
Metasploit is available through open-source installers directly from the Rapid7 website. In addition to the latest version of the Chrome, Firefox, or Explorer browsers, the minimum system requirements are:
Windows Server 2008 or 2012 R2
Windows 7 SP1+, 8.1, or 10
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5.10, 6.5, 7.1, or later
Minimum 4 GB RAM, but 8 GB is recommended
Minimum 1 GB disk space, but 50 GB is recommended
You’ll have to disable any antivirus software and firewalls installed on your device before you begin, and get administrative privileges. The installer is a self-contained unit that’s configured for you when you install the framework. You also have the option of manual installation if you want to configure custom dependencies. Users with the Kali Linux version already have the Metasploit Pro version pre-bundled with their OS. Windows users will go through the install shield wizard.
After installation, upon startup, you’ll be faced with these choices:
Creating database at /Users/abc/.msf5/db
Starting Postgresql
Creating database users
Creating an initial database schema
What port does Metasploit use?
By default, Metasploit uses port 3790 to run its features. Once you’ve installed Metasploit, you can use it to access information about the target either by using OS fingerprinting, port scanning, and applying a vulnerability scanner to look for loopholes into the network.
What is Metasploit written in?
Metasploit is a Ruby-based open-source, modular penetration testing program, made up of a suite of tools that helps you test your network security vulnerabilities, simulate attacks, and escape detections.
There are different types of modules and each module type depends on the type of action the module performs and the purpose for the module. Metasploit allows you to either load modules at runtime or after msfconsole has been initiated. Metasploit affords you the following modules
Examples of an exploit module include web application exploits (such as WordPress exploit), code injection, or buffer overflow.
The payload comes with diverse features, ranging from a few lines of code to small applications. It can open a command shell or Meterpreter. A Meterpreter is an innovative payload that permits you to write DLL files that strategically generate new structures as you need them.
A listener can actively sit listening for incoming connection or it can be implanted in a bind shell and sit waiting for a connection on the testers system. A bind shell is a type of shell that sits inactive and listens for an attacker to make connections or send instructions.
It's not quite as simple as that, of course, so let's begin at the beginning. Back in ye olden days of yore, pentesting involved a lot of repetitive labor that Metasploit now automates. Information gathering? Gaining access? Maintaining persistence? Evading detection? Metasploit is a hacker's Swiss army chainsaw (sorry, Perl!), and if you work in information security, you're probably already using it.
Better still, the core Metasploit Framework is both free and libre software and comes pre-installed in Kali Linux. (It's BSD-licensed, in case you're curious). The framework offers only a command-line interface, but those wanting GUI-based click-and-drag hacking plus some other cool features can drop a bundle for per-seat licenses to Metasploit Pro.
What is the Metasploit Framework and How is it Used?
The Metasploit framework is a very powerful tool which can be used by cybercriminals as well as ethical hackers to probe systematic vulnerabilities on networks and servers. Because it’s an open-source framework, it can be easily customized and used with most operating systems.With Metasploit, the pen testing team can use ready-made or custom code and introduce it into a network to probe for weak spots. As another flavor of threat hunting, once flaws are identified and documented, the information can be used to address systemic weaknesses and prioritize solutions.
History of Metasploit:-
HD Moore began working on Metasploit in the early oughts, and released 1.0, written in Perl, in 2003. The project has grown dramatically since then, from the original 11 exploits the project came with to more than 1,500 now, plus around 500 payloads, with a switch to Ruby under the hood along the way.Security outfit Rapid7 acquired both Metasploit and Moore in 2009. (Moore left the project in 2016.) Metasploit has since become the de facto framework for exploit development, despite competition from Canvas and Core Impact. Today it is common for zero day reports to include a Metasploit module as proof of concept.
How to use Metasploit:-
During the information gathering phase of a pentest, Metasploit integrates seamlessly with Nmap, SNMP scanning and Windows patch enumeration, among others. There's even a bridge to Nessus, Tenable's vulnerability scanner. Pretty much every reconnaissance tool you can think of integrates with Metasploit, making it possible to find the chink in the armor you're looking for.Once you've identified a weakness, hunt through Metasploit's large and extensible database for the exploit that will crack open that chink and get you in. For instance, NSA's EternalBlue exploit, released by the Shadow Brokers in 2017, has been packaged for Metasploit and is a reliable go-to when dealing with unpatched legacy Windows systems.
Like fine wine and cheese, pair the exploit with a payload to suit the task at hand. Since what most folks are wanting is a shell, a suitable payload when attacking Windows systems is the ever-popular Meterpreter, an in-memory-only interactive shell. Linux boxes get their own shellcode, depending on the exploit used.
Once on a target machine, Metasploit's quiver contains a full suite of post-exploitation tools, including privilege escalation, pass the hash, packet sniffing, screen capture, keyloggers, and pivoting tools. You can also set up a persistent backdoor in case the machine in question gets rebooted.
More and more features are being added to Metasploit every year, include a fuzzer to identify potential security flaws in binaries, as well as a long list of auxiliary modules too long to list here.
This is only a high-level view of what Metasploit can do. The framework is modular and easily extensible and enjoys an active community. If it doesn't do exactly what you want it to do, you can almost certainly tweak it to suit.
How to learn Metasploit:-
Many free and cheap resources are available to learn Metasploit. The best place to start for many is probably downloading and installing Kali Linux, along with a vulnerable virtual machine (VM) for target practice. (Don't learn Metasploit by pointing it at other people's networks without their permission. That would be illegal.)Offensive Security, the folks who maintain Kali and run the OSCP certification, also offer Metasploit Unleashed, a free training course that asks only for a donation to hungry children in Africa in return. The No Starch Metasploit book is also an indispensable resource that, like all No Starch Press books, comes with a DRM-free ebook.
The Metasploit project offers detailed documentation and its YouTube channel is another good resource for the beginning penetration tester.
Who Uses Metasploit?
Due to its wide range of applications and open-source availability, Metasploit is used by everyone from the evolving field of DevSecOps pros to hackers. It’s helpful to anyone who needs an easy to install, reliable tool that gets the job done regardless of which platform or language is used. The software is popular with hackers and widely available, which reinforces the need for security professionals to become familiar with the framework even if they don’t use it.Metasploit now includes more than 1677 exploits organized over 25 platforms, including Android, PHP, Python, Java, Cisco, and more. The framework also carries nearly 500 payloads, some of which include:
Command shell payloads that enable users to run scripts or random commands against a host. Dynamic payloads that allow testers to generate unique payloads to evade antivirus softwareMeterpreter payloads that allow users to commandeer device monitors using VMC and to take over sessions or upload and download filesStatic payloads that enable port forwarding and communications between networks.
Where to download Metasploit:-
Metasploit ships as part of Kali Linux, but you can also download it separately at the Metasploit website. Metasploit runs on *nix and Windows systems. The Metasploit Framework source code is available on GitHub.Like Coca-Cola, Metasploit comes in different flavors. In addition to the free/libre Metasploit Framework, Rapid7 also produces the Metasploit Community Edition, a free web-based user interface for Metasploit, and Metasploit Pro, the big daddy with the non-free add-ons for pentesters who prefer a GUI or MS Office-like wizards to perform baseline audits, and want to phish their clients as part of an engagement. Rapid7 offers a feature comparison on its website.
Metasploit is available through open-source installers directly from the Rapid7 website. In addition to the latest version of the Chrome, Firefox, or Explorer browsers, the minimum system requirements are:
Operating Systems:-
Ubuntu Linux 14.04 or 16.04 LTS (recommended)Windows Server 2008 or 2012 R2
Windows 7 SP1+, 8.1, or 10
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5.10, 6.5, 7.1, or later
Hardware:-
2 GHz+ processorMinimum 4 GB RAM, but 8 GB is recommended
Minimum 1 GB disk space, but 50 GB is recommended
You’ll have to disable any antivirus software and firewalls installed on your device before you begin, and get administrative privileges. The installer is a self-contained unit that’s configured for you when you install the framework. You also have the option of manual installation if you want to configure custom dependencies. Users with the Kali Linux version already have the Metasploit Pro version pre-bundled with their OS. Windows users will go through the install shield wizard.
After installation, upon startup, you’ll be faced with these choices:
Creating database at /Users/abc/.msf5/db
Starting Postgresql
Creating database users
Creating an initial database schema
What port does Metasploit use?
By default, Metasploit uses port 3790 to run its features. Once you’ve installed Metasploit, you can use it to access information about the target either by using OS fingerprinting, port scanning, and applying a vulnerability scanner to look for loopholes into the network.
What is Metasploit written in?
Metasploit is a Ruby-based open-source, modular penetration testing program, made up of a suite of tools that helps you test your network security vulnerabilities, simulate attacks, and escape detections.
Metasploit Modules:-
A Metasploit module is a software that is capable of executing a precise action, like exploiting or scanning. All the task that you can execute with a Metasploit Framework is covered within its module. As such, Metasploit modules are the core features of this framework.There are different types of modules and each module type depends on the type of action the module performs and the purpose for the module. Metasploit allows you to either load modules at runtime or after msfconsole has been initiated. Metasploit affords you the following modules
Exploit:-
An exploit module is a tool applied to take advantage of system vulnerability to create access to the target system. This module performs a series of commands that target a particular weakness detected in an application or system.Examples of an exploit module include web application exploits (such as WordPress exploit), code injection, or buffer overflow.
Payloads:-
These are sets of malicious codes that run after an exploit has effectively infiltrated a system. this module includes a set of instructions that should be performed by the target system after it is compromised. Payloads allow you to control the way you would like to connect to the shell and craft your motive for the target system after you might have obtained control of the system.The payload comes with diverse features, ranging from a few lines of code to small applications. It can open a command shell or Meterpreter. A Meterpreter is an innovative payload that permits you to write DLL files that strategically generate new structures as you need them.
Post-Exploitation code:-
This module helps you to test deeper penetration. It allows you to gain further access and collect more information about an exploited target system. Examples of this module are application and service enumerators, and hash dumps.Auxiliary functions:-
These are supplementary tools and commands that do not require a payload to run. Auxiliary modules can be applied to execute random functions that may not necessarily be linked with exploitation. Examples of axillary modules are DoS (denial of service attacks), SQL injection tools, sniffers, fuzzers, and scanners.Encoders:-
These are tools used to convert codes or information. The encoding of shellcode is crucial for exploitation. Encoders are sensing devices that offer feedbacks that can be used to determine digital signals.Listeners:-
Listeners are malicious software that conceals themselves to gain access to a system. They are particular handlers in the Metasploit Framework that can relate to the sessions produced by payloads.A listener can actively sit listening for incoming connection or it can be implanted in a bind shell and sit waiting for a connection on the testers system. A bind shell is a type of shell that sits inactive and listens for an attacker to make connections or send instructions.
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