Listen to this Post
Security researchers like Iulian Schifirnet dive deep into packet captures, vulnerability analysis, and responsible disclosure workflows. This post explores the behind-the-scenes work of cybersecurity professionals, focusing on practical techniques and tools used in vulnerability research.
You Should Know:
1. Packet Captures with Tcpdump & Wireshark
Packet analysis is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities. Use these commands to capture and analyze traffic:
Capture packets on eth0 and save to file sudo tcpdump -i eth0 -w capture.pcap Filter HTTP traffic tcpdump -i eth0 -A 'tcp port 80' Analyze with Wireshark wireshark capture.pcap
2. Responsible Disclosure Workflow
When discovering a vulnerability, follow these steps:
- Identify the flaw (e.g., via fuzzing, reverse engineering).
2. Document the exploit (PoC code, affected versions).
- Contact the vendor (use secure channels like PGP-encrypted email).
4. Wait for a patch before public disclosure.
3. Fuzzing with AFL++
Fuzz-test applications to uncover memory corruption bugs:
Install AFL++ sudo apt install afl++ Fuzz a binary afl-fuzz -i input_dir -o output_dir ./target_binary @@
4. Reverse Engineering with Ghidra
Analyze binaries for vulnerabilities:
Install Ghidra sudo apt install ghidra Launch Ghidra (GUI-based) ghidraRun
5. Exploit Development (Linux)
Test buffer overflows with GDB:
gdb ./vulnerable_program run $(python -c 'print "A" 500')
6. Windows Command for Vulnerability Scanning
Use PowerShell to check for weak permissions:
Get-ChildItem "C:\Program Files\" -Recurse | Get-Acl | Where-Object { $_.AccessToString -match "Everyone" }
What Undercode Say:
Vulnerability research requires persistence, deep technical knowledge, and ethical responsibility. Tools like Wireshark, AFL++, and Ghidra help uncover flaws, while responsible disclosure ensures fixes before exploitation.
Prediction:
As cyber threats evolve, automated vulnerability discovery (AI-assisted fuzzing) will become mainstream, reducing manual research time.
Expected Output:
- Packet captures (
capture.pcap) - Crash dumps from fuzzing (
output_dir/crashes/) - Exploit PoC code (
exploit.py)
IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Iulian Schifirnet – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
