Essential Cybersecurity Commands and Techniques for VAPT Analysts

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Introduction

Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) is a critical practice in cybersecurity, helping organizations identify and mitigate security risks. This article covers essential commands, tools, and techniques used by professionals like Krishna Jaishwal, a top-ranked HackerOne bug bounty hunter.

Learning Objectives

  • Learn key Linux and Windows commands for security assessments.
  • Understand penetration testing techniques for web applications.
  • Explore tools for vulnerability scanning and exploitation.

1. Network Scanning with Nmap

Command:

nmap -sV -A -T4 target.com

What it does:

  • -sV: Detects service versions.
  • -A: Enables aggressive scanning (OS detection, script scanning).
  • -T4: Sets timing template for faster scans.

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Install Nmap (sudo apt install nmap on Linux).
  2. Run the command against a target IP or domain.

3. Analyze open ports, services, and potential vulnerabilities.

2. Web Vulnerability Scanning with Nikto

Command:

nikto -h https://target.com

What it does:

  • Scans for outdated servers, misconfigurations, and common vulnerabilities (e.g., XSS, SQLi).

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Install Nikto (`sudo apt install nikto`).

  1. Run the scan and review the findings for critical issues.

3. Exploiting SQL Injection with SQLmap

Command:

sqlmap -u "https://target.com/login?id=1" --dbs

What it does:

  • Automates SQL injection detection and database enumeration.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Identify a vulnerable parameter (e.g., `id=1`).

  1. Use SQLmap to extract database names (--dbs), tables, and data.

4. Password Cracking with Hashcat

Command:

hashcat -m 0 hashes.txt rockyou.txt

What it does:

  • Cracks MD5 (-m 0) hashes using the `rockyou.txt` wordlist.

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Obtain password hashes (e.g., from a database dump).
  2. Run Hashcat with a wordlist to recover plaintext passwords.

5. Windows Privilege Escalation with PowerUp

Command (PowerShell):

Invoke-AllChecks

What it does:

  • Identifies misconfigurations (e.g., unquoted service paths) for privilege escalation.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Load PowerUp (`Import-Module PowerUp.ps1`).

2. Execute checks and exploit weak permissions.

6. API Security Testing with Postman

Technique:

  • Send crafted requests to test for broken authentication or excessive data exposure.

Example:

GET /api/user?id=123 HTTP/1.1 
Host: target.com 
Authorization: Bearer <token>

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Use Postman to manipulate API endpoints.

  1. Check for insecure direct object references (IDOR) or data leaks.

7. Cloud Hardening with AWS CLI

Command:

aws iam update-account-password-policy --minimum-password-length 12

What it does:

  • Enforces a strong password policy in AWS.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Configure AWS CLI (`aws configure`).

  1. Apply security best practices (e.g., MFA, least privilege).

What Undercode Say

  • Key Takeaway 1: Automation tools like Nmap and SQLmap streamline vulnerability discovery.
  • Key Takeaway 2: Ethical hacking requires continuous learning—follow experts like Krishna Jaishwal for insights.

Analysis:

The rise of bug bounty programs highlights the demand for skilled VAPT analysts. Mastering these commands and techniques can lead to successful careers in cybersecurity. Future trends include AI-driven penetration testing and increased cloud security focus.

Prediction:

By 2026, AI-powered tools will dominate vulnerability scanning, but human expertise will remain vital for interpreting results and advanced exploitation.

IT/Security Reporter URL:

Reported By: Jarvis0p Togetherwehithard – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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