The Importance Of Offensive Security Tools And Research In Cybersecurity

The debate over whether releasing offensive security tools and research is beneficial or harmful continues to surface. However, history has shown that such releases have significantly improved cybersecurity across various domains. For instance:

Phishing became more challenging after Kuba Gretzky released evilnginx.
Active Directory (AD) security improved with SpecterOps’ Certified Pre-Owned and Tim Medin’s kerberoasting techniques.
EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) systems advanced as researchers studied and shared tools.
Kubernetes security was bolstered by Jay Beale’s peirates.
Linux security was enhanced by Carlos P.’s linpeas and hacktricks.
APIs became safer after Corey J. Ball authored a book on API hacking.

These examples underscore the importance of open research and tooling in driving security improvements. When vulnerabilities and exploitation techniques are brought to light, they can be studied, understood, and mitigated. This transparency forces vendors to address long-standing issues and pushes the industry toward “secure by default” practices.

Practical Commands and Tools

To apply some of the concepts discussed, here are a few commands and tools you can practice with:

1. Linpeas – A Linux privilege escalation script:

curl -L https://github.com/carlospolop/PEASS-ng/releases/latest/download/linpeas.sh | sh

Kerberoasting – Extracting service account credentials from AD:
```
GetUserSPNs.py -request -dc-ip <DC_IP> <DOMAIN>/<USER>
```

Evilginx – A phishing tool for capturing credentials:

git clone https://github.com/kgretzky/evilginx2.git
cd evilginx2
make
sudo ./evilginx -p <phishing_port>

4. Peirates – A Kubernetes penetration tool:

git clone https://github.com/inguardians/peirates.git
cd peirates
./peirates -h

API Hacking – Using tools like Postman or Burp Suite to test API security:
```
burpsuite
```

What Undercode Say

The release of offensive security tools and research is not just beneficial but essential for the evolution of cybersecurity. By exposing vulnerabilities and exploitation techniques, the community can collectively work toward more secure systems. Tools like linpeas, evilginx, and peirates have forced vendors and developers to address weaknesses that might otherwise have been ignored. The argument that releasing such tools aids attackers is shortsighted; the real issue lies in unpatched vulnerabilities and poor security practices.

To further strengthen your cybersecurity posture, consider the following Linux and Windows commands:

Linux:
Check for open ports: `netstat -tuln`
– Monitor system logs: `tail -f /var/log/syslog`
– Search for SUID files: `find / -perm -4000 -type f 2>/dev/null`
Windows:
List running processes: `tasklist`
– Check firewall rules: `netsh advfirewall firewall show rule name=all`
– Audit user accounts: `net user`
For those interested in diving deeper, explore resources like HackTricks and SpecterOps’ research. These platforms provide invaluable insights into offensive and defensive security practices.

In conclusion, offensive security tools and research are not the problem; they are part of the solution. By shedding light on vulnerabilities, we can push for a more secure digital landscape. The real challenge lies in ensuring that vendors and organizations take responsibility for patching and securing their systems. Until then, offensive security will remain a critical tool for demonstrating risk and driving change.