What is Metasploit ? What is Metasploit Framework ?
In previous article we learn't about What is Penetration Test. If you haven't read it yet Click Here. So, in that article we came across a term called Metasploit. So What is Metasploit? What is Metasploit Framework? If you don't know them then no problem. I am going to share with you each and everything about Metasploit. Also if you know about it then I would suggest you to read it for more knowledge. For complete information keep reading till last.
We previously learn't about Penetration Test. So how do hackers perform all those test for breaking securities of targeted system? So the answer is they use Metasploit for every such stuff. Metasploit is a platform where the hackers writes, test and executes exploit codes. Metasploit contains pre-installed tools which can be used to detect vulnerabilities, execute attacks and to escape detection. Metasploit Framework is designed in Ruby language.
Metasploit is an open-source project which is used by Ethical Hackers or Cybercriminals to break security of targeted system. It is a very powerful tool. It can be easily customize and can be used with many operating system. Now let's know from depth about Metasploit Project and Metasploit Framework.
Table of Contents :
• What is Metasploit Project ? ( For Beginners )
• History of Metasploit
• What is Metasploit Framework ?
• What are the Types of Metasploit Interfaces ?
• What are the Exploits in Metasploit ?
• What are the Payloads Present in Metasploit ?
• Conclusion
What is Metasploit Project ? ( For Beginners )
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| Metasploit |
Metasploit Project is an open source project which is used by hackers to detect any type of security vulnerabilities. It is a computer security project used for Penetration, Test IDS Signature development.
It is best known for its subproject which is an open source project called as Metasploit Framework. It is tool which is used by hackers to create new exploits and executes on a remote targeted system.
History of Metasploit
Metasploit was developed in the year 2003 by H.D. Moore. It was developed as a portable network tool using Perl Language. By the year 2007 the Metasploit Framework was completely written down in Ruby Language. It was acquired by Rapid7 in the year 2009.
Metasploit can be used to test vulnerabilities of a system or to break the security of a remote target. Metasploit is used for both legal and illegal activities.
Metasploit 3.0 comprised of fuzzing tools. It is used to discover software vulnerabilities and not only creating exploits for bugs. Metasploit 4.0 was released in the year 2011.
What is Metasploit Framework ?
To exploit a system using Metasploit Framework uses various steps. These are as follows :-
Step 1.) First the hacker choose and configure an exploit to enter the targeted system by identifying any of its bugs. Metasploit almost contains 900 exploits which can be used to penetrate Windows, Linux/Unix, Mac OS X systems
Step 2.) After that the hacker optionally check which exploit can be used to harm the targeted system.
Step 3.) Then the hacker sets up a payload code. It is a type of code which will be executed on the target after the hacker successfully gain the access.
Step 4.) After that, using encoding techniques, the hackers remove any type of hexadecimal opcodes which will cause exploit to fail. These are also known as bad characters and need to be removed from payload code.
Step 5.) And at the last step the exploit is executed on the target system.
This modular approach is the main advantage of the Metasploit Framework as it allows to combine any exploit with any of the payloads. It makes the task of exploit writers, payload writers and attackers work easy.
Initially the attacker need some information about target system such as OS version and installed networked services to choose exploit and payloads. Such information can be gained by using various process like port scanning and OS fingerprinting tools such as Nmap. For detecting vulnerabilities hackers use tools like OpenVas, Nexpose, Nessus. Metasploit can compare the vulnerabilities data with the existing exploits so that the exploitation of the target system is achieved successfully.
What are the Types of Metasploit Interfaces ?
Metasploit has various Interfaces available. The most popular are maintained by Rapid7.
1.) Metasploit Framework Edition
2.) Metasploit Community Edition
Metasploit Community Edition was released in the year 2011. It is a free, web-based user interface for Metasploit. This version is based on commercial functionality of the paid for editions with a reduced set of features which included network discovery, manual exploitation and module browsing.
3.) Metasploit Express
Metasploit Express was released in the year 2010. It is an open core commercial edition for security teams who need to verify any type of vulnerabilities. It also offers GUI ( Graphical User Interface ), integrates Nmap for discovery and adds smart brute forcing as well as automated evidence collection.
4.) Metasploit Pro
Metasploit Pro was released in the year 2010 as an open core commercial Metasploit Edition for Penetration Testers. It was adds onto features with Metasploit express, with features such as MetaModules/Quick Start Wizards, building and managing social engineering campaigns, web application testing, advanced pro console, dynamic payloads to protect from anti virus, integration with Nexpose for ad hoc vulnerability scans and VPN pivoting.
5.) Armitage
Armitage is a graphical cyber attacking tool present within Metasploit Framework. It visualizes the target and then recommends exploits accordingly. It is a Network Security Tool and it is free and open source.
6.) Cobalt Strike
Cobalt Strike is a collection of threat emulation tools with the Metasploit Framework. It includes all the features of Armitage. It also adds post exploitation tools along with report generation features.
What are the Exploits in Metasploit ?
At present there are almost 1894 exploits present in Metasploit. These are organized under the following platform :-
• AIX
• Android
• BSD
• BSDi
• Cisco
• Firefox
• FreeBSD
• HPUX
• Irix
• Java
• JavaScript
• Linux
• Mainframe multi (applicable to multiple platforms)
• NetBSD
• NetWare
• Nodejs
• OpenBSD
• OSX
• PHP
• Python
• R
• Ruby
• Solaris
• Unix
• Windows
What are the Payloads Present in Metasploit ?
At present there are almost 547 Payloads present. Some of the are as follows :-
• Command Shell: It enables user to run random commands or collection scripts on host machine.
• Meterpreter: The Metasploit Interpreter allows use to control the screen of a device using VNC and to browse or upload or download files.
• Dynamic Payloads: It enables users from getting infected from any kind of antivirus by generating unique payloads.
• Static Payloads: It enable static IP address/port forwarding to establish a communication between the host system and the client system.
Conclusion
In this article we have learn’t about What is Metasploit? What is Metasploit Framework? I hope you have understood it. It has always been my practise to provide complete information on this topic to my readers so that they don’t have to search on anywhere else regarding this topic.
This will also save their time and they will get all information at a single place. If you have any query related to this article or you want some modification in it, then tell us by commenting below.
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