Pablo Guides

# Course #262: Mastering httpx-toolkit$

## Section 1/5: Introduction & Installation of httpx-toolkit$ on Kali Linux

### Overview

`httpx-toolkit$` is a powerful tool designed for web enumeration and security testing. It's particularly beneficial for penetration testers and ethical hackers who seek to gather information about a web application, assess its security posture, and identify potential vulnerabilities. In this section, we will explore how to install and configure `httpx-toolkit$` on Kali Linux and provide a comprehensive guide on its usage, including real-world use cases and technical explanations.

### 1. Installation of httpx-toolkit$ on Kali Linux

To get started with `httpx-toolkit$`, we first need to install it on our Kali Linux system. The tool can be easily installed via GitHub and requires a few dependencies. Follow the steps below to set it up.

#### Step 1: Update Kali Linux

Before installing new software, it's always a good practice to update your system. Open a terminal and run the following command:

"`bash
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
"`

#### Step 2: Install Dependencies

`httpx-toolkit$` requires certain dependencies to function correctly. These can usually be installed using the package manager. Execute the following command:

"`bash
sudo apt install git curl wget -y
"`

#### Step 3: Clone the Repository

Now, we will clone the `httpx-toolkit$` repository from GitHub. This can be done using the `git` command:

"`bash
git clone https://github.com/projectdiscovery/httpx-toolkit.git
"`

#### Step 4: Change Directory

After cloning the repository, navigate to the directory:

"`bash
cd httpx-toolkit
"`

#### Step 5: Install Go (if not already installed)

`httpx-toolkit$` is built in Go programming language. If you do not have Go installed, you can install it using the following commands:

"`bash
sudo apt install golang -y
"`

Ensure that the Go binary is in your `PATH` by adding the following line to your `.bashrc` or `.zshrc` file:

"`bash
export PATH=$PATH:$(go env GOPATH)/bin
"`

#### Step 6: Build httpx-toolkit$

Now, you need to build the `httpx-toolkit$` from the source. Run the following command to compile the tool:

"`bash
go build -o httpx-toolkit
"`

#### Step 7: Verify Installation

To confirm that the installation was successful, you can check the version of `httpx-toolkit$`:

"`bash
./httpx-toolkit -v
"`

### 2. Configuration of httpx-toolkit$

After installation, you may want to configure `httpx-toolkit$` to suit your preferences. The configurations can be managed via a configuration file (typically named `config.yaml` or similar).

#### Example Configuration File

Here is a basic example of a configuration file for `httpx-toolkit$`:

"`yaml
# config.yaml
timeout: 5
follow_redirects: true
http_headers:
User-Agent: "httpx-toolkit/1.0"
"`

You can place this file in the installation directory, and `httpx-toolkit$` will read from it when executed.

### 3. Step-by-Step Usage

Now that we have `httpx-toolkit$` installed and configured, let’s walk through its usage. Below, you will find step-by-step instructions on how to perform various tasks using the tool, along with real-world use cases.

#### Use Case 1: Basic URL Enumeration

One of the primary functions of `httpx-toolkit$` is to enumerate URLs by checking their HTTP responses. This can be especially useful for ensuring that all endpoints of a web application are reachable.

**Command:**

"`bash
./httpx-toolkit -u https://example.com/api/endpoint
"`

In the above command, replace `https://example.com/api/endpoint` with the URL you wish to test. The tool will check the specified endpoint and provide information such as the response code.

#### Use Case 2: Mass URL Testing from a File

Often, penetration testers will have a list of URLs to test. `httpx-toolkit$` allows you to read from a file containing multiple URLs.

**Command:**

"`bash
./httpx-toolkit -l urls.txt
"`

In this command, `urls.txt` should contain a list of target URLs, one per line. The tool will iterate through each URL, checking their HTTP statuses and other relevant responses.

#### Use Case 3: Header Inspection

You can inspect HTTP headers returned by a server to identify potential security misconfigurations.

**Command:**

"`bash
./httpx-toolkit -u https://example.com -head
"`

Adding the `-head` flag will send a HEAD request instead of a GET request, allowing you to see the headers without downloading the entire content.

#### Real-World Example: Subdomain Enumeration

Subdomain enumeration is a common task in penetration testing. Let's say you want to enumerate subdomains for `example.com`.

1. Create a list of potential subdomains in a file called `subdomains.txt`:

"`
api.example.com
www.example.com
test.example.com
"`

2. Use `httpx-toolkit$` to enumerate these subdomains:

"`bash
./httpx-toolkit -l subdomains.txt
"`

The tool will return the HTTP responses for each subdomain, helping you identify which ones are live.

### 4. Advanced Features and Commands

`httpx-toolkit$` also includes several advanced features that can enhance your testing capabilities. Below are some of these features, with explanations and code examples.

#### 4.1. Custom User-Agent Strings

Sometimes, sending requests with custom User-Agent strings can yield different results. You can do this with the `-ua` flag.

**Command:**

"`bash
./httpx-toolkit -u https://example.com -ua "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/58.0.3029.110 Safari/537.3"
"`

#### 4.2. Rate Limiting

When testing multiple URLs, you may want to configure rate limiting to avoid overwhelming the server.

**Command:**

"`bash
./httpx-toolkit -l urls.txt -rate-limit 10
"`

This command will limit requests to 10 per second.

#### 4.3. Proxy Support

If you're conducting tests through a proxy for anonymity, you can specify the proxy settings using the `-proxy` flag.

**Command:**

"`bash
./httpx-toolkit -u https://example.com -proxy http://127.0.0.1:8080
"`

### 5. Detailed Technical Explanations

Understanding the underlying technology behind `httpx-toolkit$` will enhance your ability to use it effectively in various scenarios.

#### 5.1. HTTP Requests

`httpx-toolkit$` primarily interacts with web servers via HTTP requests. It can send GET, POST, and HEAD requests, allowing for flexible testing of endpoints. Understanding how HTTP requests function—such as the significance of status codes (e.g., 200, 404, 500)—is essential for interpreting the results.

#### 5.2. Handling Responses

The tool processes server responses and can parse headers and body content. This allows you to gather important information such as:

– Server type and version
– Content type
– Security headers (e.g., `X-Content-Type-Options`, `Strict-Transport-Security`)

#### 5.3. Security Considerations

While performing security tests, it’s crucial to understand ethical implications:

– Always have permission to test the target.
– Be aware of the boundaries set by the target organization.
– Respect privacy and data handling laws.

### 6. External Reference Links

For further reading and advanced techniques, consider the following resources:

– [ProjectDiscovery Documentation](https://docs.projectdiscovery.io/)
– [OWASP Web Security Testing Guide](https://owasp.org/www-project-web-security-testing-guide/)
– [Go Programming Language](https://golang.org/doc/)

### Conclusion

`httpx-toolkit$` is an invaluable tool in the arsenal of ethical hackers and penetration testers. Its capabilities to enumerate, test, and analyze HTTP responses make it a must-have for anyone serious about web security. In the next sections, we will delve deeper into advanced usage, integration with other tools, and specific case studies that demonstrate `httpx-toolkit$` in action.

—

Made by pablo rotem / פבלו רותם