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# Kali Linux Course #60: Chromium for Pentesting

## Section 1: Installation and Configuration on Kali Linux

### Introduction to Chromium

Chromium is an open-source web browser project from which Google Chrome draws its source code. It is a popular choice among penetration testers due to its flexibility, powerful developer tools, and the ability to extend functionality through a wide variety of extensions. This section will guide you through the installation and configuration of Chromium on Kali Linux, as well as how to use it effectively for penetration testing.

### Installation of Chromium on Kali Linux

Kali Linux comes with a wide range of tools pre-installed, including several web browsers. However, you may want to install or update Chromium to ensure you have the latest version.

1. **Open a Terminal**: Launch the terminal from your applications menu or using the shortcut (Ctrl + Alt + T).

2. **Update the Package List**: Before installing any software, it's good practice to update your package list to ensure you have the latest version available in the repositories. Run the following command:

   sudo apt update

 

3. **Install Chromium**: To install Chromium, use the following command:

   sudo apt install chromium

 

4. **Launch Chromium**: Once the installation is complete, you can launch Chromium by typing:

   chromium

 

### Configuration of Chromium

After installing Chromium, you will want to configure it to optimize your penetration testing environment.

1. **Create a New Profile**: It's advisable to run a separate profile for penetration testing to avoid interfering with your regular browsing activities. To create a new profile:
– Click on the profile icon in the top right corner and select “Add”.
– Choose a name and an icon for your new profile.

2. **Disable Extensions**: By default, a new profile may have extensions enabled. For pentesting, it's advisable to disable or use only specific extensions that are relevant to your testing. You can do this by:
– Going to `chrome://extensions/` in the address bar.
– Toggling off extensions that are not necessary for your testing.

3. **Enable Developer Tools**: Developer tools are essential for any pentester. To enable them:
– Open Chromium and go to the menu (three dots in the top right corner).
– Select “More Tools” > “Developer Tools”.
– You can also toggle Developer Tools by pressing `Ctrl + Shift + I`.

4. **Privacy Settings**: Configure your privacy settings for better anonymity and security during testing:
– Go to `chrome://settings/`.
– In the privacy and security section, consider enabling features that prevent tracking and enhance security.

## Step-by-Step Usage and Real-World Use Cases

Chromium can be used for various pentesting tasks, including web application vulnerability scanning, XSS testing, and more. Below are a few use cases along with detailed instructions.

### Use Case 1: Web Application Vulnerability Scanning

1. **Identify the Application**: Start by determining the web application you want to test. Let’s assume you want to test `http://example.com`.

2. **Install Necessary Extensions**:
To enhance Chromium's capabilities, consider installing extensions like:
– **Wappalyzer**: Identifies technologies used on websites.
– **Web Developer**: Adds various web developer tools.

3. **Using Developer Tools for Scanning**:
– Open Chromium and navigate to the target web application.
– Open Developer Tools (`Ctrl + Shift + I`).
– Go to the “Network” tab and inspect the requests being made. Look for any unusual requests or responses.

4. **Check for Common Vulnerabilities**:
– Look for endpoints that may be vulnerable to SQL Injection or XSS.
– Use the console to execute JavaScript commands to check for XSS vulnerabilities:
[/dm_code_snippet]javascript
fetch('http://example.com/vulnerable_endpoint?input=')
.then(response => response.text())
.then(data => console.log(data));
[/dm_code_snippet]

### Use Case 2: XSS Testing

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a common vulnerability that you can test using Chromium.

1. **Navigate to the Input Field**: Identify an input field in the web application that might be vulnerable to XSS.

2. **Inject the Payload**: In the input field, try to inject a simple payload:
[/dm_code_snippet]html

[/dm_code_snippet]

3. **Analyze the Response**: Submit the form and see if the alert box appears. If it does, the site is vulnerable to XSS.

### Use Case 3: API Testing

Chromium can also be used to test RESTful APIs.

1. **Use Postman or an equivalent tool**: While not directly a feature of Chromium, you can leverage cookies and sessions established in the Chromium browser to test APIs.
– Install Postman via the terminal:

     sudo snap install postman

   

2. **Capture Tokens**: When logged into an application that uses APIs, capture any tokens or session information through the Network tab in Developer Tools.

3. **Make API Requests**: Use these tokens in Postman to test API endpoints:

   GET http://example.com/api/v1/resource

   Authorization: Bearer 

 

4. **Analyze the Response**: Look for status codes and response bodies. Test for authorization issues, data leaks, and other vulnerabilities.

## Detailed Technical Explanations and External Reference Links

### Understanding HTTP Requests

When interacting with web applications, you'll encounter various types of HTTP requests. The main types are:

– **GET**: Retrieves data from the server.
– **POST**: Sends data to the server, often creating or updating resources.
– **PUT**: Updates existing resources.
– **DELETE**: Removes resources from the server.

You can view and analyze these requests in the Network tab of Developer Tools. Understanding how these requests work is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities.

### Common Proxies in Penetration Testing

Using proxies can significantly enhance your testing capabilities. Some popular tools include:

– **Burp Suite**: A powerful web vulnerability scanner that can be integrated with Chromium.
– **OWASP ZAP**: An open-source web application security scanner.

By configuring Chromium to route its traffic through these proxies, you can inspect and manipulate requests in real time.

### References

– [Kali Linux Official Documentation](https://www.kali.org/docs/)
– [Chromium Developer Tools](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools/)
– [OWASP Testing Guide](https://owasp.org/www-project-web-security-testing-guide/latest/)

### Code Examples for WordPress

For creating interactive content related to these topics, you may want to include code examples in your WordPress articles. Here’s how you could format a simple example:

"`markdown
## Example: Testing for XSS Vulnerability

To test for XSS, you can use the following payload:

"`html

"`
"`

This markdown will render nicely in WordPress, allowing readers to easily understand how to apply the information.

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By following these guidelines, you'll be well on your way to mastering Chromium as a powerful tool in your penetration testing arsenal. As you gain more experience, remember to always adhere to ethical practices and obtain necessary permissions before testing any web application.

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Made by pablo rotem / פבלו רותם