Exploitation

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What Is Exploitation?

Exploitation is the phase where a Red Team or attacker takes advantage of a validated vulnerability to gain access, execute code, escalate privileges, or move closer to the operational objective.

This is where theory becomes action — the moment a simulated adversary shifts from passive probing to active compromise.

In a Red Team context, exploitation is not just about popping shells — it’s about doing so in a way that mimics real threat actor behavior while maintaining stealth, persistence, and alignment with the Rules of Engagement (RoE).

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Why Exploitation Matters

Exploitation is a high-leverage point in any operation. It’s how Red Teams:

• Convert recon and validation into initial access
• Establish footholds inside the network
• Bypass authentication or escalate privileges
• Demonstrate real-world business impact

Proper exploitation separates script-kiddie noise from skilled adversary simulation. Done well, it reveals weaknesses in both technical controls and human response mechanisms.

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Types of Exploits

Exploit Type	Examples
Remote Code Execution (RCE)	Exploiting a web app to drop a reverse shell
Local Privilege Escalation (LPE)	Abusing weak service permissions or SUID binaries
Authentication Bypass	JWT manipulation, default creds, insecure OAuth
File Inclusion / Path Traversal	Reading sensitive files or uploading payloads
Deserialization / Memory Corruption	Achieving execution via object or heap exploitation

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Common Exploitation Methods

⚡ Manual Exploitation

Direct interaction with the vulnerability using:

• Custom payloads
• Browser-based attacks
• Raw HTTP requests
• Command-line tools (curl, nc, socat, etc.)

🧰 Exploit Frameworks

• Metasploit – Popular and modular, but loud and often detected
• Impacket – Ideal for SMB, Kerberos, RDP, and AD abuse
• Cobalt Strike / Brute Ratel – C2 framework integration
• Custom Python or Go payloads – For stealth and OPSEC control

🧬 Living-off-the-Land (LotL)

Use of built-in OS tools:

• PowerShell, WMI, CertUtil (Windows)
• Bash, curl, systemd abuse (Linux)
• No third-party binaries = lower detection footprint

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OPSEC & Stealth Considerations

Exploitation is risky — especially if you're:

• Writing to disk
• Injecting into memory
• Triggering suspicious child processes
• Making outbound C2 connections

Minimize exposure by:

• Testing exploits in a lab first
• Using in-memory payloads
• Encoding or obfuscating traffic
• Matching user-agent and headers to legit apps
• Logging every action (what, when, how, from where)

💡 Red Team Tip: The best exploit is the one the Blue Team never sees.

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Example: From Exploit to Foothold

1. Validate that a file upload endpoint allows unrestricted .aspx file drops.
2. Craft a simple web shell or use msfvenom to generate an aspx reverse shell payload.
3. Upload and execute the payload.
4. Catch the connection with a staged listener (netcat, Metasploit, or C2).
5. Immediately enumerate, escalate, or drop persistence — based on RoE.

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Exploitation vs. Post-Exploitation

Exploitation = Getting In
Post-Exploitation = What You Do After You're In

Exploitation should be:

• Surgical: Only target hosts that serve the objective.
• Measured: Avoid spraying payloads or triggering unnecessary detections.
• Objective-driven: Always tie the exploit back to the goal (e.g., "exfiltrate financial records", not "pop boxes for fun").

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Conclusion

Exploitation is where Red Team operations transition from opportunity to impact. It’s not just about owning a system — it’s about doing so in a way that simulates real threat actor behavior, minimizes detection, and aligns with mission goals.

Whether you're dropping an implant, spawning a shell, or pivoting deeper — the key is intent, control, and stealth.

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