🎯 Goal
Go beyond web vulnerabilities and emulate real-world adversaries. Learn to compromise networks, escalate privileges, move laterally, and achieve objectives while evading detection. This path merges penetration testing methodology with red team tactics.
🔑 Key Skills to Learn
- Penetration Testing Methodology: Reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, post-exploitation, reporting (PTES, OSSTMM).
- Active Directory (AD) Attacks: Kerberoasting, AS-REP roasting, Pass-the-Hash, Pass-the-Ticket, Golden/Silver Ticket, DCSync, BloodHound analysis.
- Network Exploitation: LLMNR/NBT-NS poisoning, SMB relay attacks, SNMP weaknesses, network pivoting.
- Phishing & Social Engineering: Pretexting, payload delivery, credential harvesting (GoPhish).
- Command & Control (C2) Frameworks: Setting up and using C2 (Sliver, Covenant, Havoc) for agent communication.
- Post-Exploitation: Privilege escalation (Windows & Linux), credential dumping (Mimikatz, LSASS), persistence mechanisms.
- Lateral Movement: PSExec, WMI, WinRM, RDP, SSH hopping, pass-the-hash.
- Evasion & OPSEC: Antivirus/EDR bypass (AMSI, script logging), obfuscation, avoiding common indicators.
- Reporting for Red Teams: Narrative-based reports, attack flow diagrams, mitigation recommendations aligned to MITRE ATT&CK.
🛠️ Essential Tools & Technologies
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Metasploit Framework | Exploitation, payload generation, post-exploitation modules. |
| BloodHound (Community Edition) | Active Directory relationship analysis, attack path mapping. |
| Impacket Suite | Scripts for AD attacks (secretsdump, GetUserSPNs, wmiexec). |
| CrackMapExec (CME) | Swiss army knife for AD reconnaissance, lateral movement, credential spraying. |
| Sliver / Havoc / Covenant | Modern C2 frameworks for red team engagements. |
| Mimikatz / Rubeus | Credential dumping, Kerberos ticket manipulation. |
| Evil-WinRM / psexec.py | Remote command execution and lateral movement. |
| GoPhish | Open-source phishing simulation and training platform. |
| Nishang / PowerSploit | PowerShell post-exploitation frameworks. |
| Ligolo-ng / Chisel | Pivoting and tunneling tools. |
📖 Free Learning Resources
- Hack The Box – Starting Point & Pro Labs – Free tier machines build AD and network exploitation skills. Link
- TryHackMe – Red Team Path – Rooms: "Active Directory", "Lateral Movement", "C2 Operations". Link
- Zero-Point Security – “Red Team Ops” (CRTO) – Paid course but excellent free blog posts and “C2 Matrix” site. C2 Matrix
- MITRE ATT&CK – Map your techniques, understand detection gaps. Link
- SpecterOps Blog – Deep dives into AD attacks and BloodHound. Link
- Sektor7 Malware Development Courses (Free Intro) – Learn evasion and tool development basics. Search “Sektor7 free intro” on YouTube.
- IppSec (YouTube) – Hack The Box machine walkthroughs, teaches methodology. Link
- The Hacker Playbook (Book Series) – Some free preview chapters and associated GitHub repos for scenarios. Search “THP-2/3 GitHub”.
🔗 Roadmap Placement
- Prerequisites: Strong Linux, Networking, Core Security Concepts, Web & Application Security, and basic Bug Bounty methodology.
- Directly Leads to: Advanced adversary simulation, purple teaming (combining red & blue), security research, or operational roles like penetration tester / red team operator.
- Next Steps: After this, you might explore Cloud Security / Cloud Penetration Testing, Mobile Security, or Digital Forensics & Incident Response (to understand the defensive side).