Phishing Demo // Using Social Engineering Toolkit With Kali Linux

Introduction

In this article, we will explore a practical demonstration of social engineering and phishing attacks using the Social Engineering Toolkit (SET) within Kali Linux. This guide is intended for educational purposes only, focusing on a lab environment to illustrate the methodologies without harming real individuals or organizations.

Objectives

We will cover three main scenarios:

1. Credential Harvesting Attack with a Cloned Website: We will create a cloned version of a popular website to capture user credentials.
2. Email Attack: We will send an email that prompts a user to interact with our malicious link.
3. Payload Creation and Execution: We will create a payload for a reverse shell connection that will allow us to execute commands on the victim's machine.

Setting Up the Lab

To facilitate this demo, we will be using a personal home lab environment, with Kali Linux hosting the Social Engineering Toolkit. We will also utilize a Windows-based victim machine to demonstrate the phishing operation.

Important Considerations

It is essential to define the rules of engagement when conducting such demonstrations. We want to ensure no harm comes to participants and that the simulation is clear and educational. Users may react emotionally if they accidentally enter credentials; therefore, we will implement measures to reassure them post-engagement.

Part 1: Credential Harvesting Attack

1. Launch the Social Engineering Toolkit within Kali.
2. Select the option to clone a website for credential harvesting.
3. Choose a reputable site, such as GitHub, to clone.
4. When the victim navigates to the cloned site and enters their credentials, those credentials will be harvested by our setup.

The cloned website will redirect the user to the actual GitHub login page after they submit their credentials, adding realism to the phishing attempt.

Part 2: Email Attack

Next, we will configure an email to send to the victim. Here are the steps:

1. Create a payload using SET that will facilitate a reverse shell when executed.
2. Use a service like Mailgun or Gmail to send an email to the victim's account.
3. Create a concise and attention-grabbing subject line that compels the recipient to click the malicious link.

We will host the payload on a service and embed the link in the email body. The victim will be prompted to download and run the payload, establishing a reverse TCP connection back to our attacking machine.

Part 3: Payload Execution and Shell Access

To complete our demonstration:

1. The victim will download and execute the payload.
2. We will maintain a listener on our attacking machine to catch the incoming reverse shell.
3. Once connected, we can execute commands on the victim machine and observe system information.

Conclusion

This demonstration illustrates how powerful social engineering techniques can be when combined with technical vulnerabilities. The purpose is to raise awareness regarding phishing attacks and to educate on the importance of cautious online behavior.

Keywords

phishing, social engineering, Kali Linux, Social Engineering Toolkit, credential harvesting, email attack, payload, reverse shell

FAQ

What is the Social Engineering Toolkit (SET)?
SET is a framework within Kali Linux designed to help IT professionals conduct social engineering attacks to gauge an organization’s susceptibility to phishing.

What types of attacks can be conducted using SET?
SET can perform various types of attacks, including phishing emails, credential harvesting, and exploitation of vulnerabilities through malicious payloads.

Is this demonstration legal?
This demonstration is legal only in a controlled and authorized environment. Always define rules of engagement and obtain appropriate permissions.

What are the consequences of phishing attacks?
Phishing attacks can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, financial loss, and severe reputational damage to individuals and organizations.

How can individuals protect themselves from phishing?
Awareness and education are crucial. Always verify URLs, check the sender's details, and be cautious about downloading attachments or clicking links in unsolicited emails.