Command and Control

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, harnessing the power of PowerShell has become a cornerstone in the toolkit of penetration testers seeking to replicate real-world scenarios. This chapter delves into the art and science of utilizing PowerShell for Command and Control (C2) during penetration testing, where security professionals simulate attacks to evaluate the robustness of their defenses.

PowerShell, a task automation framework from Microsoft, has emerged as a double-edged sword – a tool for both defenders and attackers. As organizations fortify their defenses, adversaries leverage PowerShell’s versatility to navigate through networks stealthily, establish persistent connections, and execute malicious commands. This chapter navigates the intricate landscape of PowerShell in a penetration testing context, unraveling its capabilities for C2 operations.

We begin by exploring foundational concepts, understanding how PowerShell can...