Preface

Bash shell scripting is a fundamental skill in the pentester’s toolkit, enabling the automation of complex security assessments, vulnerability analysis, and exploitation tasks. This book provides a comprehensive guide to mastering Bash scripting specifically for pentesting, covering everything from basic scripting concepts to advanced techniques for evading detection and integrating with modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

The book is structured in three parts, taking readers from foundational concepts through practical pentesting applications to advanced topics. You’ll learn how to leverage Bash for reconnaissance, web application testing, network infrastructure assessment, privilege escalation, and maintaining persistence. The book emphasizes hands-on learning with practical examples and real-world scenarios that pentesters encounter in their daily work.