Post Exploitation

Vermilion : Mastering Linux Post-Exploitation For Red Team Success

Vermilion is a simple and lightweight CLI tool designed for rapid collection, and optional exfiltration of sensitive information from Linux systems.
Its primary purpose is to streamline the process of gathering critical data in red teaming scenarios.

How It Works

Vermilion is a Linux-focused tool designed for efficient information gathering and sensitive data exfiltration. It collects:

  • System Information : OS details, hostname, network configurations, public and local IPs, active connections, system uptime, and more.
  • Environment Variables : Captures all available environment variables.
  • User and System Files : Gathers sensitive directories and files, including:
    • User-specific files: .ssh, .bash_history, .zsh_history, .aws, .docker, .kube, .azure, .gnupg, .git-credentials, and more.
    • System-level files: /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, /etc/group, /etc/hostname, /etc/hosts, /etc/ssl, and cron configurations.
    • Logs and temporary files: Authentication logs, system logs, and temporary files.
  • User Enumeration : Automatically enumerates all system users and collects sensitive files from accessible home directories.

The tool creates a compressed archive of the collected data for easy local storage or exfiltration to a specified endpoint.
Additionally, it provides the option to exfiltrate the collected data via an HTTP POST request to a specified endpoint.

The implementation of the endpoint for exfiltration is outside the scope of this tool; for an example, refer to this resource.

Vermilion supports amd64, arm and arm64 architectures.

Example Use Case

Imagine being engaged in a red teaming campaign and successfully compromising a user on a Linux machine.
Linux environments often are treasure trove of sensitive data and information due to their use as servers and their integration with other systems and softwares.
Therefore, it is crucial to have an automated tool that enables rapid collection and exfiltration of sensitive information, such as environment variables and strategic directories, within seconds.

Varshini

Varshini is a Cyber Security expert in Threat Analysis, Vulnerability Assessment, and Research. Passionate about staying ahead of emerging Threats and Technologies.

Recent Posts

How to Check if a File Exists in Bash – Simply Explained

Why Do We Check Files in Bash? When writing a Bash script, you often work…

1 day ago

Bash Arrays Explained Simply: Beginner’s Guide with Examples

If you’re learning Bash scripting, one of the most useful features you’ll come across is…

2 days ago

Bash For Loop Examples Explained Simply for Beginners

If you are new to Bash scripting or Linux shell scripting, one of the most…

3 days ago

How Does a Firewall Work Step by Step

How Does a Firewall Work Step by Step? What Is a Firewall and How Does…

4 days ago

ROADTools: The Modern Azure AD Exploration Framework

ROADTools is a powerful framework designed for exploring and interacting with Microsoft Azure Active Directory…

1 week ago

How to Enumerate Microsoft 365 Groups Using PowerShell and Python

Microsoft 365 Groups (also known as M365 Groups or Unified Groups) are at the heart…

1 week ago