Manual penetration testing can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially when testing large, complex environments. To streamline this process, automation has become an essential aspect of modern cybersecurity practices.

One such tool that automates penetration testing is AutoSploit, an open-source framework that integrates the popular Metasploit Framework with Shodan, a search engine for internet-connected devices. By automating the exploitation of discovered vulnerabilities, AutoSploit helps security professionals and penetration testers quickly identify and exploit vulnerabilities in exposed devices, making it a powerful tool for offensive security.

In this article, we’ll walk through how to use AutoSploit to automate penetration testing, from installation to performing attacks, with examples of each step.

What is AutoSploit?

AutoSploit is an automation tool that connects Shodan’s database of internet-facing devices with Metasploit's extensive collection of exploits. By leveraging Shodan’s search engine, AutoSploit can scan the internet for devices with known vulnerabilities and then use Metasploit to exploit these vulnerabilities automatically. It is a scriptable tool designed for security researchers, penetration testers, and hackers to perform rapid and wide-scale testing against vulnerable services on the internet.

Key Features of AutoSploit:

• Integration with Shodan: AutoSploit uses Shodan’s search API to find vulnerable systems exposed to the internet.

• Automatic Exploit Selection: It automatically selects Metasploit exploits based on the vulnerabilities found in the targeted services.

• Massive Scalability: AutoSploit can scan large sets of targets, automating the process of vulnerability discovery and exploitation.

• No Manual Interaction: Once configured, AutoSploit can run autonomously, without requiring input from the user, which saves time for penetration testers.

Prerequisites for Using AutoSploit

Before getting started, ensure you have the following:

• A Metasploit Framework Installation: You’ll need a working installation of Metasploit, which AutoSploit will rely on for exploiting vulnerabilities.

• A Shodan API Key: AutoSploit uses Shodan’s search capabilities to identify vulnerable devices. You can obtain a free API key by registering on Shodan’s website.

• Linux or Windows Operating System: AutoSploit works on both Linux and Windows. However, Linux is generally preferred for penetration testing tools.

Step-by-Step Guide to Automating Penetration Testing with AutoSploit

Step 1: Install AutoSploit

To begin using AutoSploit, you need to install it on your machine. The tool is available as a GitHub repository and can be cloned and set up easily.

1. Clone the AutoSploit repository:

   Open a terminal (or Command Prompt on Windows) and run the following command to clone the AutoSploit repository from GitHub:

   git clone https://github.com/NullArray/AutoSploit.git

2. Navigate to the AutoSploit directory:

   Once the repository is cloned, navigate to the directory where AutoSploit was downloaded:

   cd AutoSploit

3. Install the required dependencies:

   AutoSploit requires several Python packages to function properly. You can install them using pip:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

   This will install all necessary dependencies, such as requests, metasploit, and shodan.

4. Set up Metasploit:

   If you haven't already installed Metasploit, follow the installation instructions on Metasploit’s official website or use the package manager on your Linux system to install it.

5. Configure Shodan API Key:

   You’ll need a Shodan API key for AutoSploit to search for vulnerable devices. After obtaining your key from the Shodan website, create a configuration file called shodan.conf in the AutoSploit directory and paste your API key into it:

   SHODAN_API_KEY="Your_Shodan_API_Key"

Step 2: Searching for Vulnerable Hosts with Shodan

After installation and configuration, the next step is to use AutoSploit to search for vulnerable devices using Shodan.

1. Launch AutoSploit:

   In the AutoSploit directory, run the following command to start the tool:

   python3 autoSploit.py

2. Initiate a Search for Vulnerable Hosts:

   Once AutoSploit starts, you can initiate a search for vulnerable devices by entering the command search followed by a search query. For example, if you want to find devices with the Apache HTTP Server running and exposed to the internet, you can use the following command:

   search apache

   This will return a list of vulnerable systems found by Shodan that are running the Apache HTTP server. AutoSploit will show the IP addresses, ports, and additional information related to each target.

3. Refine Your Search:

   To narrow down your search, you can use more specific queries. For example, to search for systems running Apache on port 80 that are vulnerable to a known exploit, you can use:

   search apache port:80

   This query will return devices specifically exposing port 80 with Apache running.

Step 3: Automating Exploitation with Metasploit

After gathering the list of vulnerable hosts, AutoSploit uses Metasploit’s exploit modules to automatically exploit these vulnerabilities.

1. Select an Exploit:

   Once vulnerable devices are discovered, AutoSploit automatically chooses an appropriate Metasploit exploit based on the services and versions identified by Shodan. If there are multiple potential exploits, AutoSploit will attempt the most suitable one.

   For instance, if AutoSploit discovers a server running a vulnerable version of Apache, it will attempt to use a known exploit for that version.

2. Automate the Attack:

   Once the exploits are selected, AutoSploit will initiate the attack by running Metasploit’s modules. The tool will provide you with real-time updates as it attempts to exploit each target.

   For example, AutoSploit will use commands like:

   use exploit/multi/http/apache_mod_cgi_bash_env_exec

   set RHOSTS [target IP]

   run

   This will trigger Metasploit to exploit the vulnerability automatically. Depending on the target, the tool might use a reverse shell to establish a remote session, which can be used to further penetrate the system.

Step 4: Post-Exploitation

If the exploitation is successful, AutoSploit will gain access to the compromised system. After exploiting the vulnerabilities, penetration testers can perform post-exploitation activities, such as:

1. Escalating Privileges: If the initial access is limited, AutoSploit or Metasploit can attempt privilege escalation techniques to gain higher-level access on the system.
2. Gathering Information: You can use the system to gather sensitive information like passwords, internal network structure, or access tokens.
3. Maintaining Persistence: By setting up backdoors or additional payloads, AutoSploit can ensure that access remains even after system reboots or security measures are deployed.

Step 5: Reporting and Analysis

After completing the exploitation, it’s essential to analyze the results and generate a report:

1. Document the Vulnerabilities: Keep track of each vulnerability discovered and exploited, detailing the systems affected and the steps taken to exploit them.
2. Provide Recommendations: Based on the findings, suggest remediation actions for the vulnerabilities, such as patching the exploited software, changing default passwords, and blocking specific ports or services.

Conclusion

AutoSploit is a powerful tool for automating penetration testing. By combining the functionality of Shodan for discovering vulnerable systems with the Metasploit framework for exploitation, AutoSploit allows penetration testers to quickly identify and exploit vulnerabilities across a wide range of internet-exposed devices. However, while it is an excellent tool for ethical hackers, it can also be misused by malicious actors. Therefore, it’s essential to always use AutoSploit within a legal and ethical framework, such as conducting penetration tests with the explicit consent of the target organization. When used responsibly, AutoSploit is an effective way to automate and accelerate the penetration testing process, helping security professionals identify and fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited by malicious hackers.