OpenSkillIndex← back to search

Hacktricks-skills phishing-assessment

How to conduct authorized phishing assessments and security awareness testing. Use this skill whenever the user mentions phishing campaigns, email security testing, social engineering assessments, credential harvesting simulations, GoPhish configuration, domain impersonation techniques, or security awareness training. Make sure to use this skill for any authorized security testing involving email-based attacks, MFA bypass scenarios, or help-desk social engineering simulations.

install
source · Clone the upstream repo
git clone https://github.com/abelrguezr/hacktricks-skills
manifest: skills/generic-methodologies-and-resources/phishing-methodology/phishing-methodology/SKILL.MD
source content

Phishing Assessment Methodology

A comprehensive guide for conducting authorized phishing assessments and security awareness testing.

⚠️ Authorization Required

Only use this methodology with explicit written authorization from the target organization. Unauthorized phishing attacks are illegal and unethical.

Assessment Workflow

Phase 1: Reconnaissance

  1. Select the victim domain - Identify the target organization's primary domain
  2. Enumerate login portals - Search for authentication pages to impersonate
  3. OSINT for email discovery - Find valid email addresses using public sources

Phase 2: Infrastructure Setup

  1. Acquire domain - Purchase or register a domain for the campaign
  2. Configure email records - Set up SPF, DMARC, DKIM, and rDNS
  3. Deploy GoPhish - Install and configure the phishing framework

Phase 3: Campaign Preparation

  1. Create email templates - Design realistic phishing emails
  2. Build landing pages - Clone or create credential harvesting pages
  3. Import targets - Load email addresses into the campaign

Phase 4: Execution & Monitoring

  1. Launch campaign - Send phishing emails to targets
  2. Monitor results - Track clicks, submissions, and success rates
  3. Document findings - Report results and recommendations

Domain Generation Techniques

Variation Methods

Use these techniques to generate similar-looking domains:

TechniqueExampleDescription
Keyword
zelster.com-management.com
Add important keywords
Hyphenated
www-zelster.com
Replace dot with hyphen
New TLD
zelster.org
Use different TLD
Homoglyph
zelfser.com
Replace with similar-looking letters
Transposition
zelsetr.com
Swap two letters
Pluralization
zelsters.com
Add/remove 's'
Omission
zelser.com
Remove one letter
Repetition
zeltsser.com
Repeat a letter
Replacement
zektser.com
Replace with nearby keyboard letter
Subdomained
ze.lster.com
Insert dot inside domain
Insertion
zerltser.com
Insert a letter
Missing dot
zelstercom.com
Append TLD without dot

Automated Tools

  • dnstwist - Generate domain variations
  • urlcrazy - Create typosquatting domains
  • Online generators - dnstwist.it, dnstwister.report

Bitflipping Domains

Single-bit modifications can change domains (e.g., 

windows.com
→ 
windnws.com
). Attackers register these to intercept traffic.

Trusted Domain Acquisition

Search expired domains at 

expireddomains.net
and verify their reputation using:

  • FortiGuard web filter
  • Palo Alto URL filtering

Email Discovery

Free Tools

  • theHarvester - Comprehensive OSINT tool
  • phonebook.cz - Email discovery
  • maildb.io - Breached email database
  • hunter.io - Professional email finder
  • anymailfinder.com - Email verification

Verification Methods

  1. SMTP brute-force - Test email addresses against mail servers
  2. Web portal enumeration - Check for username brute-force vulnerabilities
  3. Public email testing - Send to info@, press@, public@ addresses

GoPhish Configuration

Installation

# Download and extract to /opt/gophish
cd /opt/gophish
./gophish

Access admin panel on port 3333 with the password shown in output.

TLS Certificate Setup

DOMAIN="<your-domain>"

# Install certbot
sudo snap install --classic certbot

# Generate certificate
certbot certonly --standalone -d "$DOMAIN"

# Copy to GoPhish
mkdir /opt/gophish/ssl_keys
cp "/etc/letsencrypt/live/$DOMAIN/privkey.pem" /opt/gophish/ssl_keys/key.pem
cp "/etc/letsencrypt/live/$DOMAIN/fullchain.pem" /opt/gophish/ssl_keys/key.crt

GoPhish Configuration

Edit 

/opt/gophish/config.json
:

{
  "admin_server": {
    "listen_url": "127.0.0.1:3333",
    "use_tls": true,
    "cert_path": "gophish_admin.crt",
    "key_path": "gophish_admin.key"
  },
  "phish_server": {
    "listen_url": "0.0.0.0:443",
    "use_tls": true,
    "cert_path": "/opt/gophish/ssl_keys/key.crt",
    "key_path": "/opt/gophish/ssl_keys/key.pem"
  },
  "db_name": "sqlite3",
  "db_path": "gophish.db"
}

Service Configuration

Create 

/etc/init.d/gophish
:

#!/bin/bash
process=gophish
appDirectory=/opt/gophish
logfile=/var/log/gophish/gophish.log

start() {
    echo 'Starting Gophish...'
    cd ${appDirectory}
    nohup ./$process >>$logfile 2>&1 &
}

stop() {
    echo 'Stopping Gophish...'
    pid=$(/bin/pidof ${process})
    kill ${pid}
}

case $1 in
    start|stop|status) "$1" ;;
esac

Email Server Configuration

DNS Records

SPF Record (TXT):

v=spf1 mx a ip4:<your-ip> ?all

DMARC Record (TXT at 

_dmarc.<domain>
):

v=DMARC1; p=none

DKIM Record - Configure with Postfix and generate keys

rDNS (PTR) - Set at your hosting provider

Testing Email Configuration

  1. mail-tester.com - Send test email to provided address
  2. check-auth@verifier.port25.com - Verify authentication headers
  3. Gmail test - Check 
    Authentication-Results
    header for 
    spf=pass
    and 
    dkim=pass

Blacklist Removal

  • Spamhaus: spamhaus.org/lookup/
  • Microsoft: sender.office.com

Campaign Creation

Sending Profile

  • Use generic sender names: 
    noreply
    , 
    support
    , 
    servicedesk
  • Enable "Ignore Certificate Errors"
  • Test with temporary email addresses (10minutemail)

Email Template

<html>
<head><title></title></head>
<body>
<p>Dear {{.FirstName}} {{.LastName}},</p>
<br />
<p>We require all users to login before the end of the week.</p>
<br />
<p>Regards,<br/>IT Department</p>
<p>{{.Tracker}}</p>
</body>
</html>

Best practices:

  • Add tracking image
  • Use realistic signatures from public emails
  • Keep subject lines normal and expected
  • Consider attaching files for NTLM credential theft

Landing Page

  • Clone legitimate login pages
  • Enable "Capture Submitted Data" and "Capture Passwords"
  • Set redirect to legitimate site or success page
  • Store static resources in 
    /opt/gophish/static/endpoint

Users & Groups

Import CSV with columns: 

firstname
, 
lastname
, 
email

Advanced Techniques

MFA Bypass Methods

Proxy MitM (evilginx2, CredSniper, muraena):

  1. Impersonate real login form
  2. Forward credentials to real site
  3. Capture 2FA codes in real-time
  4. Steal session cookies

VNC-based (EvilnoVNC):

  • Send victim to VNC session with real browser
  • Observe all interactions including MFA

High-Touch Identity Compromise

Help-Desk MFA Reset Attack:

  1. Recon target's personal/corporate details
  2. Call help-desk impersonating target
  3. Provide PII to pass verification
  4. Request MFA reset or SIM-swap
  5. Immediately pivot with valid credentials

Detection:

  • Monitor for 
    deleteMFA
    + 
    addMFA
    within minutes
  • Require step-up auth for identity recovery
  • Implement call-back verification

At-Scale Deception

SEO Poisoning:

  • Fake search results (e.g., 
    chromium-update[.]site
    )
  • First-stage loaders (JS/HTA/ISO)
  • Silent loaders deploy RAT/ransomware

ClickFix DLL Delivery:

  • Fake CERT update pages
  • Batch downloads DLL to 
    %TEMP%
  • Execute via 
    rundll32
  • C2 via base64-encoded PowerShell

AI-Enhanced Phishing

  • Generate personalized emails at scale
  • Deep-fake voice for callback scams
  • Autonomous domain registration and intel gathering
  • Runtime JavaScript generation via LLM APIs

Mobile Phishing

Device-gated phishing:

  • Check for 
    ontouchstart
    in JavaScript
  • Serve 500 to desktop crawlers
  • Full phishing flow only for mobile

WhatsApp device-linking:

  • Fake QR code pages
  • Victim scans, attacker gains linked device access

Detection & Evasion

Monitoring for Detection

  • Check domain against blacklists (malwareworld.com)
  • Register similar domains to detect victim monitoring
  • Use Phishious to evaluate email deliverability

Evasion Techniques

  • Wait 1+ week before campaign (domain age matters)
  • Use legitimate-looking content on domain
  • Test with temporary emails first
  • Rotate infrastructure between campaigns

Reporting & Remediation

Assessment Report Structure

  1. Executive Summary - High-level findings
  2. Methodology - Techniques used
  3. Results - Success rates, metrics
  4. Key Findings - Most vulnerable areas
  5. Recommendations - Remediation steps

Remediation Recommendations

  1. Email Security

    • Implement DMARC with reject policy
    • Enable SPF and DKIM
    • Deploy email authentication monitoring

  2. User Awareness

    • Regular phishing simulations
    • Training on social engineering
    • Clear reporting procedures

  3. Technical Controls

    • MFA for all accounts
    • Help-desk verification procedures
    • Monitor for MFA reset anomalies
    • Block newly-registered domains

  4. Detection

    • UEBA for identity anomalies
    • Monitor for unusual authentication patterns
    • Alert on MFA method changes

Legal & Ethical Considerations

  • Written authorization required before any testing
  • Scope definition - Clearly define targets and methods
  • Data handling - Securely store and delete captured credentials
  • Disclosure - Report findings responsibly
  • Compliance - Follow applicable laws and regulations

References