Installing the Metasploit Framework

Rapid7 provides open source installers for the Metasploit Framework on Linux, Windows, and OS X operating systems. The Metasploit installer ships with all the necessary dependencies to run the Metasploit Framework. It includes msfconsole and installs associated tools like John the Ripper and Nmap.

The following sections provide information on the prerequisites and requirements that the system must meet before you can install the Metasploit Framework.

Supported Operating Systems and Minimum System Requirements

Please visit https://www.rapid7.com/products/metasploit/system-requirements to see the operating systems that are currently supported and the minimum system requirements.

Disable Anti-virus Software

Anti-virus software detects the Metasploit Framework as malicious and may cause problems with the installation and runtime of Metasploit Framework. The Metasploit Framework exploits the same vulnerabilities that the anti-virus software detects. Therefore, when you install the Metasploit Framework, the anti-virus software interrupts the installation process and alerts you of the security risks that may infect the system.

If you intend to use the Metasploit Framework, you should disable any anti-virus software before you install Metasploit Framework. If you cannot disable the anti-virus software, you must exclude the Metasploit directory from the scan.

Disable Firewalls

Local firewalls, including Windows Firewall, interfere with the operation of exploits and payloads. If you install the Metasploit Framework from behind a firewall, the firewall may detect the Metasploit Framework as malware and interrupt the download.

Please disable the local firewalls before you install or run Metasploit Framework. If you must operate from behind a firewall, you should download the Metasploit Framework from outside the network.

Obtain Administrator Privileges

To install the Metasploit Framework, you must have administrator privileges on the system that you want to use to run the framework.

The easiest way to get the Metasploit Framework is to download the installer from the Rapid7 site. Visit https://www.rapid7.com/products/metasploit/download.jsp to find and download the installer for your operating system.

The installer provides a self-contained environment for you to run and update the Metasploit Framework. This means that all the necessary dependencies are installed and configured for you during the installation process. If you prefer to install the dependencies manually, and configure the Metasploit Framework to use those dependencies, read https://kb.help.rapid7.com/docs/installing-the-metasploit-framework-on-ubuntu-linux

When you launch the installer file, the installer prompts you to enter the following configuration options:

• The destination folder on the hard drive or external disk where you want to install the Metasploit Framework.

Installing the Metasploit Framework on Windows

1. Download the Windows Installer.
2. After downloading the installer, locate the file, right-click, and select Run as Administrator.
3. When the Setup screen appears, click Next to continue.

4. Read the license agreement and select the I accept the license agreement option. Click Next to continue.

5. Browse to the location where you want to install the Metasploit Framework. By default, the framework is installed on the C:\ Metasploit-framework directory. Click Next to continue.

6. Click Install.

The installation process can take 5-10 minutes to complete. When the installation completes, click the Finish button.

To launch msfconsole after the installation completes, run the following from the command line:

 
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$ msfconsole.bat

Installing the Metasploit Framework on Linux

1. Open the terminal.
2. Enter the following command to add the build repository and install the Metasploit Framework package:

 
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curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-omnibus/master/config/templates/metasploit-framework-wrappers/msfupdate.erb > msfinstall && chmod 755 msfinstall && ./msfinstall

After the installation completes, open a terminal window and type the following to start msfconsole:

 
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$ ./msfconsole

The prompt asks you if you want to use and set up a new database. Type y or yes to run the initial configuration script to create the initial database.

If all goes well, the console starts and displays the following:

 
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Creating database at /Users/joesmith/.msf4/db
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Starting Postgresql
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Creating database users
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Creating initial database schema
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** Metasploit Framework Initial Setup Complete **
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[*] Starting the Metasploit Framework console...-[*] The initial module cache will be built in the background, this can take 2-5 minutes...
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/
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Metasploit Park, System Security Interface
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Version 4.0.5, Alpha E
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Ready...
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> access security
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access: PERMISSION DENIED.
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> access main security grid
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access: PERMISSION DENIED....and...
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YOU DIDN'T SAY THE MAGIC WORD!
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YOU DIDN'T SAY THE MAGIC WORD!
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=[ metasploit v4.11.0-dev [core:4.11.0.pre.dev api:1.0.0]]
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+ -- --=[ 1454 exploits - 827 auxiliary - 229 post ]
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+ -- --=[ 376 payloads - 37 encoders - 8 nops ]
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+ -- --=[ Free Metasploit Pro trial: http://r-7.co/trymsp ]
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msf >

To check to see if the database was set up, run the following command:

 
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$ db_status

If the Metasploit Framework successfully connected to the database, the following status displays:

 
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[*] postgresql connected to msf

Installing Metasploit Framework on OSX

1. Visit http://osx.metasploit.com/metasploitframework-latest.pkg to download the OSX package.
2. After you download the package, locate the file and double-click the installer icon to start the installation process.
3. When the Welcome screen appears, click Continue.

4. Read the license agreement and click Continue.

5. Agree to the license agreement to continue with the installation process.

6. Browse to the location where you want to install the Metasploit Framework if you want to change the default installation location.

7. Click Install when you are ready to install the Metasploit Framework.

8. The installation process can take 5-10 minutes to complete.

10. When the installation completes, click the Close button.

If you did not opt to create a database when msfconsole loaded for the first time, you can use the msfdb script to configure postgresql to run as your local user and store the database in ~/.msf4/db/.

To enable and start the database, run the following command:

 
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$ msfdb init

After the database starts, you can use any of the following commands to manage the database:

• msfdb reinit - Deletes and reinitializes the database.
• msfdb delete - Deletes the database.
• msfdb start - Starts the database.
• msfdb stop - Stops the database.
• msfdb status - Shows the database status.