Manage Meterpreter and Shell Sessions

After you successfully exploit a host, either a shell or Meterpreter session is opened. By default, Metasploit attempts to deliver a Meterpreter payload. A Meterpreter payload is uploaded to a remote machine that allows you to run Metasploit modules. If Metasploit is unable to deliver a Meterpreter payload then it opens a shell.

Depending on the module used to create a session, either a Shell or both a Shell and Meterpreter session will be opened. This is because shell payloads are created by running a command on a remote machine, and they can be easier to “launch”. Some exploits are limited in functionality ,and shell commands require less manipulation by the exploit.

A Meterpreter shell gives you access to Metasploit modules and other actions not available in the command shell.

A shell session opens a standard terminal on the target host, giving you similar functions to a terminal on your OS. The functionality can differ depending on the type of exploit used. Using a shell does not provide the same actions as a Meterpreter shell.

Command Shell

“Command Shell” is listed under Shell and Meterpreter. While the name is the same, the functionality is not. Meterpreter > Command Shell will open a Meterpreter shell, while Shell > Command Shell will open a standard terminal.

Manage Your Meterpreter Session

To access the session pages in the top menu go to "Sessions".

The Meterpreter "Active Sessions" page provides you with the following information:

  • Session - The number of the session. These are attached to the session in sequential order of being created.
  • OS - The host operating system.
  • Host - The host address and name.
  • Type - The type of shell.
  • Age - The time the session has been opened in minutes or seconds. Once 60 seconds is reached, time is tracked in minutes.
  • Description - Any information related to how the session was opened if available. For example, bruteforce opened sessions will contain the username and password used.
  • Attack Module - The exploit used to open the session.

View Available Meterpreter Actions

To see all the available actions for a Meterpreter shell during a session, do the following:

  1. Under “Active Sessions” select a session that has a “Type” of “Meterpreter”.
  1. On the session page, review the available actions. From this page, you can launch a terminal, see available modules and run post-exploitation actions.

The Meterpreter session page has the following information:

  • Session - Session number and target host address. In the image above this is Session 2 on 127.0.0.1
  • Session Type - The type of payload and module used to open the session.
  • Information - Any information on how the session was opened. If this was the result of a bruteforce attack it will include the authentication type and credential pair used.
  • Attack Module - Exploit used to open the session.
  • Available Actions - All the available actions that can be taken.
  • Session History - A detailed list of all actions taken during an open session.
  • Post-Exploitation Modules - Modules available to run based on the OS and payload type.

Launch the Meterpreter Command Shell

Under “Available Actions” click Command Shell. It will open a blank terminal. At the top is the session ID and the target host address. In this example, the session ID is : Metasploit - Mdm::Session ID # 2 (127.0.0.1)

At the bottom is the shell input. Meterpreter >

View Available Meterpreter Shell Commands

  • To see a list of available commands type ?. Meterpreter > ? It will display a list of available commands with a description of each. From here you can run a module, review the target hosts files and get networking information.

  • To shut down a session from the shell use quit.

Meterpreter Shell Commands

 
1
Core Commands
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=============
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    Command                   Description
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    -------                   -----------
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    ?                         Help menu
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    background                Backgrounds the current session
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    bg                        Alias for background
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    bgkill                    Kills a background meterpreter script
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    bglist                    Lists running background scripts
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    bgrun                     Executes a meterpreter script as a background thread
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    channel                   Displays information or control active channels
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    close                     Closes a channel
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    disable_unicode_encoding  Disables encoding of unicode strings
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    enable_unicode_encoding   Enables encoding of unicode strings
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    exit                      Terminate the meterpreter session
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    get_timeouts              Get the current session timeout values
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    guid                      Get the session GUID
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    help                      Help menu
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    info                      Displays information about a Post module
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    irb                       Open an interactive Ruby shell on the current session
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    load                      Load one or more meterpreter extensions
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    machine_id                Get the MSF ID of the machine attached to the session
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    migrate                   Migrate the server to another process
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    pivot                     Manage pivot listeners
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    pry                       Open the Pry debugger on the current session
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    quit                      Terminate the meterpreter session
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    read                      Reads data from a channel
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    resource                  Run the commands stored in a file
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    run                       Executes a meterpreter script or Post module
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    secure                    (Re)Negotiate TLV packet encryption on the session
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    sessions                  Quickly switch to another session
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    set_timeouts              Set the current session timeout values
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    sleep                     Force Meterpreter to go quiet, then re-establish session.
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    transport                 Change the current transport mechanism
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    use                       Deprecated alias for "load"
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    uuid                      Get the UUID for the current session
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    write                     Writes data to a channel
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40


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Stdapi: File system Commands
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============================
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    Command       Description
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    -------       -----------
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    cat           Read the contents of a file to the screen
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    cd            Change directory
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    checksum      Retrieve the checksum of a file
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    cp            Copy source to destination
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    dir           List files (alias for ls)
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    download      Download a file or directory
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    edit          Edit a file
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    getlwd        Print local working directory
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    getwd         Print working directory
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    lcd           Change local working directory
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    lls           List local files
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    lpwd          Print local working directory
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    ls            List files
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    mkdir         Make directory
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    mv            Move source to destination
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    pwd           Print working directory
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    rm            Delete the specified file
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    rmdir         Remove directory
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    search        Search for files
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    show_mount    List all mount points/logical drives
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    upload        Upload a file or directory
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Stdapi: Networking Commands
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===========================
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    Command       Description
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    -------       -----------
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    arp           Display the host ARP cache
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    getproxy      Display the current proxy configuration
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    ifconfig      Display interfaces
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    ipconfig      Display interfaces
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    netstat       Display the network connections
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    portfwd       Forward a local port to a remote service
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    resolve       Resolve a set of host names on the target
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    route         View and modify the routing table
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83


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Stdapi: System Commands
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=======================
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    Command       Description
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    -------       -----------
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    clearev       Clear the event log
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    drop_token    Relinquishes any active impersonation token.
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    execute       Execute a command
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    getenv        Get one or more environment variable values
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    getpid        Get the current process identifier
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    getprivs      Attempt to enable all privileges available to the current process
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    getsid        Get the SID of the user that the server is running as
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    getuid        Get the user that the server is running as
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    kill          Terminate a process
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    localtime     Displays the target system's local date and time
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    pgrep         Filter processes by name
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    pkill         Terminate processes by name
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    ps            List running processes
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    reboot        Reboots the remote computer
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    reg           Modify and interact with the remote registry
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    rev2self      Calls RevertToSelf() on the remote machine
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    shell         Drop into a system command shell
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    shutdown      Shuts down the remote computer
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    steal_token   Attempts to steal an impersonation token from the target process
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    suspend       Suspends or resumes a list of processes
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    sysinfo       Gets information about the remote system, such as OS
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Stdapi: User interface Commands
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===============================
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    Command        Description
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    -------        -----------
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    enumdesktops   List all accessible desktops and window stations
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    getdesktop     Get the current meterpreter desktop
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    idletime       Returns the number of seconds the remote user has been idle
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    keyboard_send  Send keystrokes
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    keyevent       Send key events
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    keyscan_dump   Dump the keystroke buffer
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    keyscan_start  Start capturing keystrokes
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    keyscan_stop   Stop capturing keystrokes
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    mouse          Send mouse events
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    screenshare    Watch the remote user's desktop in real time
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    screenshot     Grab a screenshot of the interactive desktop
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    setdesktop     Change the meterpreters current desktop
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    uictl          Control some of the user interface components
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Stdapi: Webcam Commands
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=======================
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    Command        Description
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    -------        -----------
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    record_mic     Record audio from the default microphone for X seconds
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    webcam_chat    Start a video chat
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    webcam_list    List webcams
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    webcam_snap    Take a snapshot from the specified webcam
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    webcam_stream  Play a video stream from the specified webcam
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Stdapi: Audio Output Commands
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=============================
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    Command       Description
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    -------       -----------
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    play          play an audio file on target system, nothing written on disk
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Priv: Elevate Commands
153
======================
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    Command       Description
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    -------       -----------
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    getsystem     Attempt to elevate your privilege to that of local system.
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Priv: Password database Commands
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================================
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    Command       Description
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    -------       -----------
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    hashdump      Dumps the contents of the SAM database
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Priv: Timestomp Commands
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========================
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    Command       Description
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    -------       -----------
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    timestomp     Manipulate file MACE attributes

Manage your Shell Session

The Shell session page provides you with the following information:

  • **Session - **Session number and target host address. In the image above this is Session 2 on 127.0.0.1
  • **Session Type - **The type of payload and module used to open the session.
  • Information - Any information on how the session was opened. If this was the result of a bruteforce attack it will include the authentication type and credential pair used.
  • Attack Module - Exploit used to open the session.
  • **Available Actions - **All the available actions that can be taken.
  • **Session History - **A detailed list of all actions taken during an open session.
  • **Post-Exploitation Modules - **Modules available to run based on the OS and payload type.

View Available Shell Actions

  1. Under “Active Session” select a session that has a “Type” of “Shell”.
  1. Review the shell session page. From this page, you can launch a shell and run post-exploitation actions. Since this is a shell session, the available “Post-Exploitation Modules” will not be the same as a Meterpreter session. They will depend on the exploit used.

The Shell session page has the following information:

  • **Session - **Session number and target host address. In the image above this is Session 2 on 127.0.0.1
  • **Session Type - **The type of payload and module used to open the session.
  • Information - Any information on how the session was opened. If this was the result of a bruteforce attack it will include the authentication type and credential pair used.
  • Attack Module - Exploit used to open the session.
  • **Available Actions - **All the available actions that can be taken.
  • **Session History - **A detailed list of all actions taken during an open session.
  • **Post-Exploitation Modules - **Modules available to run based on the OS and payload type.

Launch a Command Shell

Under “Available Actions” click Command Shell. It will then open a blank terminal.

The session ID and the target host address are displayed at the top of the command shell. In this example, the session ID is : Metasploit - Mdm::Session ID # 1 (127.0.0.1) SSH vagrant:vagrant (127.0.0.1:22)

At the bottom is the shell input. Shell > The commands available for the shell will depend on the target host OS.