Are you interested in learning how to use BeEF over WAN? Look no further!
In this article, we will guide you through the steps to set up and use BeEF Framework outside your network.
BeEF, short for The Browser Exploitation Framework, is a powerful penetration testing tool that focuses on the web browser. By using client-side attack vectors, it allows professional penetration testers to assess the actual security posture of a target environment.
In this tutorial, we will be using cloud servers to host our BeEF server and demonstrate a real attack scenario.
So, let’s get started and learn how to use BeEF over WAN!
How To Use Beef Over Wan?
Step 1: Setting up the Cloud Environment
Firstly, we need to set up our cloud environment. We will be using a hosting service called Digital Ocean to host our BeEF server.
Step 2: Installation Process
Once we have set up our cloud environment, we can start the installation process. We will need to install BeEF and our Apache service.
Step 3: Starting BeEF and Apache Service
After the installation process is complete, we can start BeEF and our Apache service.
Step 4: Editing Apache Server Index
We will then need to edit our Apache server index to our hook.
Step 5: Using BeEF and Installing Fake Updates
Now that everything is set up, we can start using BeEF and install fake updates.
Step 6: Hooking Web Browsers
BeEF will hook one or more web browsers and use them as beachheads for launching directed command modules and further attacks against the system from within the browser context.
Introduction To BeEF Framework
BeEF, which stands for Browser Exploitation Framework, is a powerful penetration testing tool that focuses on exploiting vulnerabilities in web browsers. It is an open-source project that relies on a community of developers to maintain and improve the project. BeEF allows penetration testers to assess the security posture of a target environment by using client-side attack vectors. Unlike other security frameworks, BeEF looks past the hardened network perimeter and client system, and examines exploitability within the context of the one open door: the web browser.
BeEF hooks one or more web browsers and uses them as beachheads for launching directed command modules and further attacks against the system from within the browser context. Once a web browser is hooked by BeEF, you can proceed to inject further payloads and begin with post-exploitation. The framework goes so far as to create complete logs of mouse movements, double-clicks, and other actions performed by the victim.
BeEF can be used to host a malicious website, which is then visited by the victim. The BeEF is used to send commands that will be executed on the web browser of the victim computer. The victim users will be added as zombies to the BeEF framework. When the attacker logs into to the BeEF server, he can then execute the modules against the specified victim user. An attacker can execute any module or write his own module, which enables him to execute an arbitrary command against the victim zombie. Among all the actions that we can execute against the hooked target web browser are also key logger, port scanner, browser exploitation tool, web proxy, etc.
To use BeEF over WAN, we need to set up our cloud environment using a hosting service such as Digital Ocean to host our BeEF server. After installing BeEF and Apache service, we can start using BeEF and install fake updates. We can then hook one or more web browsers and use them as beachheads for launching directed command modules and further attacks against the system from within the browser context.
Understanding BeEF Over WAN
When using BeEF over WAN, it is important to understand how the tool functions and what it can do. BeEF stands for Browser Exploitation Framework and is a penetration testing tool that focuses on the web browser. It allows a penetration tester to assess the actual security posture of a target environment by using client-side attack vectors.
BeEF hooks one or more web browsers and uses them as beachheads for launching directed command modules and further attacks against the system from within the browser context. When using BeEF over WAN, it is crucial to ensure that the cloud environment is set up correctly and that the installation process has been completed successfully.
After starting BeEF and our Apache service, we will need to edit our Apache server index to our hook. This will allow us to use BeEF and install fake updates. It is important to note that each web browser may have a different set of attack vectors since each is within a different security context.
Setting Up A BeEF Server On A Cloud Platform
If you want to use BeEF over WAN, you can set up a BeEF server on a cloud platform. This will allow you to access BeEF from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. Here’s how to set up a BeEF server on a cloud platform:
Step 1: Setting up the Cloud Environment
The first step is to set up your cloud environment. You can use any cloud hosting service, but we recommend using Digital Ocean for its ease of use and affordability. Sign up for an account and create a new virtual machine with Ubuntu as the operating system.
Step 2: Installation Process
Once you have set up your cloud environment, you can start the installation process. You will need to install BeEF and Apache on your virtual machine. To do this, open a terminal window and enter the following commands:
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install beef-xss
$ sudo apt-get install apache2
Step 3: Starting BeEF and Apache Service
After the installation process is complete, you can start BeEF and your Apache service by entering the following commands:
$ sudo beef-xss
$ sudo service apache2 start
Step 4: Editing Apache Server Index
Next, you will need to edit your Apache server index to include your hook. This is the URL that you will use to access BeEF from anywhere. To do this, open the index.html file located in the /var/www/html directory and add the following code:
Replace “your-ip-address” with the IP address of your virtual machine.
Step 5: Using BeEF and Installing Fake Updates
Now that everything is set up, you can start using BeEF and install fake updates. This will allow you to hook web browsers and start launching attacks. You can use BeEF’s built-in modules or create your own custom modules.
Step 6: Hooking Web Browsers
To hook web browsers, simply send your target a link to your hook URL. When they click on the link, their browser will be hooked and you will be able to control it remotely. From there, you can launch directed command modules and further attacks against the system from within the browser context.
Setting up a BeEF server on a cloud platform is a great way to use BeEF over WAN. With this setup, you can access BeEF from anywhere in the world and launch attacks against web browsers with ease.
Configuring BeEF For Remote Access
In order to configure BeEF for remote access, we need to first ensure that the public port (default 3000/tcp) is forwarded from our border router to the BeEF server (
Once you have confirmed that port 3000 is accessible remotely, you need to ensure that beef.http.public and beef.http.public_port are set to the public WAN IP address and public WAN port respectively in config.yaml. You will need to restart BeEF after making changes to the configuration file. Note that if you leave a hooked page open during configuration, you will need to refresh the hooked page after applying these changes for the browser to fetch the updated hook file.
In addition, if web sockets are enabled for communicating with BeEF, ports 61985/tcp and 61986/tcp must also be forwarded. Some BeEF extensions such as IPEC and DNS require additional ports to be forwarded. Review the associated config.yaml file for each extension and ensure the appropriate ports are forwarded.
To enable the Metasploit extension in ./beef/config.yaml, set enable: true. Access the extension configuration file by navigating to cd extensions/Metasploit and modifying the contents of config.yaml. The most important fields to modify are host and callback_host parameters which should have the IP address of the host on which Metasploit is accessible.
Once the configuration is completed, run Metasploit and link the module to BeEF using sudo msfdb init and msfconsole. Then load msgrpc ServerHost=127.0.0.1 User=beef Pass=admin SSL=y.
Finally, log in again to BeEF and navigate to the “Commands” tab which should now include the Metasploit Module with over 100 commands available for use against the victim’s browser. With these steps completed, you can now use BeEF over WAN for various purposes such as penetration testing and ethical hacking.
Testing BeEF On A Target Environment
Now that we have set up our BeEF server and installed the necessary components, it’s time to test it on a target environment. This can be done remotely over WAN (Wide Area Network) or locally on a LAN (Local Area Network).
Step 1: Selecting the Target Environment
The first step in testing BeEF is selecting the target environment. This can be a website or web application that you have permission to test. It’s important to choose a target that is vulnerable to client-side attacks, as BeEF focuses on exploiting vulnerabilities in web browsers.
Step 2: Hooking the Web Browser
Next, we need to hook the web browser of the target environment. This can be done by sending a link to the target that contains the BeEF hook. Once the target clicks on the link and loads the page, their web browser will be hooked and under our control.
Step 3: Launching Directed Command Modules
With the web browser hooked, we can now launch directed command modules to assess the security posture of the target environment. These modules can include keylogging, phishing attacks, and even launching further attacks against the system from within the browser context.
Step 4: Installing Fake Updates
Another way to test BeEF on a target environment is by installing fake updates. This involves creating a fake update for a popular software or application and sending it to the target. Once they download and install the fake update, their system will be compromised and under our control.
Mitigation Strategies Against BeEF Attacks
BeEF attacks can be difficult to prevent, but there are some mitigation strategies that can be implemented to reduce the risk of a successful attack.
1. Use Anti-Malware and Firewall Solutions: It is important to use anti-malware and firewall solutions on every machine to protect against BeEF attacks. Choose an anti-virus (AV) that is lightweight and keep it up to date. Microsoft Security Essentials is a good option if you are not keen on AV products.
2. Implement Strong Authentication: BeEF uses JavaScript, which makes it easier for attackers to inject code into vulnerable pages. Implementing strong authentication can help prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of BeEF attacks.
3. Limit Browsing Experience: While limiting the browsing experience for users may not be a popular option, it can help reduce the risk of BeEF attacks. This can be done by restricting access to certain websites and implementing policies that limit the use of certain browser extensions.
4. Educate Users: Educating users about the risks of BeEF attacks and how to identify suspicious activity can help reduce the likelihood of successful attacks. This can include training on how to identify phishing emails and suspicious links.
By implementing these mitigation strategies, organizations can reduce the risk of BeEF attacks and protect their systems from potential harm.
