root@h0m1c1de:~$ cat resources.md
Hacking resources, curated.
A no-fluff index of the platforms, tools, and references worth your time. From your first wargame to your next bug bounty.
Practice Platforms
Guided labs, wargames, and live CTFs to build skills legally.
Hack The Box
freemiumRetired and active machines, Pro Labs, and the HTB Academy course catalog.
hackthebox.comTryHackMe
freemiumBrowser-based guided rooms and learning paths for beginners through intermediate.
tryhackme.comPortSwigger Web Security Academy
freeThe best free web hacking curriculum, with hundreds of interactive labs.
portswigger.netOverTheWire
freeClassic SSH wargames. Start with Bandit to learn Linux fundamentals.
overthewire.orgpicoCTF
freeCarnegie Mellon's beginner-friendly CTF with a year-round practice gym.
picoctf.orgpwn.college
freeASU's structured course on binary exploitation and systems security.
pwn.collegeRoot Me
freemiumHundreds of challenges across web, crypto, forensics, and app-system.
root-me.orgPentesterLab
freemiumExercise-driven web and code review training with badges per topic.
pentesterlab.comVulnHub
freeDownloadable vulnerable VMs for offline boot-to-root practice.
vulnhub.comCTFtime
freeCalendar, team rankings, and writeups for every major CTF.
ctftime.org
Self-Hosted Labs
Intentionally vulnerable targets you can run on your own hardware.
OWASP Juice Shop
freeModern, deliberately insecure web app covering the full OWASP Top 10.
owasp.orgDVWA
freeDamn Vulnerable Web Application. PHP and MySQL with adjustable difficulty.
github.comOWASP crAPI
freeCompletely Ridiculous API, built to teach the OWASP API Security Top 10.
github.comGOAD
freeGame of Active Directory. A multi-domain AD lab for attack practice.
github.comMetasploitable 2
freeRapid7's intentionally vulnerable Linux VM for exploitation practice.
docs.rapid7.comCloudGoat
freeVulnerable-by-design AWS scenarios deployed to your own account.
github.com
Web Application
Proxies, fuzzers, scanners, and methodology for web targets.
Burp Suite
freemiumThe industry-standard intercepting proxy. Community edition is free.
portswigger.netZAP
freeOpen source intercepting proxy and automated scanner.
zaproxy.orgffuf
freeFast web fuzzer for content discovery, vhosts, and parameters.
github.comsqlmap
freeAutomatic SQL injection detection and exploitation.
sqlmap.orgNuclei
freeTemplate-driven vulnerability scanner with a large community template set.
github.comOWASP Top 10
freeThe canonical awareness list of critical web application risks.
owasp.orgOWASP WSTG
freeWeb Security Testing Guide. A complete web pentest methodology.
owasp.orgPayloadsAllTheThings
freePayloads and bypasses for every common web vulnerability class.
github.com
Recon & OSINT
Map the attack surface before you touch it.
Nmap
freeNetwork discovery and port scanning, plus the NSE scripting engine.
nmap.orgOWASP Amass
freeIn-depth attack surface mapping and subdomain enumeration.
github.comsubfinder
freeFast passive subdomain discovery from dozens of sources.
github.comtheHarvester
freeGathers emails, names, hosts, and subdomains from public sources.
github.comShodan
freemiumSearch engine for internet-connected devices and exposed services.
shodan.iocrt.sh
freeCertificate Transparency log search for finding subdomains.
crt.shOSINT Framework
freeA browsable tree of OSINT tools organized by data type.
osintframework.com
Exploitation & Post-Exploitation
Frameworks, exploit databases, privilege escalation, and Active Directory.
Metasploit
freemiumThe exploitation framework. Modules, payloads, and post-exploitation.
metasploit.comExploit-DB
freeArchive of public exploits and proof-of-concept code, searchable with searchsploit.
exploit-db.comImpacket
freePython classes and scripts for Windows network protocols.
github.comNetExec
freeNetwork execution tool for SMB, LDAP, WinRM, and more. Successor to CrackMapExec.
github.comBloodHound
freeGraph-based Active Directory and Entra ID attack path analysis.
github.comPEASS-ng
freeLinPEAS and WinPEAS privilege escalation enumeration scripts.
github.comGTFOBins
freeUnix binaries that can bypass local security restrictions.
gtfobins.github.ioLOLBAS
freeLiving Off The Land binaries and scripts for Windows.
lolbas-project.github.io
Reverse Engineering & Binary
Disassemblers, debuggers, and exploit development.
Ghidra
freeNSA's open source reverse engineering suite with a solid decompiler.
ghidra-sre.orgBinary Ninja
freemiumModern RE platform with a clean API. Free cloud version available.
binary.ninjaCutter
freeOpen source GUI reverse engineering platform powered by Rizin.
cutter.rex64dbg
freeOpen source x64 and x32 debugger for Windows.
x64dbg.comGEF
freeGDB Enhanced Features for exploit development and reversing.
github.compwntools
freePython CTF framework and exploit development library.
github.comNightmare
freeAn intro to binary exploitation and RE built around past CTF challenges.
guyinatuxedo.github.io
Crypto & Passwords
Encoding, cryptanalysis, hash cracking, and wordlists.
CyberChef
freeThe cyber Swiss army knife for encoding, decoding, and data analysis.
gchq.github.ioCryptoHack
freeFun, progressive challenges for learning modern cryptography attacks.
cryptohack.orgHashcat
freeWorld's fastest GPU password recovery tool.
hashcat.netJohn the Ripper
freeVersatile password cracker with many format converters (*2john).
openwall.comSecLists
freeThe wordlist collection: usernames, passwords, URLs, fuzzing payloads.
github.com
Forensics & Blue Team
Know how attacks are detected and investigated.
MITRE ATT&CK
freeKnowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques.
attack.mitre.orgWireshark
freeThe network protocol analyzer for packet capture and inspection.
wireshark.orgVolatility 3
freeMemory forensics framework for Windows, Linux, and macOS images.
github.comAutopsy
freeDigital forensics platform and GUI for The Sleuth Kit.
autopsy.comSigma
freeGeneric detection rule format with a large open rule repository.
github.comCyberDefenders
freemiumBlue team labs for DFIR, threat hunting, and SOC analysis.
cyberdefenders.orgBlue Team Labs Online
freemiumDefensive challenges and investigations in a gamified format.
blueteamlabs.online
Mobile
Android and iOS application security testing.
OWASP MAS
freeMASVS and MASTG. The mobile app security standard and testing guide.
mas.owasp.orgFrida
freeDynamic instrumentation toolkit for hooking apps at runtime.
frida.reobjection
freeRuntime mobile exploration powered by Frida. No jailbreak required.
github.comjadx
freeDex to Java decompiler for Android APKs.
github.comMobSF
freeAutomated static and dynamic analysis for Android and iOS apps.
github.com
Cloud
AWS, Azure, and GCP attack and audit tooling.
flAWS
freeA series of AWS misconfiguration challenges served from S3.
flaws.cloudPacu
freeAWS exploitation framework for offensive cloud assessments.
github.comProwler
freeOpen source security auditing for AWS, Azure, GCP, and Kubernetes.
github.comHackTricks Cloud
freeCloud and CI/CD pentesting techniques across every major provider.
cloud.hacktricks.wiki
References & Cheatsheets
Keep these open in a tab during every engagement.
HackTricks
freeMassive wiki of pentesting techniques organized by service and platform.
book.hacktricks.wikiThe Hacker Recipes
freeClear, well-sourced recipes, especially strong on Active Directory.
thehacker.recipesReverse Shell Generator
freeGenerate reverse and bind shell one-liners for your engagement.
revshells.comNVD
freeNIST's National Vulnerability Database for CVE details and scoring.
nvd.nist.gov0xdf hacks stuff
freeDetailed writeups for nearly every Hack The Box machine.
0xdf.gitlab.ioippsec.rocks
freeSearch IppSec's videos by technique to find exactly where it is used.
ippsec.rocks
Bug Bounty
Get paid to find bugs in programs that invite you to.
HackerOne
freeLargest bug bounty platform. Hacktivity is a goldmine of disclosed reports.
hackerone.comBugcrowd
freeBug bounty and VDP programs with a published vulnerability taxonomy.
bugcrowd.comIntigriti
freeEuropean bug bounty platform, known for its monthly XSS challenges.
intigriti.comYesWeHack
freeGlobal bug bounty platform with a free training Dojo.
yeswehack.com
Videos, Blogs & Podcasts
Stay sharp and stay current.
IppSec
freeMethodical Hack The Box walkthroughs. The gold standard.
youtube.comLiveOverflow
freeDeep, curious explorations of binary exploitation and web security.
youtube.comJohn Hammond
freeCTF walkthroughs, malware analysis, and security news.
youtube.comPortSwigger Research
freeCutting-edge web attack research from the Burp Suite team.
portswigger.netGoogle Project Zero
freeIn-depth vulnerability research from Google's elite team.
googleprojectzero.blogspot.comDarknet Diaries
freeTrue stories from the dark side of the internet.
darknetdiaries.com
Certifications
Hands-on certs that hiring managers actually respect.
OSCP (PEN-200)
paidOffSec's well-known 24-hour practical penetration testing exam.
offsec.comHTB Academy
paidCourse paths leading to the CPTS, CBBH, and CDSA certifications.
academy.hackthebox.comPNPT
paidTCM Security's practical network pentest exam with a report and debrief.
certifications.tcm-sec.comGIAC
paidSANS-aligned certifications across offense, defense, and forensics.
giac.org
Operating Systems
Purpose-built distributions and VM setups.
Kali Linux
freeThe most widely used penetration testing distribution.
kali.orgParrot Security
freeDebian-based security distro with a lighter footprint.
parrotsec.orgREMnux
freeLinux toolkit for reverse engineering and analyzing malware.
remnux.orgFLARE-VM
freeMandiant's Windows setup scripts for malware analysis VMs.
github.com
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