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Chisel

Post Exploitation

Intermediatelow risk

Chisel is a fast TCP/UDP tunnel utility that encapsulates traffic over an HTTP transport channel, secured via SSH. It is useful for traversing firewall boundaries and pivoting inside network environments.

Installation

sudo apt install chisel

Basic Syntax

chisel [command] [options]

Quick Facts

Full Name
Chisel
License
MIT
Language
Go
Interface
CLI
Category
Tunneling / Pivoting
Protocol
HTTP over SSH

Tool Overview

Chisel is a fast TCP/UDP tunnel transported over HTTP, secured via SSH encryption. It is designed for penetration testing scenarios where traditional VPNs or direct connections are blocked by firewalls.

With single-binary deployment on Linux, Windows, and macOS, Chisel provides both forward and reverse proxy capabilities, making it a versatile tool for network pivoting and firewall evasion.

Common Commands

chisel --helpShow top-level help with the server and client subcommands
chisel --versionPrint the chisel version (must match between server and client)
chisel server --helpShow all server-mode options
chisel client --helpShow all client-mode options and the remote spec format
chisel server -p 8080 --reverseStart a server allowing reverse (R:) tunnels from clients
chisel server -p 8080 --socks5Start a server that exposes a built-in SOCKS5 proxy endpoint
chisel server -p 8080 --reverse --auth <USER>:<PASS>Start a reverse server protected by credentials
chisel server -p 8080 --reverse -vStart a reverse server with verbose logging
chisel server -p 8080 --key "mysecret"Start a server with a seeded, reproducible key pair
chisel server -p 8443 --tls-key server.key --tls-cert server.crt --reverseStart a TLS-wrapped reverse server using your own certificate
chisel server -p 8080 --authfile users.jsonStart a server that reads user:pass and allowed remotes from a file
chisel client 10.10.10.10:8080 socksConnect and open a local SOCKS5 proxy on 127.0.0.1:1080
chisel client 10.10.10.10:8080 R:socksConnect and expose a SOCKS5 proxy on the server side (pivot)
chisel client 10.10.10.10:8080 R:2222:127.0.0.1:22Reverse-forward server port 2222 to the client's local SSH
chisel client 10.10.10.10:8080 8000:example.com:80Forward local port 8000 to example.com:80 through the tunnel

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. 1Initialize the listening component on your testing machine
  2. 2Move the application binary to the compromised server
  3. 3Execute the client connection back to your machine
  4. 4Route your attacks through the established bridge
  5. 5Ensure local proxy settings match the newly created tunnel

Use Cases

Firewall Bypass

Tunnel traffic through HTTP to bypass firewalls.

SOCKS Proxy

Route traffic through remote network via SOCKS.

Port Forwarding

Expose internal services to external systems.

Reverse Shell Proxy

Forward shells and tool traffic over tunnel.

Key Features

Related Tools

Ligolo-ng

Maintaining Access

TUN-based pivoting tool.

ProxyChains

Maintaining Access

Force apps through proxy chains.

sshuttle

Maintaining Access

Transparent SSH VPN.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chisel used for?

Chisel creates secure TCP/UDP tunnels over HTTP with SSH encryption, enabling firewall bypass and network pivoting during penetration tests. It provides both direct and reverse tunneling modes.

How does Chisel bypass firewalls?

Chisel encapsulates all traffic within HTTP connections, which are typically allowed through corporate firewalls and proxies. The SSH encryption provides security while the HTTP protocol provides traversal.

What is the difference between Chisel and Ligolo-ng?

Chisel operates at the application layer with HTTP transport, while Ligolo-ng creates a TUN interface for transparent network-layer pivoting. Chisel is easier to set up; Ligolo-ng is more transparent to tools.

Does Chisel support reverse connections?

Yes, Chisel supports reverse (client-initiated) connections where the compromised system connects out to your server, bypassing inbound firewall restrictions. This is ideal for most penetration testing scenarios.

Tags

#post-exploitation#pivoting#tunneling#network-security

Ethical Usage Notice

This tool is designed for authorized security testing, educational purposes, and legitimate network administration only. Unauthorized access to computer systems is illegal.