What Are the Post Exploitation Modules in Metasploit? Full List of Top 100 Options with Examples
This blog offers a comprehensive guide to Metasploit's post exploitation modules, providing a detailed table of the top 100 modules used by ethical hackers and penetration testers. It explains how each module is categorized—system information, credential dumping, persistence, browser data, file access, and more—along with practical examples for real-world usage. This post is perfect for cybersecurity students, red teamers, and OSCP aspirants looking to strengthen their post exploitation techniques and understand the full potential of Metasploit after gaining access to a system.
Table of Contents
- What is Post Exploitation in Metasploit?
- Importance of Post Exploitation Modules in Ethical Hacking
- List of Top 100 Metasploit Post Exploitation Modules (with Categories)
- How to Use Metasploit Post Modules
- Learn Metasploit Post Exploitation With Real-Time Labs
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Metasploit Framework is one of the most powerful tools used by ethical hackers and penetration testers. After exploiting a system, the next phase—post exploitation—is where the real impact begins. It allows attackers to explore the compromised system, maintain access, harvest sensitive information, and expand their reach within a network. In this blog, we’ll explore the top 100 Metasploit post exploitation modules, categorized with descriptions and presented in an organized table format.
Whether you're preparing for a certification like OSCP or learning cybersecurity from scratch, this guide will help you understand what’s possible after access is gained.
What is Post Exploitation in Metasploit?
Post exploitation refers to the set of activities performed after gaining access to a target system. These actions help hackers or penetration testers:
-
Maintain persistence
-
Extract sensitive data like passwords or tokens
-
Escalate privileges
-
Search for further vulnerabilities
-
Pivot into internal networks
Using Metasploit’s post exploitation modules, security professionals can simulate these steps legally during security assessments.
Importance of Post Exploitation Modules in Ethical Hacking
Here are a few reasons why Metasploit post modules are essential:
-
✅ Deep System Intelligence: Collect user credentials, application history, browser data, and configurations.
-
✅ Privilege Escalation: Identify weak permission settings and escalate privileges.
-
✅ Network Pivoting: Expand access beyond the compromised machine.
-
✅ Persistence Techniques: Establish long-term backdoors.
-
✅ Credential Harvesting: Extract Windows hashes, tokens, and SSH keys.
These modules simulate real-world post-intrusion scenarios and are commonly used during red team assessments and penetration testing.
List of Top 100 Metasploit Post Exploitation Modules (with Categories)
The table below contains categorized 100 popular post exploitation modules based on platform and functionality:
| Category | Platform | Module Name |
|---|---|---|
| System Information | Windows | post/windows/gather/enum_applications |
| Windows | post/windows/gather/enum_chrome |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/enum_creds |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/enum_users |
|
| Linux | post/linux/gather/enum_configs |
|
| Linux | post/linux/gather/enum_network |
|
| Linux | post/linux/gather/hashdump |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/network_info |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/fingerprints |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/timezone |
|
| Credential Dumping | Windows | post/windows/gather/hashdump |
| Windows | post/windows/gather/credentials/mimikatz |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/smart_hashdump |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/credentials/lsass |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/credentials/vnc |
|
| Linux | post/linux/gather/ssh_creds |
|
| Linux | post/linux/gather/wlan_creds |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/ssh_creds |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/wlan_geolocate |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/checkvm |
|
| Network Discovery | Windows | post/windows/gather/arp_scanner |
| Windows | post/windows/gather/portscan/tcp |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/enum_snmp |
|
| Linux | post/linux/gather/enum_cron |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/ticket_traceroute |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/env |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/last_command |
|
| Multi | post/multi/manage/autoroute |
|
| Multi | post/multi/manage/socks4a |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/autoroute |
|
| Persistence Modules | Windows | post/windows/manage/persistence |
| Windows | post/windows/manage/rcp_service_persistence |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/scheduler_persistence |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/hidden_remote_desktop |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/enable_rdp |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/add_user |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/service_persistence |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/remote_desktop |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/vss_create |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/vss_restore |
|
| Memory & Process | Windows | post/windows/manage/migrate |
| Windows | post/windows/manage/execute_powershell |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/killav |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/disable_wdigest |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/disable_uac |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/switch_user |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/power_off |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/logoff |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/shutdown |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/message_box |
|
| Browser & History | Windows | post/windows/gather/credentials/iexplore |
| Windows | post/windows/gather/credentials/chrome |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/credentials/firefox |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/credentials/outlook |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/credentials/netntlmv1_hashes |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/clipboard |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/screenshot |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/webhist_collector |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/logfiles |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/download_file |
|
| File System Access | Windows | post/windows/gather/enum_files |
| Windows | post/windows/manage/exec_cmd |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/keyboard_send |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/wallpaper |
|
| Windows | post/windows/manage/webcam |
|
| Linux | post/linux/gather/collect_system_info |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/dotfiles |
|
| Multi | post/multi/manage/reverse_http |
|
| Multi | post/multi/gather/file_collector |
|
| Windows | post/windows/gather/collect_system_info |
How to Use Metasploit Post Modules
To start using post modules in Metasploit, use the following commands:
msf6 > show post
msf6 > use post/windows/gather/hashdump
msf6 post(hashdump) > run
To narrow down by platform or function:
msf6 > search type:post platform:linux
msf6 > search type:post name:credentials
Learn Metasploit Post Exploitation With Real-Time Labs
If you want to master the post-exploitation phase using Metasploit practically, you should enroll in a cybersecurity course that provides:
-
✅ Hands-on labs on real machines
-
✅ Advanced Metasploit training
-
✅ Privilege escalation and persistence
-
✅ Red teaming techniques
Courses that cover OSCP-like labs and CTFs are ideal for developing real-world ethical hacking skills.
Conclusion
The post exploitation modules in Metasploit empower ethical hackers to simulate complete cyber attacks, just like real adversaries. Whether you're doing red team assessments or preparing for penetration testing certification, these modules give you the tools to perform comprehensive assessments and reporting.
FAQs
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