{"id":1895,"date":"2025-02-11T10:03:38","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T10:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/11\/usb-army-knife-a-powerful-red-team-tool-for-penetration-testers\/"},"modified":"2025-02-11T10:03:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T10:03:38","slug":"usb-army-knife-a-powerful-red-team-tool-for-penetration-testers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/11\/usb-army-knife-a-powerful-red-team-tool-for-penetration-testers\/","title":{"rendered":"USB Army Knife \u2013 A Powerful Red Team Tool for Penetration Testers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>    USB Army Knife \u2013 A Powerful Red Team Tool for Penetration Testers<br \/>\n \t<BR><br \/>\n<BR><\/BR><br \/>\n    <!-- no image --><br \/>\n \t<BR><br \/>\n<BR><\/BR><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The USB Army Knife is a versatile red-teaming tool for penetration testers that emulates a USB Ethernet adapter for traffic capture, enables custom attack interfaces, and functions as covert storage all in one compact device.<\/p>\n<p>This multi-functional firmware combines a variety of attack vectors into a single compact device, complete with a color LCD screen. Designed for cybersecurity professionals, it offers an array of features to exploit physical access vulnerabilities, making it an invaluable tool for penetration testers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhzQu2O41TEOz2NgEtKZu4TxIckKsRToPEWrpiyXs12QsRucnrQ8Tm-rAIRN9GAscEoGNycQIpDo5CMWVSDFeL89bZEewmkSPjkQyLOh67Gp0OpOna2InXTqH5u8DzKh7XFqWJcfZDwfddz2U5XZX0FX-zKu753FrgIyzEaKSxsPCKoA6hXf7zJoG1zjhbA\/s16000\/t-dongle-s3-side.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is the USB Army Knife?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The USB Army Knife is a versatile firmware that transforms compatible devices into powerful Red team tools for penetration testing. It supports USB HID attacks, Wi-Fi keystroke injection, mass storage emulation, network device impersonation, and more. <\/p>\n<p>Additionally, it can deploy a VNC server to capture and view screens via a web interface and includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth offensive capabilities through its integration with the ESP32 Marauder.<\/p>\n<p>Users can control the device remotely over Wi-Fi or even connect it to smartphones using an OTG adapter. This allows seamless operation without modifying the host device, enabling advanced features such as creating rogue access points.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"USB Army Knife \u2013 the ultimate tool for penetration testers and red teamers.\" width=\"696\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xLrfGM-beWU?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Supported Devices<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The USB Army Knife firmware is compatible with several development boards, including:<\/p>\n<p><strong>LilyGo T-Dongle S3 (Recommended):<\/strong> The LilyGo T-Dongle S3 is a USB-shaped ESP32-S3 dev board with a color LCD, button, covert microSD slot, and SPI adapter. It has 16MB flash, WiFi\/Bluetooth support, and can perform various attacks. Available with or without a screen (only the screened version tested). It\u2019s incredibly cheap!<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjsV-3aVZNnbrcr2g5M3M47cGhqIQUVhh5NYoM0rQipRNVMvjWz22hAXUEAVm-bW22zJKO3Yv2uzZF4iYES2SSaPj4LNeynM2VoWEqCiIyMp7es9NVXM9bNpXcM8LbiBBVNYVVARfhIEqXrvBL7K8WYHOwKaTux6uC567ghfX2xSptm-0eA_UHNHsXTjtpp\/s16000\/t-dongle-s3.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>LilyGo T-Dongle S3<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Waveshare ESP32-S3 1.47inch:<\/strong> This device is similar to the LilyGo T-Dongle S3 in design, size, and features, using the same ESP32-S3 chipset. It lacks a case, exposing circuitry, but improves on the T-Dongle S3 with a larger, high-quality screen and 8MB of extra RAM.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgH6Us4B0IpZxFocqDPSuACALBpI2RsZTBVSsGg5v0gQv-6maoLXDhtKogFav-usxLm8dE_HEhAUPAxPa25zCZvI8GmZhsy6VqUTre46VVf3RfI9S8Zp7yKTBFMuYP-kOv7Tqlu35ofzXIcRDayYCGK8ew-DJbTcligmFQpgtUE5ASc1Ays7DZoKF922EQR\/s16000\/waveshare-147.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Waveshare ESP32-S3 1.47inch<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>M5Stack AtomS3U:<\/strong> This ESP32-S3 dev board has two rear interfaces, no screen or SD card, but includes an LED, button, digital mic, and IR LED (unsupported). Files are stored in flash memory. To enter boot mode, hold RESET until the green LED lights up.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiptQ9MgIyoRzPOn2W1HK0BYZChEBf7bc4jnWho-u7k7978BeVBFg2gP5MCRpc-5N5H75yT3eWe38SNC2zXvBitDw03_o99sds9iQPmKcF4f7jrcNhqIDtN8c-Hrrh1Q8QmUI0kzeew69eHJNlkbe2rmlfdeE8KZj0P7dFvi_lTKVMu4xA6zY5zJzbcNKT2\/s16000\/m5stack-atoms3u.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>M5Stack AtomS3U<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>ESP32 Udisk:<\/strong> The simplest USB Army Knife device is an ESP32-S2 chip with USB, often sold as \u201cUSB Dongle Udisk for P4.\u201d It lacks RAM, screen, SD card, Bluetooth, LEDs, and a proper button but handles HID+WiFi payloads well. Avoid CH343P-based lookalikes\u2014ensure it has a reset button. Flash with Generic-ESP32-S2.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiJ5GetP3qPxT4LdLNmz0R1g0ZKNcupelLE4_pL4yzjrmufacPehzsFwgckkuYF7D0bd-pw2rqrvOMnEuU34cvAtMrA2pbUgiPr7bOFaRZedWb927co-A-f3okyqJI2uWDKFbpeTXGzKaPZrHN-c49RSxY2JC3uCaqNjQe0WUEvR5a4WhcvcJ4RXjpuBMDU\/s16000\/esp32-udisk.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>ESP32 Udisk<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>ESP32 Key:<\/strong> Similar to the ESP32 UDisk, this ESP32-S2 board is the cheapest option for running USB Army Knife. To flash, hold the button while plugging it in. Use the Generic-ESP32-S2 configuration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj1QQqpUpgcnhSGric1bI1A75P3P_cojUGbOjXOjMwvdos9iFLYOkB25yVNnnY_qigPQ20QAVrxz7Vb6HDzv1vOVE0HsODvqOGPNU2lV1DFGtR62r0ibyYWxNviGfFXbrcmfeFyLjWz4hHtd6hIruB7KLZcwcBxt0EHPNpO6vJEAoHwXwcQ7DDgD-qPAXSm\/s320\/esp32-key.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>ESP32 Key<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Waveshare-RP2040-GEEK:<\/strong> The RP2040-GEEK by Waveshare features a USB-A, 1.14-inch LCD, SD card, and external ports (SWD, UART, I2C). It doesn\u2019t use the ESP32 chipset, and USB Ethernet (NCM) and whole disk SD usage are unsupported. ESP32 Maurader won\u2019t work. On Windows, set the device to use a WinUSB driver via Zadig. Hold the button when plugging it in to enter flashing mode.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEilkP4mlfxvY-XfLFmQGVeaPCPZPTQ5HVxdy7-wjQoz6E1fvX03siSYQpftybEdKyECrdxigcCltDewySpLicBeGByntfq7D6sNuCZLnqEDQqaJk3r1sQRvvGxuKMt-JpKX4C7M0gt48HdueqUwwBhgom6mTR7VLv__lX-0dYtNv8E8lIIb4iEPy_GvPptW\/s16000\/rp2040-geek.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Waveshare-RP2040-GEEK<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>These devices are available on platforms like AliExpress, Amazon, and eBay.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Features<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The USB Army Knife boasts an impressive range of capabilities:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<strong>Covert Storage:<\/strong> Masquerades as two different mass storage devices to conceal sensitive data.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>HID Attacks:<\/strong> Executes Rubber Ducky scripts over Wi-Fi for keystroke injection.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Marauder Integration:<\/strong> Captures and analyzes wireless traffic for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth attacks.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>USB Ethernet PCAP:<\/strong> Functions as a USB network adapter to capture initial network traffic.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>VNC Server Deployment:<\/strong> Allows remote screen viewing through a web interface.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Evil Access Point (EvilAP):<\/strong> Creates fake Wi-Fi networks to capture sensitive information.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Self-Destruct Functionality:<\/strong> Resets the device when motion is detected nearby.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Evil USB CDROM\/NIC:<\/strong> Impersonates USB NICs requiring drivers from malicious CDROM devices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some devices, like the LilyGo T-Dongle S3, feature screens that can display decoy messages or animations to disguise their true purpose.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Examples:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Name<\/th>\n<th>Description<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/blob\/master\/examples\/covertstorage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Covert Storage<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td>Masquerades as two different USB mass storage devices. The first time, it shows the full contents of the micro SD card; subsequent connections show a \u201cbenign\u201d drive.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/blob\/master\/examples\/progressbar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Progress Bar<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td>Displays images with a progress bar on the device\u2019s LCD screen, ideal for Hollywood-style attacks or showing deployment progress visually.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/blob\/master\/examples\/rickroll\"><strong>Ultimate RickRoll<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td>Injects keystrokes to play the famous Rickroll video and uses ESP32 Marauder to broadcast the lyrics over WiFi.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/blob\/master\/examples\/usb_ethernet_pcap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>USB Ethernet PCAP<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td>Turns the device into a USB network adapter and captures the first few seconds of network traffic in a PCAP file.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/blob\/master\/examples\/install_agent_and_run_command\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Deploy the serial agent<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td>Deploys the agent (if not already installed) and sends commands via the serial port, with command output visible in the web interface.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/blob\/master\/examples\/vnc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Pull the screen<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td>Deploys an agent with a tiny VNC server, allowing the screen to be viewed through the web interface.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/blob\/master\/examples\/simple_ui\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Simple UI<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td>A basic UI for selecting scripts\/images and running them with the hardware button. Demonstrates how to create complex UI interactions simply.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/blob\/master\/examples\/hotmic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Stream Mic audio over WiFi<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td>Streams audio from the M5Stack AtomS3U\u2019s microphone over WiFi.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/blob\/master\/examples\/linux_panic\"><strong>Instantly crash Linux boxes<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td>Deploys a bad filesystem that causes Linux machines to panic when automounted.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/blob\/master\/examples\/malicious_ethernet_adapter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Evil USB CDROM\/NIC<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td>Emulates a USB NIC that requires a driver from a CDROM device, which appears when the NIC is plugged in.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Command Execution and Scripting<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The USB Army Knife provides a powerful command execution feature, enabling users to run various commands on the target machine via HID or on the device itself. This includes running Rubber Ducky scripts, using Marauder, and controlling the display and LED light. A full list of available commands can be found on the <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/wiki\/Commands\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">GitHub<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Installation and Ease of Use<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>One standout feature of the USB Army Knife is its user-friendly installation process. The firmware can be flashed directly through a web browser, making it accessible even to those with minimal technical expertise.<\/p>\n<p>The complete installation process is described\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife\/wiki\/Installation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While the USB Army Knife is <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/i-am-shodan\/USBArmyKnife?tab=readme-ov-file\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">designed<\/a> for ethical hacking and penetration testing, its capabilities highlight the risks posed by malicious USB devices. To mitigate these threats:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Avoid plugging in unknown USB drives.<\/li>\n<li>Use up-to-date antivirus software capable of detecting malicious payloads.<\/li>\n<li>Physically secure USB ports to prevent unauthorized access.<\/li>\n<li>Educate users about the dangers of bad <a href=\"https:\/\/cybersecuritynews.com\/usb-malware-with-text-strings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USB attacks<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The USB Army Knife is revolutionizing penetration testing with its extensive features and ease of use. Whether you\u2019re capturing network traffic, deploying rogue access points, or executing covert attacks, this tool is a must-have for cybersecurity professionals. <\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 100%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%)\"><strong><code>Find this Story Interesting! Follow us on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMOffpwsw1Oq_Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google News<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/cybersecurity-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/The_Cyber_News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X<\/a>\u00a0to Get More Instant Updates<\/code><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/cybersecuritynews.com\/usb-army-knife\/\">USB Army Knife \u2013 A Powerful Red Team Tool for Penetration Testers<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/cybersecuritynews.com\/\">Cyber Security News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> \t<BR><br \/>\n <BR><\/BR><br \/>\n    Balaji N<br \/>\n \t<BR><br \/>\n<BR><\/BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/cybersecuritynews.com\/usb-army-knife\/\">Go to cyber-security-news<\/a><br \/>\n \t<BR><br \/>\n <BR><\/BR><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>USB Army Knife \u2013 A Powerful Red Team Tool for Penetration Testers The USB Army Knife is a versatile red-teaming tool for penetration testers that emulates a USB Ethernet adapter for traffic capture, enables custom attack interfaces, and functions as covert storage all in one compact device. This multi-functional firmware combines a variety of attack [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[129,63,767,131],"tags":[130],"class_list":["post-1895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cyber-security","category-cyber-security-news","category-penetration-testing","category-vulnerability","tag-cyber-security-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1895"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1895\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serisec.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}