proxychains
Force any TCP tool through a proxy chain.
KaliParrotLinuxlow
pkg: proxychains4
proxychains tunnels arbitrary programs through SOCKS/HTTP proxies — essential for pivoting through a compromised host.
Syntax
proxychains {command}
Example
proxychains nmap -sT -Pn 10.10.10.0/24
Routes an Nmap TCP-connect scan through the configured SOCKS proxy to reach an internal range.
Options & flags
What each switch does. Toggle them in the builder below to assemble a command.
Command builder
Tick options (and fill any values) to build a ready-to-copy command.
proxychains
Usage examples
proxychains nmap -sT -Pn 10.10.10.0/24
Scan an internal range through a SOCKS proxy.
proxychains firefox
Browse through the proxy chain.
Advantages
- Pivot any TCP tool transparently
- Chains multiple proxies
- Simple wrapper usage
Disadvantages
- TCP-connect only (no raw/UDP/SYN)
- Adds latency
- DNS leaks if misconfigured
Tags
#pivoting#proxy#tunnel
Official docs: proxychains-ng ↗
Related commands
Frequently asked questions
What is proxychains used for?
proxychains tunnels arbitrary programs through SOCKS/HTTP proxies — essential for pivoting through a compromised host.
What is an example proxychains command?
A common example is: proxychains nmap -sT -Pn 10.10.10.0/24 — Routes an Nmap TCP-connect scan through the configured SOCKS proxy to reach an internal range.
Is proxychains part of Kali Linux?
Yes. proxychains ships with Kali Linux (and Parrot OS). If missing, install it with: sudo apt install proxychains4.
What category of security tool is proxychains?
proxychains is a Post-Exploitation tool with a low-risk profile when run against a live target.
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