pwncat
Supercharged reverse-shell handler.
KaliParrothigh
pkg: pwncat
pwncat catches shells and auto-stabilises them, adding upload/download, persistence and privesc enumeration.
Syntax
pwncat -lp {port}
Example
pwncat -lp 4444
Listens for a reverse shell and upgrades it to a managed session.
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.
pwncat
Usage examples
pwncat -lp 4444
Catch and auto-stabilise a reverse shell.
Advantages
- Auto PTY upgrade + file ops
- Built-in enumeration
Disadvantages
- Linux-target focused
- Heavier than nc
Tags
#shell#post-ex
Official docs: pwncat ↗
Related commands
Frequently asked questions
What is pwncat used for?
pwncat catches shells and auto-stabilises them, adding upload/download, persistence and privesc enumeration.
What is an example pwncat command?
A common example is: pwncat -lp 4444 — Listens for a reverse shell and upgrades it to a managed session.
Is pwncat part of Kali Linux?
Yes. pwncat ships with Kali Linux (and Parrot OS). If missing, install it with: sudo apt install pwncat.
What category of security tool is pwncat?
pwncat is a Post-Exploitation tool with a high-risk profile when run against a live target.
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