Exploit & Malware Development
A Structured Pathway to Mastering Exploits, Reverse Engineering, and Advanced Malware Tactics
Phase 1: Foundations
Objective: To establish a solid understanding of computer systems, networking, and programming—essential groundwork for malware and exploit development.
1. Computer Systems & Networking Basics
Resource: Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective,
Purpose: Introduces how systems operate at the hardware and software levels, essential for understanding vulnerabilities and low-level operations.
Topics: CPU architecture, memory management, processes, networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP), client-server model.
2. Programming Fundamentals
Resource:
C: The C Programming Language by Kernighan & Ritchie, Learn-C, C Essentials 1, C Essentials 2, C Programming Course by Programiz, Olive Stem Free C course, Harvard's free CS50 course
Python: Automate the Boring Stuff with Python Book, Learn-python, Python Essentials 1, Python Essentials 2, Python Basics by KodeKloud
Purpose: Learn to write programs that interact directly with memory and systems, and automate tasks.
Topics: C memory management, file I/O, socket programming, scripting, process control.
3. Operating System Internals
Resource:
Linux: Linux Journey
Windows: Windows Internals by Mark Russinovich
Purpose: Understanding OS behavior and internals is critical for exploitation and persistence techniques.
Topics: Syscalls, services, permissions, Windows registry, Linux file system hierarchy.
4. Command Line and Scripting Essentials
Resource: OverTheWire: Bandit
Purpose: Build confidence using the shell and scripting, skills often used in malware automation or reverse shells.
Topics: Bash scripting, CLI tools, file and process management.
Expected Outcome: By the end of this phase, learners will be comfortable with systems internals, C and Python programming, basic networking, and OS-level scripting, foundational for further exploit and malware development.
Phase 2: Vulnerability Research
Objective: Learn how software breaks by studying bugs and vulnerabilities, focusing on memory corruption and binary analysis.
As an exploit developer, you will often move back and forth between the vulnerable code, the compiled binary, and the corresponding assembly to understand the bug and build a working exploit
1. Binary Exploitation Fundamentals
Resource: ret2systems, pwn.college, Nightmare, pwnable.xyz, RPISEC MBE
Purpose: Learn to identify and exploit memory-based vulnerabilities through interactive challenges.
Topics: Stack overflows, format string vulnerabilities, buffer overflows, intro to shellcoding.
2. Reverse Engineering Basics
Resource: Ghidra, IDA Free, x64dbg, Binary Ninja
Purpose: Teaches how to analyze binary executables to discover bugs and understand malware.
Topics: Static vs dynamic analysis, control flow, function signatures, anti-debugging techniques.
3. Using Debuggers and Exploit Development Tools
Resource: Immunity Debugger with Mona.py, GDB, radare2
Purpose: Learn hands-on debugging, breakpoint setting, and stack/frame inspection.
Topics: Stack inspection, SEH exploitation, return address control, crash analysis.
4. CTF Practice and Vulnerable Machines
Resource: Hack The Box, TryHackMe
Purpose: Apply binary exploitation and reverse engineering skills in real-world simulated environments.
Topics: Privilege escalation, buffer overflow chains, vulnerable binaries.
Expected Outcome: By the end of this phase, learners will understand core vulnerability types, how to identify and exploit them, and how to reverse engineer software for analysis or attack development.
Phase 3: Exploit Development
Objective: Learn how to write functional exploits and shellcode, bypass modern defenses, and create working Proof of Concepts (PoCs).
1. Shellcoding and Custom Payloads
Resource: Shellcoder’s Handbook, PayloadsAllTheThings
Purpose: Learn how to write assembly shellcode to achieve code execution.
Topics: Writing shellcode in Assembly, encoding/decoding, execve shell, Windows APIs.
2. Bypassing Defenses (DEP, ASLR, SEH)
Resource: Corelan Exploit Development Series
Purpose: Master techniques to bypass OS-level defenses.
Topics: Return Oriented Programming (ROP), Structured Exception Handler (SEH) exploitation, NOP sleds.
3. Exploit Development for Known Vulnerabilities
Resource: Exploit-DB
Purpose: Learn to write real-world PoCs for disclosed vulnerabilities.
Topics: Fuzzing, CVE reproduction, buffer manipulation, ROP chain building.
4. Exploitation and C2 Frameworks
Purpose: Understand how to develop and use modules in professional-grade exploitation frameworks.
Topics: Module structure, payload integration, local/remote exploitation.
Additional Resources
Expected Outcome: By the end of this phase, learners will be capable of writing functional exploits, understanding protection bypasses, and contributing to frameworks like Metasploit or writing custom shellcode.
Phase 4: Malware Development
Objective: Create and analyze malware with different capabilities, focusing on persistence, stealth, and command-and-control.
1. Windows Malware Fundamentals
Resource: Practical Malware Development
Purpose: Learn how to develop malicious code for the Windows environment.
Topics: DLL injection, keyloggers, fileless malware, Windows API abuse.
2. Persistence and Evasion Techniques
Resource: Red Team Operator Handbook, LOLBAS Project
Purpose: Learn how malware maintains access and evades detection.
Topics: Registry persistence, process hollowing, packing, AMSI bypass, antivirus evasion.
3. Command and Control (C2) Infrastructure
Resource: Cobalt Strike, Sliver Framework
Purpose: Learn how attackers remotely control infected hosts and exfiltrate data.
Topics: Reverse shells, beaconing, encryption, obfuscation.
4. Cross-platform Malware (Go, Rust, PowerShell)
Resource: Malware Development in Go by Didier Stevens
Purpose: Build malware for multiple platforms using modern languages.
Topics: Static binaries, evasion through language choice, PowerShell obfuscation.
Additional Resources
Expected Outcome: By the end of this phase, learners will be able to write and understand fully functional malware across multiple platforms, with C2 capabilities and evasion techniques.
Phase 5: Advanced Topics
Objective: Dive into complex attack vectors including kernel-level exploitation, rootkits, and advanced malware analysis.
1. Kernel Exploitation Basics
Resource: A Guide to Kernel Exploitation by Enrico Perla
Purpose: Explore low-level vulnerabilities and exploit development inside kernel space.
Topics: Kernel modules, syscall abuse, Windows driver exploitation, privilege escalation.
2. Rootkit Development
Resource: Rootkits: Subverting the Windows Kernel
Purpose: Understand and develop stealth malware that hides within the OS itself.
Topics: Userland vs kernel rootkits, inline hooking, DKOM, hiding processes and files.
3. Advanced Malware Analysis
Resource: Practical Malware Analysis by Sikorski & Honig
Purpose: Learn how to reverse engineer and dissect malware samples in the wild.
Topics: Packers, crypters, C2 decoding, behavior monitoring.
4. OPSEC and Attribution Avoidance
Resource: Red Team Field Manual
Purpose: Learn how to develop malware with minimal forensic traceability.
Topics: Anti-forensics, timestomping, evading EDRs, malware development OPSEC.
Expected Outcome: By the end of this phase, learners will have advanced knowledge in kernel exploitation, stealth malware, and techniques used by sophisticated threat actors.
Last updated