Installing BeEF on Kali Linux: A Step-by-Step Guide

BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework) is a powerful penetration testing tool used for testing the security of web browsers. It allows security professionals to assess the vulnerabilities in web applications by exploiting the client-side of web applications. In this article, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing BeEF on Kali Linux.

Prerequisites

Before installing BeEF, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

1. Kali Linux: Ensure that you have a working Kali Linux installation. If not, you can download the latest version from the official Kali Linux website and follow the installation instructions.
2. Ruby: BeEF is written in Ruby, so you need to have Ruby installed on your system. Kali Linux usually comes with Ruby pre-installed, but you can verify it by running the following command in the terminal:

ruby --version 

If Ruby is not installed, you can install it using:

sudo apt-get install ruby

Installing BeEF

Follow these steps to install BeEF on Kali Linux:

Step 1: Update and Upgrade

Make sure your system is up-to-date by running the following commands:

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade

Step 2: Install Dependencies

BeEF requires certain dependencies. Install them using the following commands:

sudo apt-get install git curl zlib1g-dev build-essential libssl-dev libreadline-dev libyaml-dev libsqlite3-dev sqlite3 libxml2-dev libxslt1-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev software-properties-common libffi-dev

Step 3: Install Ruby Version Manager (RVM)

RVM is a tool for managing multiple Ruby environments. Install it by running:

sudo apt-add-repository -y ppa:rael-gc/rvm sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install rvm

After installation, add your user to the rvm group:

sudo usermod -aG rvm $USER

Step 4: Install Ruby

Install a version of Ruby compatible with BeEF. The following commands will install Ruby version 2.6:

rvm install 2.6 rvm use 2.6 --default

Step 5: Download BeEF

Clone the BeEF repository from GitHub:

git clone https://github.com/beefproject/beef.git

Step 6: Navigate to BeEF Directory

Move to the BeEF directory:

cd beef

Step 7: Install Bundler and Gems

Install Bundler, a Ruby gem manager, and the required gems:

gem install bundler bundle install

Step 8: Start BeEF

Start the BeEF service:

./bee

You should see an output indicating that BeEF is running. By default, BeEF listens on port 3000.

Step 9: Access BeEF Web Interface

Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000/ui/panel. This will take you to the BeEF control panel. The default credentials are username: beef and password: beef.

In Closing

You have successfully installed BeEF on Kali Linux. BeEF is a powerful tool, so use it responsibly and only in environments where you have permission to test. Always stay updated with the latest security practices and be aware of the legal implications of using penetration testing tools.