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bats3c/shad0w

Free

A post exploitation framework designed to operate covertly on heavily monitored environments

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source

About bats3c/shad0w

SHAD0W is a modular post-exploitation C2 framework designed for covert operations on heavily monitored environments. It leverages Python 3.8 and C, with Donut for payload generation, enabling in-memory execution of .NET assemblies, DLLs, EXEs, JS, VBS, or XSLs. The framework heavily uses dynamically resolved syscalls to bypass userland API hooking, anti-DLL injection to prevent EDR code injection, and Microsoft mitigation methods to protect spawned processes. The C2 server runs inside Docker for cross-platform usage, communicates over HTTPS with a JSON-based protocol, and features a live proxy/mirror that mimics a real website to disguise traffic. Beacons support multiple formats (EXE, PowerShell, shellcode), process injection, and proxy-aware callbacks. Included modules range from privilege escalation (Elevate), ETW/Sysmon disabling (Ghost in the Logs), credential theft (Mimikatz), to reverse SOCKS proxy (SharpSocks) and file management (StdAPI).

Key Features

Modular C2 architecture with easy module creation
Fully Docker-based for cross-platform deployment
HTTPS encrypted C2 communication
JSON-based protocol for custom beacon integration
Live website mirroring to disguise C2 traffic
Modern CLI built on prompt-toolkit
Dynamically resolved syscalls to bypass userland API hooking
Anti-DLL injection to prevent EDR code loading
In-memory execution of .NET assemblies, DLLs, EXEs, JS, VBS, and XSLs via Donut
Multiple beacon formats: EXE, PowerShell, shellcode, and more

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Strong evasion techniques against EDR and AV
  • Modular design allows easy customization and extension
  • Docker containerization enables deployment on any platform
  • In-memory execution reduces forensic footprint
  • Active community on Discord
  • Includes a variety of pre-built modules for common tasks
  • Lightweight and customizable beacons
Cons
  • Last release (beta) was in September 2020, potentially indicating reduced active maintenance
  • Requires familiarity with red teaming and C2 frameworks
  • Limited documentation beyond the wiki and README
  • Only two official releases so far

Best For

Red team operations requiring stealthy post-exploitationPenetration testing on heavily monitored corporate environmentsAssessments that need to bypass modern EDR and antivirus solutionsCovert data exfiltration and lateral movementTesting detection capabilities of security monitoring tools

FAQ

What is SHAD0W?
SHAD0W is a modular post-exploitation C2 framework designed to operate covertly on heavily monitored environments, using advanced evasion techniques like dynamically resolved syscalls and in-memory execution.
How does SHAD0W evade detection?
It uses dynamically resolved syscalls to avoid userland API hooking, anti-DLL injection to prevent EDR code injection, and official Microsoft mitigation methods. Payloads are frequently updated to evade common AV.
What payload formats are supported?
Beacons can be generated as EXE, PowerShell, shellcode, and more. It can execute .NET assemblies, DLLs, EXEs, JS, VBS, or XSLs fully in memory using Donut.
Is SHAD0W free and open source?
Yes, SHAD0W is free and open source under the MIT license, hosted on GitHub.