Exploitation framework
Imagine a world where hackers and security professionals are constantly battling wits, each armed with a unique set of tools. Exploitation frameworks and tools are the weapons of choice in this digital battlefield, enabling ethical hackers and malicious attackers to discover, develop, and execute exploits to gain unauthorized access to systems or data. Some of the most notable frameworks include the following:
- Metasploit: A comprehensive library of exploits, payloads, and auxiliary modules

Figure 5.3 – Metasploit framework
- Core Impact: A commercial penetration testing platform offering automated and manual testing capabilities
- CANVAS by Immunity Inc.: A flexible platform for creating custom attacks with extensive pre-built exploits
- Cobalt Strike: Used in red team operations, simulating APTs
- Empire: Leveraging PowerShell and Python for post-exploitation activities
- SQLMap: An open source tool...