Recon-ng - Commands, Workspaces And Data Management

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the key commands, workspaces, and data management functionalities of Recon-ng, a powerful web reconnaissance tool used for Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a solid understanding of how to effectively utilize Recon-ng for your own reconnaissance tasks.

Step 1: Setting Up Recon-ng

1. Installation

   • Download Recon-ng from its official repository: Recon-ng GitHub.
   • Follow the installation instructions provided in the repository.
   • Ensure you have Python installed on your system, as Recon-ng is a Python-based tool.

2. Launching Recon-ng

   • Open your terminal or command prompt.
   • Navigate to the directory where Recon-ng is installed.
   • Run the following command to start Recon-ng:

     ./recon-ng
     

Step 2: Understanding Workspaces

1. Creating a Workspace

   • Workspaces allow you to organize your reconnaissance efforts.
   • To create a new workspace, use the command:

     workspaces create [workspace_name]
     

   • Replace [workspace_name] with your desired name.

2. Switching Workspaces

   • To switch between workspaces, use:

     workspaces select [workspace_name]
     

3. Listing Workspaces

   • To view all available workspaces and their details, use:

     workspaces list
     

Step 3: Managing Data

1. Importing Data

   • You can import data from various sources into your workspace.
   • Use the command:

     data import [source]
     

   • Replace [source] with the path to your data file.

2. Exporting Data

   • To export data for reports or further analysis, use:

     data export [format] [target]
     

   • Replace [format] with the desired format (e.g., CSV, JSON) and [target] with the destination file path.

3. Viewing Data

   • To view the data collected in your current workspace, use:

     show [data_type]
     

   • Replace [data_type] with the type of data you wish to view (e.g., domains, contacts).

Step 4: Utilizing Commands

1. Exploring Available Commands

   • Recon-ng offers various modules for different reconnaissance tasks. To see all available commands, type:

     help
     

2. Loading a Module

   • To load a specific module for use, use:

     use [module_name]
     

   • Replace [module_name] with the specific module you want to use.

3. Running a Module

   • After loading a module, configure its options and run the module using:

     run
     

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to set up and navigate Recon-ng, manage workspaces, handle data import and export, and utilize commands effectively. Recon-ng is a powerful tool for OSINT gathering, and mastering its features can enhance your reconnaissance skills significantly. As a next step, explore different modules available within Recon-ng and practice using them in various scenarios to deepen your understanding.