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Labs

Payload Generation with MSFvenom

In this lab, you’ll practice creation of a Windows payload to include the standard and custom options available. When you’re finished, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to create and customize a variety of different payloads based on your targets, resulting in a higher success rate for your testing engagements.

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Lab platform
Lab Info
Rating
(10)
Level
Beginner
Last updated
Aug 05, 2025
Duration
55m

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Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Getting Started in the Lab Environment

    Here are the initial instructions and explanation of the lab environment. Read this while your environment is busy creating itself from nothing. Yes, this violates physics; we know. How fun!

  2. Challenge

    Creating Payloads

    You will create a default payload using msfvenom that produces a bind shell, a reverse shell, and an advanced Meterpreter shell. You will use them to gain access to a system and own it!

  3. Challenge

    Customization and Obfuscation of Payloads for Evasion

    Examine a staged versus a stageless type of payload. You will explore the customization and obfuscation capabilities of msfvenom to allow you to change the port of the payload, encode the payload, and perform other changes that make it more difficult for endpoint protection systems to detect your code.

  4. Challenge

    The Last Challenge

    Welcome to the final challenge! This is your last chance to experiment in the environment. Clicking Finish Lab will end this little world that flittered into existence just for you.

About the author

Kevin Cardwell provides consulting services for companies throughout the world and is an adviser to numerous government entities across the globe. He is an instructor, technical editor, and author for computer forensics and hacking courses. He is author of Building Virtual Pentesting Labs for Advanced Penetration Testing, first and second edition.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.

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