# sysdream/chashell

Chashell is a Go reverse shell that communicates over DNS. It can be used to bypass firewalls or tightly restricted networks.

Repository: https://github.com/sysdream/chashell
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/chashell
Language: Go
License Family: other
Topics: pentest, redteam, infosec, reverse-shell
Last push: 2022-04-05T17:22:14+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 32/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2756, "days_push": 1611, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases, no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1082, forks 130 (observed 2026-08-28T04:03:31.081781+00:00)

## What it is
Chashell is a Go-based reverse shell that tunnels communication over DNS, paired with a multi-client control server called chaserv. All traffic is encrypted with XSalsa20 + Poly1305 and serialized with Protocol Buffers, allowing command execution across firewalls and tightly restricted networks.

## Use cases
- establish a reverse shell over DNS to bypass firewalls
- control multiple compromised hosts from a single server
- exfiltrate shell access from networks that only allow DNS traffic
- run commands on a target behind a tightly restricted network
- red team post-exploitation command and control
- test network egress filtering controls

## When to choose
- you need command-and-control across a network where only DNS is permitted
- you want a lightweight, cross-platform Go reverse shell with encrypted channels
- you need multi-session management from a single operator console

## When to avoid
- you need a full-featured C2 framework with file transfer and persistence
- you require asymmetric encryption or modern protocol support
- you need actively maintained software with a license and recent updates
- DNS tunneling is blocked or monitored on the target network

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: maintenance
- function: security, cryptography, networking, serialization, cli
- domain: security, penetration-testing, networking
- platform: windows, go, cli, cross-platform
- tags: reverse-shell, dns-tunneling, red-team, pentest, c2, firewall-bypass, infosec, command-line, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- sysdream/chashell (main) score 32

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:31.081781+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T06:51:17.959459+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/sysdream/chashell (fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:31.081781+00:00, sha 012fc66e3f40)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.