# byt3bl33d3r/gcat

A PoC backdoor that uses Gmail as a C&C server

Repository: https://github.com/byt3bl33d3r/gcat
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/gcat
Language: Python
License: BSD-2-Clause
License Family: permissive
Archived: true
Last push: 2018-11-16T13:43:15+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 10/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4110, "days_push": 2847, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: archived
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1351, forks 416 (observed 2026-08-28T04:04:28.274959+00:00)

## What it is
Gcat is a proof-of-concept Python backdoor that uses a Gmail account as its command-and-control channel, with an implant deployed on targets and a controller script for issuing commands. It was released so organizations can test defenses against this class of covert C2 communication.

## Use cases
- test network defenses against Gmail-based C2 backdoors
- demonstrate covert command-and-control over email in red team exercises
- evaluate detection tooling like RITA against email-based implants
- run remote shell commands on a lab client through Gmail
- retrieve files from an implant host during an authorized pentest

## When to choose
- you need a simple PoC to validate email-based C2 detection
- you are doing authorized security research or defense testing
- you want a minimal, readable Python implant for training

## When to avoid
- you need a maintained or production-grade C2 framework (the author points to GDog instead)
- you require stealth features, encryption, or modern evasion capabilities
- any use without explicit authorization from the target's owner

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: abandoned
- function: security, penetration-testing
- domain: security, penetration-testing
- platform: python, windows
- tags: backdoor, c2, command-and-control, gmail, proof-of-concept, red-team, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- byt3bl33d3r/gcat (main) score 10

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:28.274959+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 2026-08-30T04:42:12.787811+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/byt3bl33d3r/gcat (fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:28.274959+00:00, sha 3f041189a730)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.