# t3l3machus/hoaxshell

A Windows reverse shell payload generator and handler that abuses the http(s) protocol to establish a beacon-like reverse shell.

Repository: https://github.com/t3l3machus/hoaxshell
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/hoaxshell
Language: Python
License: BSD-2-Clause
License Family: permissive
Topics: hacking, penetration-testing, pentesting-tools, powershell, red-teaming, reverse-shell, python3, open-source
Last push: 2025-01-19T12:29:35+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 33/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 2, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 1515, "days_push": 591, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 3487, forks 524 (observed 2026-08-28T04:08:07.093124+00:00)

## What it is
Hoaxshell is a Windows reverse shell payload generator and handler that abuses the HTTP(S) protocol to establish a beacon-like reverse shell. It is a Python-based red teaming tool for authorized penetration testing, with a newer standalone listener available at revshells.com.

## Use cases
- generate windows reverse shell payloads over http
- handle beacon-like reverse shell sessions during pentests
- red team command and control over https
- bypass av with obfuscated powershell payloads
- establish reverse shells that evade firewall egress rules
- test windows endpoint detection during authorized assessments

## When to choose
- you need an http(s)-based reverse shell for authorized Windows pentesting
- you want a beacon-like C2 channel that blends with web traffic
- you need quick payload generation with a built-in session handler

## When to avoid
- you lack explicit authorization to test the target host
- you need a full interactive PTY rather than a beacon-like shell illusion
- you need an undetected payload out of the box - AMSI flags it without obfuscation

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: active
- function: penetration-testing, security, cli
- domain: penetration-testing, security, windows
- platform: python, cli, windows
- tags: reverse-shell, red-team, c2, powershell, http-beacon, payload-generator, linux

## Member repositories
- t3l3machus/hoaxshell (main) score 33

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:07.093124+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 2026-08-29T18:36:22.675540+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/t3l3machus/hoaxshell (fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:07.093124+00:00, sha 31c4c5f20dd8)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.