# calebstewart/pwncat

Fancy reverse and bind shell handler

Repository: https://github.com/calebstewart/pwncat
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/pwncat
Homepage: https://pwncat.readthedocs.io
Language: Python
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Topics: pwncat, privilege-escalation, pty, enumeration, linux, windows, persistance, implant-deployment
Archived: true
Last push: 2024-08-09T15:57:48+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": 2310, "days_push": 754, "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 2917, forks 292 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:30.030833+00:00)

## What it is
pwncat is a post-exploitation platform and handler for reverse and bind shells, written in Python. It wraps raw shell communication with an SSH-like interactive experience and automates enumeration, privilege escalation, and implant deployment on remote targets.

## Use cases
- handle a reverse shell from a compromised host with a full pty
- upgrade a dumb bind shell into an interactive session like ssh
- enumerate a Linux target for privilege escalation vectors
- automate persistence and implant installation on a target
- keep terminal settings like TERM and window size synced with a remote shell
- run post-exploitation modules against a remote shell during a red team engagement

## When to choose
- you need an interactive, feature-rich handler for reverse or bind shells on Linux targets
- you want automated enumeration and privilege escalation suggestions from a shell session
- you want ssh-like ergonomics (pty, raw mode, vim/nano support) over a raw shell

## When to avoid
- you need stable, production-grade Windows target support (currently alpha)
- you only need a simple netcat-style listener without automation
- you need a GUI or team-collaboration C2 framework rather than a single-operator CLI tool

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: active
- function: security, penetration-testing, cli, workflow-automation
- domain: security, penetration-testing, developer-tools
- platform: python, cli, windows
- tags: reverse-shell, bind-shell, post-exploitation, red-team, privilege-escalation, pty, implant, command-line, linux

## Member repositories
- calebstewart/pwncat (main) score 10

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:30.030833+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 2026-08-30T07:34:04.602813+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/calebstewart/pwncat (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:30.030833+00:00, sha 74cfcd06b8a5)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.