The MEA - Certified Exploitation Analyst course is tailored for cyber professionals seeking advanced expertise in strategic cyber exploitation and intelligence gathering. This structured program covers key phases of cyber exploitation, including information gathering, vulnerability identification, exploitation planning, and penetration testing execution. Participants will learn to use advanced techniques to avoid detection while gathering critical data about their targets, ultimately enhancing their ability to generate actionable intelligence to bolster network defenses.

Throughout the course, participants will engage with a diverse array of tools and techniques vital for modern cyber exploitation, with hands-on practice on Windows and Linux systems. This practical approach ensures learners not only grasp theoretical concepts but also gain proficiency in applying these skills in realistic operating environments.

Moreover, the course emphasizes leveraging exploitation findings to enhance threat intelligence, enabling participants to anticipate and counter potential cyber threats effectively. Enriched with detailed case studies, including spear-phishing attacks and targeting industrial control systems, this course equips participants to plan, execute, and report on cyber operations comprehensively.

By course completion, participants will possess the skills to conduct full-scale exploitation missions, enabling them to:

• Implement strategies for maintaining undetected access to target networks.
• Develop proficiency in network analysis and information gathering using a variety of tools and methodologies.
• Conduct thorough vulnerability scans using both manual and automated tools.
• Execute advanced exploitation techniques to achieve persistent access and privilege escalation.
• Customize scripts and modify operating system features to enhance exploit capabilities.
• Analyze and devise strategies to circumvent modern anti-malware technologies.
• Utilize sophisticated scanning technologies and develop checklists for continuous system, network, and application security monitoring.

MCSI is one of the most respected and trusted names in cyber security education and training. Our certifications teach critical skills, knowledge and abilities needed to advance a career in cyber security. Our courses are comprehensive and up-to-date, and our instructors are experienced professionals who are dedicated to helping students learn. MCSI provides the real-world skills and knowledge you need to protect any organization from cyber threats.

• Lab Setup and Virtualization
• Initial Access

  Initial access is critical for exploitation analysts as it represents the first stage of a cyberattack, where threat actors gain entry into a target system or network.

  Understanding how attackers establish initial access helps analysts identify entry points, assess vulnerabilities, and implement effective security measures to prevent unauthorized access and potential exploitation. This knowledge is essential for threat detection, incident response, and overall cybersecurity defense strategies.

  Discovering Subdomains

  Discovering subdomains is important for exploitation analysts to identify additional entry points and potential attack surfaces within an organization's domain, enabling comprehensive vulnerability assessments and threat modeling.

  Brute Force Attacking Different Server Protocols (such as SMTP, FTP)

  Conducting brute force attacks on various server protocols helps exploitation analysts assess the strength of authentication mechanisms, identify weak credentials, and exploit potential misconfigurations to gain unauthorized access to target systems or services.

  Utilizing Nmap & Map Scripting Engine to Discover Vulnerabilities

  Leveraging Nmap and its scripting engine allows exploitation analysts to perform comprehensive vulnerability scans, identify exposed services, and assess potential security weaknesses in target systems, enabling proactive mitigation of vulnerabilities and secure configuration management.

  Writing Custom Web Shells

  Developing custom web shells enables exploitation analysts to establish persistent access to compromised web servers, execute arbitrary commands, and manipulate server-side functionalities for remote exploitation and post-exploitation activities.

  Writing Custom Office Macros

  Crafting custom Office macros allows exploitation analysts to create malicious documents embedded with macros that bypass security controls, enabling social engineering attacks and delivering payloads to compromise target systems through user interaction.

  Creating Custom Phishing Pages

  Developing custom phishing pages mimicking legitimate websites helps exploitation analysts launch targeted social engineering attacks, tricking users into disclosing sensitive information or credentials, facilitating initial access and subsequent exploitation of systems and networks.

• Execution and Persistence

  Execution and persistence are crucial stages for exploitation analysts as they involve deploying and maintaining malicious code or access within a target environment.

  Understanding execution techniques allows analysts to assess attack vectors, while persistence strategies enable sustained control over compromised systems, facilitating further exploitation and data exfiltration. These stages are fundamental for comprehending threat actor behavior and implementing effective defensive measures against advanced threats.

  Building Advanced Reverse Shells in Languages (such as VBS, Python, etc.)

  Developing advanced reverse shells in various languages allows exploitation analysts to establish persistent remote access to compromised systems, enabling remote command execution and post-exploitation activities for further exploitation and data exfiltration.

  Incorporating DLL Injection

  Implementing DLL injection techniques enables exploitation analysts to inject malicious code into legitimate processes, bypassing security controls and establishing persistent execution within target systems, facilitating privilege escalation and stealthy persistence.

  Writing Ransomware

  Developing ransomware allows exploitation analysts to create malicious software that encrypts files and demands ransom payments, demonstrating advanced techniques for execution and persistence within targeted environments, emphasizing the importance of robust cybersecurity defenses and incident response strategies.

  Writing Custom Malware Droppers

  Designing custom malware droppers enables exploitation analysts to deliver and execute payloads discreetly, evading detection and establishing persistent malware presence on compromised systems, highlighting the significance of proactive threat hunting and defensive security measures to detect and mitigate such threats.

  Persisting on Linux & Windows Machines

  Implementing persistence techniques on Linux and Windows machines allows exploitation analysts to maintain unauthorized access and control over compromised systems, demonstrating the need for continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, and incident response to detect and mitigate advanced threats.

• Privilege Escalation and Credential Access

  Privilege escalation and credential access are critical for exploitation analysts as they allow threat actors to gain elevated privileges and access sensitive resources within target systems.

  Understanding these techniques is essential for identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities, preventing unauthorized access, and safeguarding against malicious activities that exploit privileged accounts or credentials. This knowledge enhances overall cybersecurity defenses and strengthens incident response capabilities against advanced threats.

  Exploiting Numerous Privilege Escalation Vulnerabilities on Windows

  Identifying and exploiting privilege escalation vulnerabilities on Windows systems enables exploitation analysts to escalate their privileges to gain unauthorized access to sensitive resources, emphasizing the critical need for patch management and security hardening to mitigate such risks.

  Exploiting Numerous Privilege Escalation Vulnerabilities within Linux

  Leveraging privilege escalation vulnerabilities in Linux environments allows exploitation analysts to escalate their privileges and execute unauthorized commands, underscoring the importance of least privilege principles and access controls to prevent unauthorized actions and maintain system integrity.

  Bypassing Windows UAC

  Bypassing User Account Control (UAC) on Windows systems enables exploitation analysts to execute elevated commands without user consent, highlighting the significance of security configurations and user awareness training to mitigate UAC bypass techniques and defend against privilege escalation attacks.

  Creating Automated Script Escalation Programs

  Developing automated script escalation programs streamlines privilege escalation techniques, enabling exploitation analysts to efficiently exploit vulnerabilities and escalate privileges, emphasizing the importance of proactive security measures and incident response to detect and mitigate such automated attacks.

  Dumping Windows User Passwords

  Extracting and dumping Windows user passwords allows exploitation analysts to obtain plaintext credentials, enabling unauthorized access to systems and networks, highlighting the critical need for secure password management practices and multi-factor authentication to protect against credential theft and misuse.

  Stealing Domain Admin Credentials

  Stealing domain administrator credentials grants exploitation analysts full control over Active Directory environments, emphasizing the importance of privileged access management, security monitoring, and threat detection to prevent unauthorized domain access and mitigate potential impacts of credential theft.

  Cracking Passwords

  Cracking passwords enables exploitation analysts to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive resources, emphasizing the critical need for strong password policies, password hashing, and encryption to protect against brute force attacks and unauthorized credential access.

• Evasion Techniques

  Evasion techniques are crucial for exploitation analysts as they enable threat actors to bypass detection mechanisms and evade security controls deployed by defenders.

  Understanding evasion tactics is essential for developing effective detection and mitigation strategies to counter sophisticated attacks and enhance overall cybersecurity posture against advanced threats.

  Writing Malware that Prevents Behavioral Analysis

  Developing malware with anti-analysis techniques prevents detection by security tools that rely on behavioral analysis, highlighting the importance of continuous threat intelligence and advanced detection methods to identify and mitigate evasive threats.

  Writing Custom Code Obfuscation

  Implementing custom code obfuscation techniques disguises malicious code to evade detection by antivirus and security solutions, emphasizing the need for robust endpoint protection and threat hunting capabilities to detect and analyze obfuscated threats.

  Obfuscating Malware

  Employing malware obfuscation techniques conceals malicious payloads from security tools and analysts, underscoring the importance of layered defenses and proactive threat detection to identify and mitigate obfuscated threats targeting organizations' digital assets.

  Bypassing Common Antivirus Products (Windows Defender, etc.)

  Developing malware that evades detection by popular antivirus products like Windows Defender highlights the need for continuous security updates, threat intelligence, and behavioral analysis to detect and block emerging threats that bypass traditional security measures.

  Disguising Malware

  Masking malware to appear as legitimate files or software disguises malicious intent and evades detection by security controls, emphasizing the importance of user education, security awareness, and endpoint protection to prevent the inadvertent execution of disguised threats.

• Movement and Collection

  Movement and collection are critical phases for exploitation analysts as they involve the lateral movement within a compromised network and the gathering of valuable data or assets.

  Understanding these phases is essential for detecting and mitigating threats, preventing data exfiltration, and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information within the targeted environment.

  Writing Custom Host Enumeration Programs (Linux & Windows)

  Developing custom host enumeration programs allows exploitation analysts to identify and catalog network hosts and services, facilitating lateral movement and targeted data collection within compromised environments, highlighting the need for network segmentation and access controls to limit unauthorized host enumeration.

  Creating a Custom Fingerprinting Tool for Browsers

  Developing a custom browser fingerprinting tool enables exploitation analysts to gather unique browser identifiers and user-agent information for targeted reconnaissance and profiling, emphasizing the importance of privacy-enhancing technologies and user awareness to mitigate browser-based tracking and fingerprinting techniques.

  Performing Pass the Hash Attacks

  Executing pass the hash attacks allows exploitation analysts to authenticate to systems using captured hash values, enabling lateral movement and privilege escalation within compromised networks, underscoring the critical need for secure authentication protocols, monitoring, and detection mechanisms to detect and prevent credential-based attacks.

  Accessing Hosts that are Not Directly Connected to the Internet

  Gaining access to hosts not directly connected to the internet demonstrates the importance of network segmentation, secure remote access controls, and threat detection to protect critical assets and prevent unauthorized access from external threats, highlighting the need for robust cybersecurity practices and incident response strategies to defend against advanced threats targeting isolated systems.

  Writing Custom Programs that Record the Screen, Steal Clipboard Data, Steal Credit Cards from Memory, etc.

  Developing custom programs with malicious functionalities enables exploitation analysts to capture sensitive information and perform unauthorized actions on compromised systems, emphasizing the importance of endpoint detection and response, user awareness training, and data loss prevention measures to protect against data exfiltration and unauthorized access to confidential data.

• Command and Control

  Command and control (C2) is crucial for exploitation analysts as it enables threat actors to remotely manage and control compromised systems, facilitating further exploitation, data exfiltration, and persistence within target environments.

  Understanding C2 techniques is essential for detecting and mitigating malicious activities, strengthening network defenses, and minimizing the impact of cyber incidents by disrupting unauthorized command execution and communication channels.

  Writing Malware that Encrypts Its Own Traffic

  Developing malware that encrypts its own traffic enables threat actors to obfuscate communication channels and evade network detection, underscoring the importance of deep packet inspection, behavioral analysis, and threat intelligence to identify and block malicious C2 activities.

  SSH Tunneling

  Utilizing SSH tunneling allows threat actors to establish secure and encrypted communication channels for C2 operations, highlighting the need for network monitoring, anomaly detection, and secure access controls to detect and mitigate unauthorized tunneling activities.

  Domain Fronting

  Implementing domain fronting techniques disguises malicious C2 traffic as legitimate HTTPS traffic, emphasizing the importance of DNS monitoring, threat intelligence, and security awareness to detect and block domain fronting tactics used by threat actors for covert C2 communications.

  Implementing TripWires

  Deploying tripwires allows defenders to detect unauthorized C2 activity and trigger alerts based on predefined behavioral patterns or indicators of compromise, highlighting the importance of proactive threat hunting, incident response, and real-time monitoring to identify and disrupt malicious command and control operations.

  Writing a Custom HTTP Redirectory

  Developing a custom HTTP redirector enables threat actors to manipulate and redirect web traffic for C2 purposes, emphasizing the need for secure web gateway solutions, traffic analysis, and threat detection mechanisms to identify and block unauthorized HTTP redirections used in malicious C2 activities.

• Documentation and Analysis

  Documentation and analysis are essential for exploitation analysts as they enable the comprehensive documentation of attack techniques, findings, and remediation strategies, facilitating knowledge sharing, incident response, and continuous improvement of defensive measures.

  Proper documentation and analysis also support forensic investigations, threat intelligence gathering, and the development of effective mitigation strategies to enhance overall cybersecurity posture and resilience against evolving threats.

  Writing a Network Penetration Testing Checklist

  Developing a network penetration testing checklist facilitates organized and systematic assessments of network security, enabling exploitation analysts to identify vulnerabilities, prioritize remediation efforts, and enhance overall network defense strategies.

  Writing a Privilege Escalation Checklist (Windows & Linux)

  Creating privilege escalation checklists for Windows and Linux systems aids exploitation analysts in identifying and exploiting security weaknesses to elevate privileges, enabling effective defense-in-depth strategies and proactive mitigation of privilege escalation risks.

  Developing Industry Footprints

  Building industry footprints allows exploitation analysts to understand sector-specific vulnerabilities, threat landscapes, and compliance requirements, supporting targeted cybersecurity strategies and proactive defense measures tailored to specific industry sectors.

  Mapping Breaches

  Mapping breaches involves documenting and analyzing past cybersecurity incidents, enabling exploitation analysts to identify patterns, assess impact, and implement effective incident response strategies and security controls to prevent future breaches and mitigate risks.

  Leveraging Threat Intelligence

  Utilizing threat intelligence enhances the analysis and documentation process by providing actionable insights into emerging threats, attacker techniques, and indicators of compromise (IOCs), empowering exploitation analysts to proactively defend against evolving cyber threats and strengthen organizational security posture.

This course teaches the specific Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Tasks (KSATs) aligned with the DoD Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF) as outlined in DoD 8140. By focusing on these critical competencies, the course ensures that you develop the essential capabilities required for various cybersecurity roles within the Department of Defense. This alignment not only guarantees that the training is relevant and comprehensive but also that it prepares you to meet the specific operational needs and standards of the DoD cyber workforce.

• knowledge

  ID	Description
  22	Knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols, and network security methodologies.
  108	Knowledge of risk management processes (e.g., methods for assessing and mitigating risk).
  264	Knowledge of basic physical computer components and architectures, including the functions of various components and peripherals (e.g., CPUs, Network Interface Cards, data storage).
  1158	Knowledge of cybersecurity principles.
  1159	Knowledge of cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
  3095	Knowledge of internet network addressing (IP addresses, classless inter-domain routing, TCP/UDP port numbering).
  3106	Knowledge of a wide range of basic communications media concepts and terminology (e.g., computer and telephone networks, satellite, cable, wireless).
  3107	Knowledge of a wide range of concepts associated with websites (e.g., website types, administration, functions, software systems, etc.).
  3129	Knowledge of attack methods and techniques (DDoS, brute force, spoofing, etc.).
  3137	Knowledge of basic malicious activity concepts (e.g., foot printing, scanning and enumeration).
  3179	Knowledge of common networking devices and their configurations.
  3191	Knowledge of concepts for operating systems (e.g., Linux, Unix).
  3225	Knowledge of data communications terminology (e.g., networking protocols, Ethernet, IP, encryption, optical devices, removable media).
  3289	Knowledge of how hubs, switches, routers work together in the design of a network.
  3291	Knowledge of how internet applications work (SMTP email, web-based email, chat clients, VOIP).
  3346	Knowledge of Internet and routing protocols.
  3407	Knowledge of network security (e.g., encryption, firewalls, authentication, honey pots, perimeter protection).
  3410	Knowledge of network topology.
  3513	Knowledge of system administration concepts for Unix/Linux and/or Windows operating systems.
  3543	Knowledge of the basic structure, architecture, and design of modern communication networks.
  6900	Knowledge of specific operational impacts of cybersecurity lapses.
  345	Knowledge of web mail collection, searching/analyzing techniques, tools, and cookies.
  912	Knowledge of collection management processes, capabilities, and limitations.
  915	Knowledge of front-end collection systems, including traffic collection, filtering, and selection.
  3055B	Knowledge of basic implants.
  3113	Knowledge of target intelligence gathering and operational preparation techniques and life cycles.
  3139	Knowledge of basic principles of the collection development processes (e.g., Dialed Number Recognition, Social Network Analysis).
  3146	Knowledge of both internal and external customers and partner organizations, including information needs, objectives, structure, capabilities, etc.
  3155	Knowledge of client organizations, including information needs, objectives, structure, capabilities, etc.
  3166	Knowledge of collection searching/analyzing techniques and tools for chat/buddy list, emerging technologies, VOIP, Media Over IP, VPN, VSAT/wireless, web mail and cookies.
  3181	Knowledge of common reporting databases and tools.
  3201	Knowledge of all relevant reporting and dissemination procedures.
  3226	Knowledge of data flow process for terminal or environment collection.
  3256	Knowledge of terminal or environmental collection (process, objectives, organization, targets, etc.).
  3261	Knowledge of evasion strategies and techniques.
  3296	Knowledge of how to collect, view, and identify essential information on targets of interest from metadata (e.g., email, http).
  3349	Knowledge of intrusion sets.
  3386	Knowledge of midpoint collection (process, objectives, organization, targets, etc.).
  3432	Knowledge of identification and reporting processes.
  3454	Knowledge of products and nomenclature of major vendors (e.g., security suites – Trend Micro, Symantec, McAfee, Outpost, Panda, Kaspersky) and how differences affect exploitation/vulnerabilities.
  3474	Knowledge of scripting
  3505	Knowledge of strategies and tools for target research.
  3525	Knowledge of organizational and partner policies, tools, capabilities, and procedures.
  3542	Knowledge of the basic structure, architecture, and design of converged applications.
  3622	Knowledge of organizational and partner authorities, responsibilities, and contributions to achieving objectives.
  3637	Knowledge of Unix/Linux and Windows operating systems structures and internals (e.g., process management, directory structure, installed applications).

• skills

  ID	Description
  3801	Skill in identifying the devices that work at each level of protocol models.
  3867	Skill in recognizing technical information that may be used for leads to enable remote operations (data includes users, passwords, email addresses, IP ranges of the target, frequency in DNI behavior, mail servers, domain servers, SMTP header information).
  363	Skill in identifying gaps in technical capabilities.
  3678	Skill in analyzing traffic to identify network devices.
  3715	Skill in creating and extracting important information from packet captures.
  3718A	Skill in creating collection requirements in support of data acquisition activities.
  3718	Skill in creating plans in support of remote operations.
  3726	Skill in depicting source or collateral data on a network map.
  3741	Skill in determining the effect of various router and firewall configurations on traffic patterns and network performance in both LAN and WAN environments.
  3774	Skill in evaluating accesses for intelligence value.
  3803	Skill in identifying, locating, and tracking targets via geospatial analysis techniques
  3810	Skill in interpreting compiled and interpretive programming languages.
  3812	Skill in interpreting metadata and content as applied by collection systems.
  3814	Skill in using trace route tools and interpreting the results as they apply to network analysis and reconstruction.
  3818	Skill in generating operation plans in support of mission and target requirements.
  3828	Skill in navigating network visualization software.
  3837	Skill in performing data fusion from existing intelligence for enabling new and continued collection.
  3860	Skill in recognizing and interpreting malicious network activity in traffic.
  3863	Skill in recognizing midpoint opportunities and essential information.
  3874	Skill in researching vulnerabilities and exploits utilized in traffic.
  3894	Skill in target development in direct support of collection operations.
  3913	Skill in using databases to identify target-relevant information.
  3923	Skill in using non-attributable networks.
  3950	Skill in writing (and submitting) requirements to meet gaps in technical capabilities.

• abilities

  ID	Description
  3021	Ability to collaborate effectively with others.
  3022	Ability to communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas in a confident and well-organized manner through verbal, written, and/or visual means.
  3103A	Ability to identify/describe target vulnerability.
  3103	Ability to identify/describe techniques/methods for conducting technical exploitation of the target.
  3001	Ability to accurately and completely source all data used in intelligence, assessment and/or planning products.
  3039	Ability to develop or recommend analytic approaches or solutions to problems and situations for which information is incomplete or for which no precedent exists.
  3043	Ability to evaluate, analyze, and synthesize large quantities of data (which may be fragmented and contradictory) into high quality, fused targeting/intelligence products.
  3055A	Ability to select the appropriate implant to achieve operational goals.
  3101	Ability to expand network access by conducting target analysis and collection in order to identify targets of interest.

• tasks

  ID	Description
  2194	Create comprehensive exploitation strategies that identify exploitable technical or operational vulnerabilities.
  2400	Examine intercept-related metadata and content with an understanding of targeting significance.
  2718	Profile network or system administrators and their activities.
  2029A	Apply and utilize authorized cyber capabilities to enable access to targeted networks.
  2033	Apply cyber collection, environment preparation and engagement expertise to enable new exploitation and/or continued collection operations, or in support of customer requirements.
  2040	Apply and obey applicable statutes, laws, regulations and policies.
  2072	Perform analysis for target infrastructure exploitation activities.
  2090	Collaborate with other internal and external partner organizations on target access and operational issues.
  2095	Communicate new developments, breakthroughs, challenges and lessons learned to leadership, and internal and external customers.
  2102	Conduct analysis of physical and logical digital technologies (e.g., wireless, SCADA, telecom) to identify potential avenues of access.
  2114	Conduct independent in-depth target and technical analysis including target-specific information (e.g., cultural, organizational, political) that results in access.
  2419	Collaborate with developers, conveying target and technical knowledge in tool requirements submissions, to enhance tool development.
  2461	Identify gaps in our understanding of target technology and developing innovative collection approaches.
  2490	Identify, locate, and track targets via geospatial analysis techniques.
  2534	Lead or enable exploitation operations in support of organization objectives and target requirements.
  2542	Maintain awareness of advancements in hardware and software technologies (e.g., attend training or conferences, reading) and their potential implications.
  2608	Monitor target networks to provide indications and warning of target communications changes or processing failures.
  2714	Produce network reconstructions.