Red team infrastructure design requires careful planning and implementation to create a resilient, secure, and stealthy network architecture for conducting penetration testing engagements.
Setting up proper infrastructure helps avoid detection while maintaining operational security throughout security assessments and red team operations.
This guide outlines key components and best practices for building effective red team infrastructure that supports various attack scenarios and engagement types.
Core Infrastructure Components
- Command & Control (C2) Servers
- Long-haul redirectors for initial access
- Short-haul redirectors for payload delivery
- Team servers running Cobalt Strike, Metasploit, or custom C2
- Operational Security Systems
- Domain fronting capabilities
- DNS infrastructure
- SSL/TLS certificates
- VPN tunnels and proxy chains
Infrastructure Design Principles
- Implement strict network segmentation between different components
- Use dedicated systems for specific tasks (phishing, payload hosting, C2)
- Deploy redundant systems across different providers and regions
- Maintain separate infrastructure for each client engagement
- Rotate IP addresses and domains regularly
Recommended Tools & Software
| Category | Tools |
|---|---|
| C2 Frameworks | Cobalt Strike, PoshC2, Covenant |
| Infrastructure Automation | Terraform, Red Baron, RedCloud |
| DNS Management | DNSControl, OctoDNS |
| SSL Management | Let’s Encrypt, acme.sh |
Hosting Considerations
- Cloud Providers
- AWS, Azure, DigitalOcean, Linode
- Use different providers for different components
- Consider geographical restrictions and compliance requirements
- Domain Registration
- Use privacy-focused registrars
- Implement domain categorization bypasses
- Maintain clean domain reputation
Security Measures
Implement strict access controls using SSH keys and two-factor authentication for all infrastructure components.
Monitor system logs and network traffic for signs of detection or compromise.
Use secure communication channels between team members and infrastructure components.
Documentation & Tracking
- Maintain detailed infrastructure diagrams
- Document all configurations and credentials securely
- Track infrastructure costs and resource usage
- Keep engagement-specific notes and findings
Building for Success
Regular testing and validation of infrastructure components ensures reliability during active engagements.
Consider implementing automated deployment and teardown procedures to maintain efficiency.
Stay updated with new evasion techniques and infrastructure design patterns to maintain operational effectiveness.
Contact the Red Team Security community for additional guidance and resources.
Testing & Validation
- Infrastructure Testing
- Perform regular connectivity checks
- Validate redirector chains
- Test payload delivery mechanisms
- Verify logging and monitoring systems
- Performance Monitoring
- Track system resource usage
- Monitor network latency
- Assess payload execution times
- Evaluate C2 communication reliability
Maintenance & Updates
- Schedule regular system updates
- Rotate credentials periodically
- Update SSL certificates before expiration
- Refresh IP addresses and domains
- Review and update firewall rules
Incident Response Planning
- Response Procedures
- Document incident response protocols
- Establish communication channels
- Define roles and responsibilities
- Create infrastructure shutdown procedures
- Recovery Steps
- Backup critical configurations
- Maintain alternative infrastructure
- Document restoration procedures
- Test recovery processes regularly
Advancing Red Team Operations
Effective red team infrastructure serves as the foundation for successful security assessments and penetration testing engagements. Regular maintenance, thorough testing, and proper documentation ensure operational readiness and mission success.
Maintaining OPSEC throughout the infrastructure lifecycle protects both the red team and client organizations. Continuous improvement and adaptation of infrastructure design patterns help stay ahead of detection mechanisms and defensive controls.
Remember that infrastructure security is an ongoing process that requires regular review and updates to match evolving threat landscapes and engagement requirements.
FAQs
- What is Red Team Infrastructure and why is it important?
Infrastructure design for red team operations involves setting up servers, domains, and systems to conduct security assessments while evading detection. It’s crucial for maintaining operational security and ensuring realistic attack simulations. - What are the key components of Red Team Infrastructure?
Essential components include command and control (C2) servers, redirectors, staging servers, payload hosting, domain fronting setup, and operational security measures like encrypted communications channels. - How do you implement proper OPSEC in Red Team Infrastructure?
Implement separate infrastructure for each engagement, use proxies and redirectors, maintain strict access controls, employ encryption, utilize domain categorization, and ensure proper logging and monitoring. - What role do redirectors play in Red Team Infrastructure?
Redirectors serve as intermediary servers that forward traffic between compromised systems and C2 servers, helping to hide the true infrastructure and providing additional layers of operational security. - How should domains be selected for Red Team operations?
Choose domains that blend with target environment traffic, have clean reputations, match legitimate business domains, and preferably have aged registration to avoid detection by security controls. - What are the best practices for C2 server configuration?
Implement proper SSL/TLS certificates, use secure protocols, maintain minimal services, implement proper authentication, use hardened configurations, and ensure regular security updates. - How can cloud services be leveraged in Red Team Infrastructure?
Cloud services can be used for payload hosting, traffic redirecting, domain fronting, and establishing distributed command and control infrastructure while maintaining anonymity and resilience. - What are common mistakes to avoid in Red Team Infrastructure design?
Common mistakes include using default configurations, failing to implement proper access controls, neglecting logging and monitoring, reusing infrastructure across engagements, and insufficient network segmentation. - How should traffic be obfuscated in Red Team operations?
Use domain fronting, protocol tunneling, legitimate-looking traffic patterns, custom C2 profiles, and encrypted communications while avoiding suspicious traffic patterns that could trigger detection. - What backup measures should be implemented in Red Team Infrastructure?
Maintain redundant C2 channels, multiple redirectors, backup communication methods, alternative domain names, and contingency infrastructure in case primary systems are discovered or blocked.
