OpenSec Atlas

holeysocks: An Open Source Tool for Network Security | OpenSec Atlas

Network Security

Tool

holeysocks

holeysocks is a cross-platform reverse SOCKS proxy tool written in Go that enables secure and flexible network tunneling.

View on GitHub

About This Tool

Cross-Platform Reverse Socks Proxy in Go

Primary Use Case

holeysocks is primarily used to create reverse SOCKS proxy connections, allowing users to securely route traffic through remote machines behind firewalls or NATs. Network administrators and security professionals can leverage this tool for secure remote access, penetration testing, or bypassing network restrictions.

Key Features

Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Reverse SOCKS proxy functionality
Implemented in Go for performance and portability
Facilitates secure network tunneling
Lightweight and easy to deploy

Insights & Recommendations

Users should ensure proper firewall and network configurations to allow holeysocks traffic. As a proxy tool, it should be used responsibly and in compliance with organizational security policies.

Installation

Ensure Go is installed on your system
Run `go install github.com/audibleblink/holeysocks@latest` to install the tool
Add the Go bin directory to your PATH if not already included
Verify installation by running `holeysocks -h`

Usage

holeysocks -h

Displays help information and usage instructions.

holeysocks server -l :1080

Starts the holeysocks server listening on port 1080 for incoming connections.

holeysocks client -r <server_address>:1080

Connects the client to the holeysocks server at the specified address and port.

Smart Usage Notes

Can be chained with Metasploit or Cobalt Strike for automated exploitation and command and control.Ideal for red teams to simulate advanced adversary lateral movement and command and control channels.Blue teams can use it to understand attacker proxy techniques and improve network segmentation and detection rules.Useful in purple team exercises to validate detection and response capabilities against proxy-based tunneling.Can be integrated into automated security testing pipelines to simulate real-world network evasion techniques.