Recon-ng in Action: Streamlining Cyber Threat Intelligence Collection

RECON-NG

Recon-ng is a powerful, modular, open-source reconnaissance framework written in Python. It’s designed to automate the process of gathering open-source intelligence (OSINT) about targets, making it a valuable tool for penetration testers, ethical hackers, and cybersecurity researchers.

Key Features of Recon-ng

1. Modular Architecture

Recon-ng is built around a module system. Each module performs a specific task, such as:

• Gathering data from public sources (e.g., WHOIS, DNS, social media)
• Performing network reconnaissance
• Exporting data for reporting or further analysis

Modules are grouped into categories like:

• recon: for data collection
• report: for exporting results
• auxiliary: for support tasks

2. Command-Line Interface (CLI)

Recon-ng has a Metasploit-like CLI that allows users to:

• Load modules
• Set options
• Run commands
• View results

Example:

3. Database Integration

Recon-ng uses a built-in SQLite database to store collected data. This allows for:

• Persistent storage across sessions
• Easy querying and reporting
• Data reuse across modules

4. API Key Management

Many modules require API keys (e.g., Shodan, Google, Twitter). Recon-ng provides a way to manage these keys securely:

5. Automation and Scripting

Recon-ng supports scripting and automation through workspaces and command chaining. You can:

• Create workspaces for different targets
• Automate module execution
• Export results in formats like CSV, JSON, or HTML

Common Use Cases

• Domain and Subdomain Enumeration
• Email and Contact Discovery
• Social Media Profiling
• DNS and WHOIS Lookups
• Geolocation and Metadata Extraction
• Credential Harvesting (from public leaks)

Installation

Recon-ng can be installed via GitHub:

You may need to install dependencies using:

Advantages

• Easy to use with a familiar CLI
• Highly extensible and modular
• Integrates with many public APIs
• Stores data in a structured format
• Great for OSINT and passive reconnaissance

Limitations

• Requires API keys for many modules
• Focused on passive recon; not suitable for active exploitation
• Some modules may be outdated or require manual updates