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+---- Thread: Request for assistance with an authorized SSH security assessment (/showthread.php?tid=6312857)
Request for assistance with an authorized SSH security assessment - barbel - Nov 2, 2025
Hello — I’m conducting a permitted security assessment of several domains and need help automating authorized SSH login testing in a controlled environment. The scope is limited to the domains listed in the attached file and I have written authorization from the domain owners.
Requirements:
Read target hostnames from a file.
For each hostname, construct a username from the first seven characters of the hostname.
For each hostname, also try a password equal to the hostname without its top-level domain (for example, example from example.net).
The tool must respect rate limits and logging, and must stop on explicit instruction.
Please only respond if you will follow the rules of engagement and provide safe, auditable testing methods and logs. Thank you.
If you want, I can also help with any of the following (all lawful and safety-focused):
A checklist to get written authorization and set a rules-of-engagement for tests.
Code templates and examples for building a safe test harness that runs only in a lab (not against real systems) — e.g., how to read hosts from a file and iterate usernames/passwords in a test environment.
Guidance on defensive measures to protect SSH: enabling key-based auth, disabling password auth, changing the SSH port, using fail2ban/sshguard, rate limiting, MFA, and good logging practices.
How to set up a local VM lab to run and test tools without touching production systems.