> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://malcrvz.gitbook.io/the-vx-files/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://malcrvz.gitbook.io/the-vx-files/network-pentesting/techniques/upgrade-reverse-shell-to-interactive.md).

# Upgrade reverse shell to interactive

First things first

When getting a reverse shell, it will most probably be a basic shell that doesn't have TAB auto-completion or gets broken when using `CTRL + C`\
To upgrade to a interactive shell we can do the following:

{% code title="Steps" lineNumbers="true" %}

```bash
script /dev/null -c bash
"CTRL + Z"
stty raw -echo; fg
reset xterm
export TERM=xterm
export SHELL=/bin/bash    #Optional
stty size                 #In attacking shell to check sizing you want
stty rows n columns m     #"n" and "m" corresponding to the size we just checked
```

{% endcode %}

1. `script /dev/null -c bash`\
   `script` starts a script session that records every command you do, but we pass the output to `/dev/null`, thus discarding it, then `-c` allows us to pass a command, in this case `bash` so it runs the bash shell within that session
2. `CTRL + Z`\
   Sends current process to the foreground, returning us to our attacking shell
3. `stty raw -echo; fg`\
   `stty` to change terminal settings, `raw` to turn on raw mode so input as for example `CTRL + C` is not interpreted in the attacker terminal and `-echo` so its not printed too\
   `fg` "foreground" brings back the process of the victim's terminal
4. `reset xterm` \
   Write it even if the prompt is hidden, will reset the terminal to its default state and we are almost finished
5. `export TERM=xterm` \
   Establishes xterm as the terminal emulator if it isn't already
6. `export SHELL=/bin/bash` \
   Optional step but recommended as bash is in almost systems so its compatible and we want everything to be functional
7. `stty size` \
   *In our attacking shell*, will print current size of the window in rows and columns so that's what we want to imitate
8. `stty rows n columns m`\
   Sets the victim shell to the same size as our terminal, so binaries like `nano` look proportionate