recon by danielmiessler

---
name: Recon
description: Security reconnaissance. USE WHEN recon, reconnaissance, bug bounty, attack surface. SkillSearch('recon') for docs.
---

## Customization

**Before executing, check for user customizations at:**
`~/.claude/skills/CORE/USER/SKILLCUSTOMIZATIONS/Recon/`

If this directory exists, load and apply any PREFERENCES.md, configurations, or resources found there. These override default behavior. If the directory does not exist, proceed with skill defaults.

# recon

**Infrastructure and Network Reconnaissance**

## Purpose

Technical reconnaissance of network infrastructure including domains, IP addresses, netblocks, and ASNs. Combines passive intelligence gathering with authorized active scanning to map attack surfaces and identify assets.

## Voice Notification

**When executing a workflow, do BOTH:**

1. **Send voice notification**:
   ```bash
   curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8888/notify \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     -d '{"message": "Running the WORKFLOWNAME workflow from the Recon skill"}' \
     > /dev/null 2>&1 &
   ```

2. **Output text notification**:
   ```
   Running the **WorkflowName** workflow from the **Recon** skill...
   ```

**Full documentation:** `~/.claude/skills/CORE/SkillNotifications.md`

## When to Use This Skill

**Core Triggers - Use this skill when user says:**

### Direct Recon Requests
- "do recon on [target]" or "run recon"
- "perform reconnaissance on [target]" or "conduct recon"
- "do infrastructure recon" or "network reconnaissance"
- "basic recon", "quick recon", "simple recon"
- "comprehensive recon", "deep recon", "full reconnaissance"
- "recon [target]" (just recon + target)
- "passive recon", "active recon"

### Infrastructure & Network Mapping
- "map infrastructure for [domain]" or "map network"
- "enumerate [domain] infrastructure" or "discover assets"
- "find subdomains of [domain]" or "enumerate subdomains"
- "scan [target]" or "port scan [IP/netblock]"
- "what services are running on [IP]"
- "investigate [IP address/domain/netblock]"

### IP & Domain Investigation
- "recon this IP" or "investigate this IP address"
- "look up [IP]" or "IP lookup [address]"
- "what is [IP]" or "who owns [IP]"
- "domain recon" or "domain investigation"
- "DNS recon", "DNS enumeration"
- "WHOIS [domain/IP]"

### ASN & Netblock Research
- "investigate [ASN]" or "research ASN"
- "scan [CIDR range/netblock]"
- "find IPs in [netblock]"
- "enumerate netblock" or "netblock scanning"

### Passive vs Active Recon
- "passive recon on [target]" (no authorization required)
- "active scan [target]" (requires explicit authorization)
- "safe reconnaissance" (passive only)
- "authorized scan" (active techniques)

### Use Case Indicators
- Investigating IP addresses for ownership, location, and services
- Mapping domain infrastructure and DNS configuration
- Scanning netblocks or CIDR ranges for live hosts
- Researching ASN ownership and IP allocations
- Attack surface enumeration and network mapping
- Called by OSINT for infrastructure mapping of entities

## Relationship with Other Security Skills

**OSINT → recon (Common Pattern):**
- OSINT identifies entities, companies, people (social/public records focus)
- Recon maps their technical infrastructure (network/system focus)
- Example flow: OSINT finds company → Recon maps their domains/IPs/infrastructure

**recon → webassessment:**
- Recon identifies web applications and services
- Web assessment tests those applications for vulnerabilities
- Example: Recon finds subdomain api.target.com → Web assessment fuzzes/tests it

**Workflow Integration:**
```typescript
// OSINT skill discovers company infrastructure
const domains = await osintFindCompanyDomains("Acme Corp");

// Calls recon skill to map technical details
const infraMap = await reconDomain(domains[0]);

// Recon identifies web apps
const webApps = infraMap.subdomains.filter(s => s.hasHTTP);

// Calls web assessment for testing
await webAssessment(webApps);
```

## Core Capabilities

### Passive Reconnaissance (No Authorization Required)
- WHOIS lookups (domain and IP)
- DNS enumeration (A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, CNAME, SOA, etc.)
- Certificate transparency searches (subdomains, certificate history)
- IPInfo API (geolocation, ASN, organization, abuse contacts)
- Reverse DNS lookups
- BGP/ASN information gathering
- Historical DNS data
- Public database searches

### Active Reconnaissance (Requires Explicit Authorization)
- Port scanning (naabu MCP)
- Service detection and banner grabbing (httpx MCP)
- Technology fingerprinting
- Live host discovery
- HTTP/HTTPS probing
- SSL/TLS analysis

**CRITICAL AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS:**

Active reconnaissance MUST have:
1. **Explicit user confirmation** for each active scan
2. **Documented authorization** (pentest engagement, bug bounty program, owned assets)
3. **Scope validation** (ensure target is in-scope)
4. **Rate limiting** (respectful scanning, no DoS)
5. **Session logging** (record all active recon for audit trail)

**Default behavior is PASSIVE ONLY.** Always confirm before active techniques.

## Available Workflows

### 1. `PassiveRecon.md` - Safe Reconnaissance
Non-intrusive intelligence gathering using public sources:
- WHOIS data
- DNS records
- Certificate transparency
- IPInfo lookups
- Reverse DNS
- No active scanning

**Input:** Domain, IP, or netblock
**Output:** Passive intelligence report
**Authorization:** None required

### 2. `IpRecon.md` - IP Address Investigation
Comprehensive IP address reconnaissance:
- IPInfo lookup (location, ASN, org, abuse contact)
- Reverse DNS
- WHOIS netblock info
- Certificate search (if IP has certs)
- Optional: Port scan (with authorization)
- Optional: Service detection (with authorization)

**Input:** Single IP address
**Output:** IP reconnaissance report
**Authorization:** Required for active scanning

### 3. `DomainRecon.md` - Domain Investigation
Full domain mapping and enumeration:
- WHOIS domain registration
- DNS records (all types)
- Subdomain enumeration (certificate transparency)
- Mail server configuration (MX, SPF, DMARC, DKIM)
- IP addresses behind domain
- Certificate analysis
- Technology stack detection
- Historical data

**Input:** Domain name
**Output:** Domain reconnaissance report
**Authorization:** Required for active subdomain probing

### 4. `NetblockRecon.md` - CIDR Range Scanning
Network range reconnaissance:
- CIDR parsing and validation
- Range size calculation
- WHOIS netblock ownership
- Optional: Live host discovery (with authorization)
- Optional: Port scan range (with authorization)
- ASN/organization mapping
- Interesting host identification

**Input:** CIDR notation (e.g., 192.168.1.0/24)
**Output:** Netblock scan report
**Authorization:** Required for active scanning

### 5. `AsnRecon.md` - Autonomous System Investigation
ASN and BGP reconnaissance:
- ASN to CIDR range mapping
- Organization information
- All IP ranges owned by ASN
- BGP peer relationships
- Geographic distribution
- Hosting/ISP identification

**Input:** ASN number (e.g., AS15169)
**Output:** ASN mapping report
**Authorization:** None required (passive data)

## Tool Integration

### Primary Tools

**IPInfo API** (ipinfo.io)
- API Key: `process.env.IPINFO_API_KEY`
- Capabilities: Geolocation, ASN, organization, abuse contacts, privacy detection
- Rate limits: Check API plan
- Client: `tools/ipinfo-client.ts`

**System Tools** (always available)
- `whois` - Domain and IP WHOIS lookups
- `dig` - DNS queries
- `nslookup` - DNS resolution
- `curl` - HTTP requests, API calls

**MCP Tools** (security profile required)
- `httpx` - HTTP probing and technology detection
- `naabu` - Port scanning
- Note: Requires security MCP profile (`~/.claude/MCPs/swap-mcp security`)

### Future Tool Integration

**Shodan** (when API key added)
- Search for exposed services
- Historical scan data
- Vulnerability information

**Censys** (when API key added)
- Certificate searches
- Host discovery
- Internet-wide scanning data

**SecurityTrails** (when API key added)
- Historical DNS records
- WHOIS history
- Subdomain discovery

**VirusTotal** (when API key added)
- Domain/IP reputation
- Passive DNS
- Malware associations

## TypeScript Utilities

Located in `tools/` directory:

**ipinfo-client.ts**
- IPInfo API wrapper with error handling
- Batch lookup support
- Rate limiting
- Response parsing

**dns-utils.ts**
- DNS enumeration helpers
- Record type queries
- Zone transfer attempts
- Subdomain brute forcing

**whois-parser.ts**
- WHOIS data parsing
- Structured output from raw WHOIS
- Registration date extraction
- Contact information parsing

**cidr-utils.ts**
- CIDR notation parsing
- IP range calculation
- Range validation
- IP address generation from CIDR

**cert-transparency.ts**
- crt.sh API client
- Certificate search
- Subdomain extraction from certificates
- Historical certificate data

**report-generator.ts**
- Markdown report formatting
- JSON output generation
- Structured data presentation
- Integration with OSINT reports

## Output Formats

### IP Reconnaissance Report
```markdown
# IP Reconnaissance: 1.2.3.4

## Summary
- IP: 1.2.3.4
- Organization: Example Corp
- ASN: AS12345
- Location: San Francisco, CA, US
- ISP: Example Hosting

## DNS
- Reverse DNS: server.example.com
- Additional PTR: ...

## Network Information
- CIDR: 1.2.3.0/24
- Netblock Owner: Example Corp
- Abuse Contact: [email protected]

## Services (Passive)
- Certificates: 3 certificates found
- Historical DNS: ...

## Services (Active - Authorized)
- Open Ports: 22, 80, 443
- Services: SSH (OpenSSH 8.2), HTTP (nginx 1.20.1), HTTPS
- Technologies: nginx, OpenSSH

## Recommendations
- Further investigation areas
- Related assets
- Security observations
```

### Domain Reconnaissance Report
```markdown
# Domain Reconnaissance: example.com

## Summary
- Domain: example.com
- Registrar: Example Registrar
- Registration: 2010-01-15
- Expiry: 2026-01-15

## DNS Records
### A Records
- 1.2.3.4
- 5.6.7.8

### MX Records
- 10 mail.example.com

## Subdomains
- www.example.com (1.2.3.4)
- api.example.com (1.2.3.5)
- admin.example.com (1.2.3.6)

## Email Security
- SPF: Configured
- DMARC: Configured
- DKIM: Configured

## Technologies
- Web Server: nginx
- Framework: React
- CDN: Cloudflare

## Recommendations
- Interesting subdomains: admin.example.com, api.example.com
- Attack surface: 15 web applications identified
```

Reports saved to:
- **Work scratch/** (`~/.claude/MEMORY/WORK/{current_work}/scratch/`) - For iterative artifacts during investigation
- **MEMORY/RESEARCH/** (`~/.claude/MEMORY/RESEARCH/YYYY-MM/`) - For pentest engagements and formal assessments

## MCP Profile Requirements

**For passive recon:** No special MCP profile needed

**For active recon:** Requires security MCP profile
```bash
# Switch to security profile
~/.claude/MCPs/swap-mcp security

# Restart Claude Code to apply
# Then run active reconnaissance
```

Security profile includes:
- httpx (HTTP probing)
- naabu (port scanning)
- Other security tools

## Ethical and Legal Considerations

**CRITICAL RULES:**
1. **Authorization First** - Never perform active scanning without explicit authorization
2. **Scope Validation** - Ensure targets are in-scope for testing
3. **Rate Limiting** - Respectful scanning, no DoS or aggressive techniques
4. **Documentation** - Log all recon activities with timestamps and authorization
5. **Responsible Disclosure** - If vulnerabilities found, follow responsible disclosure
6. **No Destructive Testing** - Reconnaissance only, no exploitation

**Authorization Types:**
- Pentest engagement (written SOW/contract)
- Bug bounty program (in-scope targets only)
- Owned assets (your own infrastructure)
- Research lab/CTF environments

**Never scan:**
- Systems without permission
- Out-of-scope targets
- Critical infrastructure
- Government systems (without specific authorization)

**When in doubt:** Ask for explicit confirmation and documented authorization.

## Usage Examples

### Example 1: Passive Domain Recon
```
User: "Do passive recon on example.com"

Assistant: Activating recon skill with passive-recon workflow.
     Target: example.com
     Mode: Passive only (no active scanning)

     [Performs WHOIS, DNS, cert transparency, IPInfo]
     [Generates report in scratchpad]

     Report: ~/.claude/MEMORY/WORK/{current_work}/scratch/recon-example-com/
```

### Example 2: IP Investigation with Active Scan
```
User: "Investigate IP 1.2.3.4 - I own this server"

Assistant: Activating recon skill with ip-recon workflow.
     Target: 1.2.3.4

     Authorization check: You confirmed this is an owned asset.
     Proceeding with passive + active reconnaissance.

     [Performs IPInfo, reverse DNS, WHOIS, port scan, service detection]
     [Generates comprehensive report]

     Report: Open ports found (22, 80, 443)
             Services: SSH, HTTP, HTTPS
             Technologies: nginx 1.20.1, OpenSSH 8.2
```

### Example 3: Integration with OSINT
```
User: "Do OSINT on Acme Corp and map their infrastructure"

Assistant: Activating OSINT skill...
     Found domains: acme.com, acmecorp.com, acme.io

     Now calling recon for infrastructure mapping...

     [Recon skill maps each domain]
     [Discovers subdomains, IPs, netblocks]
     [Creates comprehensive infrastructure map]

     Report: Complete OSINT + Infrastructure report
             15 domains, 47 subdomains, 3 netblocks identified
```

## Workflow Selection Logic

**Automatic workflow selection based on input:**
- Input matches IP pattern (x.x.x.x) → `IpRecon.md`
- Input matches domain pattern → `DomainRecon.md`
- Input matches CIDR pattern (x.x.x.x/y) → `NetblockRecon.md`
- Input matches ASN pattern (AS####) → `AsnRecon.md`
- User specifies "passive only" → `PassiveRecon.md`

**User can override:**
```
"Use passive-recon workflow on 1.2.3.4"
"Run domain-recon on example.com with active scanning"
```

## Success Criteria

**Passive Recon Success:**
- WHOIS data retrieved
- DNS records enumerated
- Certificate transparency searched
- IPInfo data gathered
- Structured report generated

**Active Recon Success:**
- Authorization confirmed and documented
- Passive recon completed first
- Port scan results (open/closed/filtered)
- Service detection performed
- Banner information gathered
- Technologies identified
- No errors or failures
- Respectful scan timing (no DoS)

## Related Documentation

**Security Skills:**
- `~/.claude/skills/OSINT/` - Entity and people reconnaissance
- `~/.claude/skills/Webassessment/` - Web application testing

**Tool Documentation:**
- IPInfo API: https://ipinfo.io/developers
- Certificate Transparency: https://crt.sh
- WHOIS protocol: RFC 3912

**Best Practices:**
- OWASP Testing Guide: https://owasp.org/www-project-web-security-testing-guide/
- NIST SP 800-115: Technical Guide to Information Security Testing

---

**Remember:** Start passive, confirm authorization before going active, document everything, and be respectful of target systems.