performing-phishing-simulation-with-gophish

name	performing-phishing-simulation-with-gophish
description	GoPhish is an open-source phishing simulation framework used by security teams to conduct authorized phishing awareness campaigns. It provides campaign management, email template creation, landing pag. Use when working with performing phishing simulation with gophish.
domain	cybersecurity
subdomain	phishing-defense
tags	["phishing","email-security","social-engineering","dmarc","awareness","gophish","simulation"]
version	1.0
author	oyi77
license	Apache-2.0
nist_csf	["PR.AT-01","DE.CM-09","RS.CO-02","DE.AE-02"]

Performing Phishing Simulation with GoPhish

Overview

GoPhish is an open-source phishing simulation framework used by security teams to conduct authorized phishing awareness campaigns. It provides campaign management, email template creation, landing page cloning, and comprehensive reporting. This skill covers deploying GoPhish, creating realistic phishing scenarios, and analyzing campaign results to measure and improve organizational resilience.

When to Use

Trigger phrases:

• "performing phishing simulation with gophish"

• "GoPhish is an open-source phishing simulation framework used by security teams t"

• When conducting security assessments that involve performing phishing simulation with gophish

• When following incident response procedures for related security events

• When performing scheduled security testing or auditing activities

• When validating security controls through hands-on testing

Prerequisites

• GoPhish binary or Docker image (https://github.com/gophish/gophish)
• SMTP server or relay for sending test emails
• Written authorization from management for phishing simulation
• Target email list (HR-approved)
• SSL/TLS certificate for landing pages
• Python 3.8+ for automation scripts

Key Concepts

This section covers key concepts for performing phishing simulation with gophish.

• Ensure all prerequisites are met before proceeding
• Follow the documented workflow steps in sequence
• Record results and any anomalies encountered during this phase

GoPhish Architecture

• Admin Panel: Web UI for campaign management (default port 3333)
• Phishing Server: Serves landing pages and tracks clicks (default port 80/443)
• SMTP Configuration: Outbound email sending profile
• Campaign Engine: Orchestrates email delivery, tracking, and reporting

Campaign Components

1. Sending Profile: SMTP server configuration for outbound email
2. Email Template: The phishing email content with tracking
3. Landing Page: The fake page users are directed to
4. User Group: Target recipients for the campaign
5. : Combines all components with scheduling