pwntools

name	pwntools
description	Use preinstalled pwntools for authorized exploit prototyping, binary interaction, cyclic patterns, packing, and shellcraft tasks.

pwntools

Use pwntools for authorized exploit prototyping, binary interaction, cyclic patterns, packing helpers, shellcraft tasks, and its bundled helper CLIs such as pwn and checksec.

Help First

Before constructing commands, use installed CLI help and the preinstalled pwntools Python environment:

pwn --help
pwn_python="$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$(command -v pwn)")")/python"
"$pwn_python" -c 'from pwn import context; print(context.arch)'

Usage Rules

• Work only against provided binaries, local challenge services, or explicitly authorized targets.
• Prefer the preinstalled pwntools tool environment for one-off scripts: pwn_python="$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$(command -v pwn)")")/python"; "$pwn_python" <script.py>.
• Do not install pwntools again for normal use.
• Use uv venv --python /usr/bin/python3 <dir> for task-scoped projects only when extra Python dependencies are missing. Install those missing dependencies into the venv; install pwntools into that venv only when isolation from the preinstalled tool environment is explicitly required.
• Use the preinstalled pwn CLI for quick helpers.
• Use the preinstalled checksec CLI for pure ELF mitigation checks instead of writing a pwntools script or installing another checksec package.
• Use uv run --python /usr/bin/python3 --with pwntools python <script.py> only when a separate ephemeral environment is explicitly needed. It does not reuse the preinstalled uv tool environment and first use may spend 30-60 seconds resolving and installing pwntools.
• Keep scripts, payloads, and generated artifacts in a task-scoped directory.
• Avoid printing secrets or live credentials; redact sensitive material in reports.
• Validate exploit assumptions with checksec, gdb-pwndbg, strace, or controlled test runs.
• Do not use global pip install.

Common Workflows

Generate and locate cyclic patterns:

pwn cyclic 200
pwn cyclic -l 0x6161616b

Run a task-scoped script without global installs:

pwn_python="$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$(command -v pwn)")")/python"
"$pwn_python" exploit.py

Minimal local interaction template:

from pwn import *

context.binary = elf = ELF("./binary")
io = process(elf.path)
io.sendlineafter(b"> ", b"input")
io.interactive()

Use remote(host, port) only for explicitly authorized challenge services or test infrastructure.

Output

Report script path, command used, target scope, generated artifacts, key offsets or primitives, and validation status.