Scripting Languages in Cybersecurity

💻 Common Scripting Languages in Cybersecurity

Scripting languages are essential tools for automating tasks, analysing data, exploiting vulnerabilities, and building detection logic. Here’s a breakdown of the most relevant scripting languages in the cybersecurity field.

🐍 1. Python

🔧 Use Cases: Automation, malware analysis, threat hunting, tooling (e.g. Scapy, Impacket)

• Simple syntax, huge security libraries
• Excellent for writing custom scripts, exploit PoCs, log parsers, and integrations
• Used in tools like Recon-ng, Volatility, AutoSploit

import socket
ip = "192.168.1.1"
print(socket.gethostbyaddr(ip))

import socket
ip = "192.168.1.1"
print(socket.gethostbyaddr(ip))

💥 2. PowerShell

🪟 Use Cases: Windows administration, offensive security, blue team log queries

• Native to Windows, ideal for post-exploitation and host enumeration
• Popular in malware and red team tools (e.g. Empire, PowerView)
• Supports .NET libraries and WMI

Get-EventLog -LogName Security -Newest 10

Get-EventLog -LogName Security -Newest 10

🐚 3. Bash (Shell Scripting)

🐧 Use Cases: Linux system tasks, cron automation, quick recon and parsing

• Excellent for chaining tools in Linux
• Used for backup scripts, scanning, and log analysis
• Essential for blue and red team environments

for ip in $(cat ips.txt); do ping -c1 $ip; done

for ip in $(cat ips.txt); do ping -c1 $ip; done

☕ 4. JavaScript

🌐 Use Cases: Web security, XSS testing, browser automation

• Core to understanding front-end vulnerabilities (XSS, CSP bypasses)
• Used in browser-based attacks, BeEF framework, and recon automation
• Node.js enables full-stack scripting

<script>alert(document.cookie)</script>

<script>alert(document.cookie)</script>

🔐 5. Ruby

📦 Use Cases: Penetration testing, Metasploit scripting, API interaction

• Powers Metasploit Framework
• Great for writing custom auxiliary modules and exploits
• Declining in general use but still valuable in red teaming

require 'socket'<br>puts TCPSocket.open('10.0.0.1', 80).gets

require 'socket'<br>puts TCPSocket.open('10.0.0.1', 80).gets

🐘 6. PHP

🌐 Use Cases: Web app security testing, RCE exploits, malware analysis

• Often found in server-side web vulnerabilities
• Used by attackers in web shells (e.g. php-reverse-shell)
• Understanding PHP helps in defending legacy systems

<?php echo shell_exec($_GET['cmd']); ?>

<?php echo shell_exec($_GET['cmd']); ?>

🧰 7. Go (Golang)

⚙️ Use Cases: Malware development, cross-platform tools, performance-critical scripts

• Statically compiled, no dependencies
• Used in many modern security tools (e.g. C2 frameworks like Sliver)
• Secure, efficient, and cross-platform

package main<br>import "fmt"<br>func main() { fmt.Println("Hello, Hacker") }

package main<br>import "fmt"<br>func main() { fmt.Println("Hello, Hacker") }

🧪 8. SQL (Structured Query Language)

🗄 Use Cases: Database enumeration, injection testing, data extraction

• Crucial for understanding SQLi (injection) vulnerabilities
• Used by blue teamers for querying log databases (e.g. Splunk, SQL SIEMs)

SELECT username, password FROM users WHERE '1'='1';

SELECT username, password FROM users WHERE '1'='1';

🧠 Honourable Mentions

✅ Summary Comparison

💡 In cybersecurity, learning even just 2–3 of these languages will greatly boost your capability in automation, testing, and analysis.