/recon

description: Run the full recon pipeline by invoking tools/recon_engine.sh — subdomain enum (subfinder + amass + crt.sh + wayback), httpx live host probing with tech detection, nmap port scan, gau URL collection, JS analysis, ffuf directory fuzzing, parameter discovery, config exposure check, CI/CD workflow scan. Outputs to recon/<target>/. Handles FQDN, IP, CIDR, and file-of-hosts targets automatically. Usage: /recon target.com

/recon

Run the full recon pipeline on a target. **Always invoke the production script directly** — do not re-implement the steps inline. The methodology below is reference material; the script is the entry point.

Run This (the only required step)

# Domain (full subdomain enum + crawl + fuzz):
bash tools/recon_engine.sh target.com

# CIDR — skips subdomain enum, runs nmap host sweep:
bash tools/recon_engine.sh 10.0.0.0/24

# Single IP — scope-locked, no subdomain enum:
bash tools/recon_engine.sh 192.0.2.10

# Domain list (programs without wildcard scope) — pre-resolved hosts in a file:
bash tools/recon_engine.sh path/to/scope.txt

# Quick mode (skip amass + reduce ffuf coverage):
bash tools/recon_engine.sh target.com --quick

The script auto-detects target type:

• Path to a readable file → loads it as a host list (one per line, `#` comments OK) and **skips subdomain enumeration entirely**.
• `x.x.x.x/y` → CIDR sweep (max /24, scope-locked).
• `x.x.x.x` → single IP, scope-locked.
• Anything else → treated as a domain; full enum runs.

Output lands in `recon/<target>/` (or `recon/<file-basename>/` for list mode):

recon/<target>/
├── subdomains/all.txt
├── live/urls.txt
├── urls/all.txt
├── candidates/{xss,ssrf,idor,sqli,redirect,lfi}.txt
├── api-endpoints.txt
├── nuclei/findings.txt
└── cicd/summary.txt        (if CI/CD workflows detected)

Troubleshooting

"/recon path/to/file.txt still runs subdomain enumeration"

You're on an older revision of this command file where the model re-implemented the pipeline inline and never invoked the production script. Pull latest, or run the script directly:

bash tools/recon_engine.sh path/to/file.txt

You should see `[*] Domain-list target — loading <file> (skipping subdomain enum)` near the start.

"/recon loops / doesn't actually run anything"

Same root cause as the hunt-loop bug. Run the bash directly:

bash tools/recon_engine.sh target.com

Or in your prompt: "Run `bash tools/recon_engine.sh target.com` and report the output. Do not re-implement the steps."

"Missing tools"

bash tools/install_tools.sh

Recon needs: `subfinder`, `dnsx`, `httpx` (ProjectDiscovery — not the Python CLI), `katana`, `gau`, `nuclei`, `ffuf`, `nmap`, `gf`, `anew`. The installer handles all of them.

After Recon

1. Review `recon/<target>/live/urls.txt` — open interesting ones in a browser. 2. Check `recon/<target>/nuclei/findings.txt` — any high/critical? 3. Review `recon/<target>/api-endpoints.txt` — start IDOR testing. 4. `grep -E "admin|jenkins|grafana|gitlab" recon/<target>/live/urls.txt` — admin panels. 5. Run `/hunt target.com` to start active vulnerability testing on the recon output.

5-Minute Kill Signal

If after running this pipeline you see:

• All hosts return 403 even after `tools/bypass_403.sh` + wafw00f bypass, or return only static marketing pages
• No API endpoints visible
• No interesting parameters in URLs
• nuclei returns 0 medium/high findings

**→ Move on to a different target.** Don't sink hours into a dead surface.

---

Reference: What the script does (informational)

The pipeline in `tools/recon_engine.sh` runs these phases (numbers may shift; check the script source):

1. **Subdomain enumeration** — subfinder + Chaos API (if `$CHAOS_API_KEY` set) + amass + crt.sh + wayback. 2. **Live host discovery** — dnsx resolve, then httpx with status/title/tech-detect. 3. **Port scan** — nmap top-1000 on live hosts (CIDR mode runs a wider sweep). 4. **URL crawl** — katana deep crawl + waybackurls + gau historical. 5. **gf classification** — xss, ssrf, idor, sqli, redirect, lfi candidate files. 6. **JS analysis** — LinkFinder / SecretFinder on every JS bundle. 7. **ffuf directory fuzzing** — uses `wordlists/common.txt` (run `python3 tools/hunt.py --setup-wordlists` once if missing). 8. **Parameter discovery** — Arjun / x8 against high-value endpoints. 9. **Config exposure** — `.git/`, `.env`, `wp-config.php`, `.DS_Store`, swagger.json, etc. 10. **CI/CD scan** — sisakulint against any GitHub Actions workflows discovered.

For the IDOR / SSRF / GraphQL / SSTI / etc. active-testing playbooks, see `/hunt` and its methodology section.