nc Command Examples

Redirect I/O into a network stream through this versatile tool. More information: https://manned.org/nc.

• Start a listener on the specified TCP port and send a file into it:

nc -l -p {{port}} < {{filename}}

• Connect to a target listener on the specified port and receive a file from it:

nc {{host}} {{port}} > {{received_filename}}

• Scan the open TCP ports of a specified host:

nc -v -z -w {{timeout_in_seconds}} {{host}} {{start_port}}-{{end_port}}

• Start a listener on the specified TCP port and provide your local shell access to the connected party (this is dangerous and can be abused):

nc -l -p {{port}} -e {{shell_executable}}

• Connect to a target listener and provide your local shell access to the remote party (this is dangerous and can be abused):

nc {{host}} {{port}} -e {{shell_executable}}

• Act as a proxy and forward data from a local TCP port to the given remote host:

nc -l -p {{local_port}} | nc {{host}} {{remote_port}}

• Send an HTTP GET request:

echo -e "GET / HTTP/1.1\nHost: {{host}}\n\n" | nc {{host}} 80