Welcome, fellow hackers, to another edition of Programming Thursdays! Today, we’ll dive into the fantastic world of the Swift programming language. Swift has taken the world by storm since its introduction by Apple in 2014. With its easy-to-understand syntax and powerful capabilities, it has become a popular choice for developers working on iOS, macOS, watchOS, and even server-side applications. But what about us, the pen testers and red teamers? Can Swift be a useful tool in our arsenal? You bet it can!

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the basics of the Swift language, explore its syntax, and then dive into some practical examples that demonstrate how Swift can be used in the world of cybersecurity. So, grab your hoodies and laptops, and let’s start our journey into the depths of Swift!

Introduction to Swift

Swift is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm programming language developed by Apple Inc. for its iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS operating systems. The language was designed with performance, safety, and developer productivity in mind. With its modern syntax and powerful features, Swift has quickly become a favorite among developers.

Swift combines the best features of both Objective-C and C, but with a clean, modern syntax that makes it easy to learn and use. It is also an open-source language, meaning that anyone can contribute to its development and use it for their projects.

Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s dive into the syntax and basic concepts of Swift!

Variables and Data Types

In Swift, the fundamental building blocks for storing and managing data are variables and constants. Understanding their distinction and proper usage is crucial for writing safe, efficient, and readable code. Swift emphasizes safety, and this is evident in its approach to variable declaration.

var for Variables

Variables are declared using the var keyword. As the name suggests, their values can be changed or varied after they are initially assigned. This mutability makes them suitable for data that needs to be updated throughout the program’s execution, such as a counter, a user’s score, or network buffer contents.

var userScore = 0 // Declares an integer variable with an initial value of 0
userScore = 100   // The value of userScore can be changed
print("Current score: \(userScore)") // Output: Current score: 100

var greeting = "Hello, hacker!" // Declares a String variable
greeting = "Greetings, fellow red teamer!" // The value can be updated
print(greeting)

let for Constants

Constants are declared using the let keyword. Once a value is assigned to a constant, it cannot be changed. This immutability is a core principle of Swift’s safety features. By using constants for values that are not expected to change, you prevent accidental modifications, making your code more predictable and less prone to bugs. Swift encourages the use of let whenever possible, promoting safer and more optimized code.

let pi = 3.141592 // Declares a Double constant for the value of Pi
// pi = 3.0 // This line would cause a compile-time error: 'let' constant 'pi' cannot be reassigned
print("The value of Pi is: \(pi)")

let targetIP = "192.168.1.1" // A constant for a target IP address
// targetIP = "10.0.0.1" // Compile-time error
print("Target IP: \(targetIP)")

Type Inference and Type Annotation

Swift is a strongly typed language, meaning every variable and constant must have a defined type (e.g., Int, String, Bool). However, Swift also boasts powerful type inference. This means the compiler can often automatically deduce the type of a variable or constant based on the initial value you provide, reducing the need for explicit type declarations and making the code cleaner.

var inferredInt = 10          // Swift infers inferredInt is of type Int
let inferredString = "Swift"  // Swift infers inferredString is of type String
let inferredBool = true       // Swift infers inferredBool is of type Bool

While type inference is convenient, you can also explicitly specify the type using type annotation by placing a colon (:) after the variable/constant name, followed by the type. This is particularly useful when you want to be explicit about the type, or when the initial value doesn’t provide enough information for Swift to infer the desired type (e.g., declaring an empty array of a specific type).

var explicitInt: Int = 42
let explicitDouble: Double = 3.141592
var emptyArray: [String] = [] // Explicit type annotation needed for empty collections
var optionalString: String? // Declaring an Optional String (more on Optionals later)

Fundamental Data Types

Swift provides a rich set of built-in data types to handle various kinds of data:

  • Integers (Int, UInt): Used for whole numbers. Int is the default and typically has the same size as the current platform’s native word size (e.g., 32-bit on a 32-bit system, 64-bit on a 64-bit system). UInt is for unsigned integers (positive numbers only). Swift also provides Int8, Int16, Int32, Int64 (and their UInt counterparts) for specific bit-width requirements, which can be crucial in low-level programming or when dealing with specific data formats in cybersecurity.

    let maxInt = Int.max
let minInt = Int.min
let eightBitValue: Int8 = 127
// let overflow: Int8 = 128 // Compile-time error: Integer literal '128' overflows when stored into 'Int8'

  • Floating-Point Numbers (Double, Float): Used for numbers with fractional components. Double represents a 64-bit floating-point number and is the default. Float represents a 32-bit floating-point number.

    let preciseValue: Double = 0.123456789
let lessPreciseValue: Float = 0.123456789 // May lose precision

  • Booleans (Bool): Represents logical values, either true or false. Essential for control flow and logical operations.

    var isVulnerable = false
if !isVulnerable {
    print("System is secure.")
}

  • Strings (String): Used for sequences of characters. Swift’s String is a powerful, Unicode-compliant type that handles text in a safe and efficient manner.

    let username = "admin"
let password = "password123"
print("Attempting login for: \(username)")

  • Characters (Character): Represents a single character. While strings are collections of characters, you can work with individual characters.

    let firstLetter: Character = "S"

Collection Types

Swift provides three primary collection types for storing collections of values:

  • Arrays (Array<Element> or [Element]): Ordered collections of values of the same type. Elements are accessed via zero-based indices.

    var ipAddresses: [String] = ["192.168.1.1", "192.168.1.10", "192.168.1.254"]
print("First IP: \(ipAddresses[0])") // Output: First IP: 192.168.1.1
ipAddresses.append("192.168.1.50")
print("All IPs: \(ipAddresses)")

  • Dictionaries (Dictionary<Key, Value> or [Key: Value]): Unordered collections of key-value pairs. Each key must be unique and of the same type, and each value must be of the same type. Dictionaries are optimized for quick lookup of values based on their keys.

    var portServices: [Int: String] = [
    22: "SSH",
    80: "HTTP",
    443: "HTTPS"
]
print("Port 80 service: \(portServices[80] ?? "Unknown")") // Output: Port 80 service: HTTP
portServices[3389] = "RDP"
print("Updated services: \(portServices)")

  • Sets (Set<Element>): Unordered collections of unique values of the same type. Sets are useful when the order of items is not important and you need to ensure that each item appears only once.

    var discoveredVulnerabilities: Set<String> = ["SQL Injection", "XSS", "CSRF"]
discoveredVulnerabilities.insert("SQL Injection") // No effect, already present
discoveredVulnerabilities.insert("Buffer Overflow")
print("Vulnerabilities: \(discoveredVulnerabilities.sorted())") // Output: ["Buffer Overflow", "CSRF", "SQL Injection", "XSS"]

Understanding these basic data types and collection types is foundational to writing any Swift program, especially when dealing with structured data common in cybersecurity tasks like parsing logs, managing network configurations, or handling exploit payloads. The choice between var and let is a design decision that impacts the safety and clarity of your code, with let being preferred for its immutability when possible.

Operators

Swift has a variety of operators, including arithmetic, comparison, logical, and bitwise operators. Here are some examples:

Arithmetic Operators

  • Addition: +
  • Subtraction: -
  • Multiplication: *
  • Division: Division: /
  • Remainder (modulo): %

Here’s an example of using arithmetic operators:

let a = 10
let b = 3

let sum = a + b // 13
let difference = a - b // 7
let product = a * b // 30
let quotient = a / b // 3
let remainder = a % b // 1

Comparison Operators

  • Equal to: ==
  • Not equal to: !=
  • Greater than: >
  • Less than: <
  • Greater than or equal to: >=
  • Less than or equal to: <=

Here’s an example of using comparison operators:

let x = 5
let y = 10

let isEqual = x == y // false
let isNotEqual = x != y // true
let isGreater = x > y // false
let isLess = x < y // true
let isGreaterOrEqual = x >= y // false
let isLessOrEqual = x <= y // true

Logical Operators

  • Logical NOT: !
  • Logical AND: &&
  • Logical OR: ||

Here’s an example of using logical operators:

let isLoggedIn = true
let isAdmin = false

let isRegularUser = !isAdmin // true
let hasAccess = isLoggedIn && isAdmin // false
let canViewContent = isLoggedIn || isAdmin // true

Bitwise Operators

  • Bitwise NOT: ~
  • Bitwise AND: &
  • Bitwise OR: |
  • Bitwise XOR: ^
  • Left shift: <<
  • Right shift: >>

Here’s an example of using bitwise operators:

let m = 0b1100 // Binary representation of 12
let n = 0b1010 // Binary representation of 10

let bitwiseNotM = ~m // Binary representation of -13 (in two's complement form)
let bitwiseAnd = m & n // Binary representation of 8 (0b1000)
let bitwiseOr = m | n // Binary representation of 14 (0b1110)
let bitwiseXor = m ^ n // Binary representation of 6 (0b0110)
let leftShift = m << 1 // Binary representation of 24 (0b11000)
let rightShift = m >> 1 // Binary representation of 6 (0b0110)

Control Structures

Swift offers several control structures, including conditionals and loops.

Conditionals

If statement

let temperature = 30

if temperature > 20 {
    print("It's hot!")
} else {
    print("It's not that hot.")
}

Switch statement

let grade = "A"

switch grade {
case "A":
    print("Excellent!")
case "B":
    print("Good!")
case "C":
    print("Fair.")
case "D":
    print("Poor.")
default:
    print("Invalid grade.")
}

Loops

For loop

for i in 1...5 {
    print("Iteration \(i)")
}

While loop

var counter = 0

while counter < 5 {
    print("Counter: \(counter)")
    counter += 1
}

Repeat-while loop (do-while in other languages)

var count = 0

repeat {
    print("Count: \(count)")
    count += 1
} while count < 5

Functions

Functions are an essential building block in Swift, allowing you to group related code and execute it on demand. Functions can have parameters and return values, making them versatile tools for structuring your code.

Here’s an example of a simple function without parameters or a return value:

func greet() {
    print("Hello, fellow hacker!")
}

greet() // Calls the function and prints "Hello, fellow hacker!"

You can also define functions with parameters:

func greet(name: String) {
    print("Hello, \(name)!")
}

greet(name: "Alice") // Calls the function and prints "Hello, Alice!"

Functions can have multiple parameters and return values:

func add(a: Int, b: Int) -> Int {
    return a + b
}

let sum = add(a: 5, b: 3) // Calls the function and returns 8

Advanced Swift Concepts

Beyond the basics, Swift offers a rich set of advanced features that contribute to its power, safety, and expressiveness. Understanding these concepts is key to writing more robust, efficient, and idiomatic Swift code, especially when developing complex tools for cybersecurity.

Optionals: Handling the Absence of a Value

One of Swift’s most distinctive and crucial features is Optionals. Optionals address the problem of nil (or NULL in other languages) values, which are a common source of crashes and bugs. An Optional type indicates that a variable or constant might contain a value, or it might contain no value at all (represented by nil). This forces you to explicitly handle the absence of a value, making your code safer and more readable.

Optionals are declared by placing a question mark (?) after the type:

var optionalString: String? = "Hello"
var optionalInt: Int? = nil

print(optionalString) // Output: Optional("Hello")
print(optionalInt)    // Output: nil

To safely access the value inside an Optional, you use optional binding with if let or guard let:

// Using if let
if let unwrappedString = optionalString {
    print("The string value is: \(unwrappedString)")
} else {
    print("The string is nil.")
}

// Using guard let (common for early exit in functions)
func processOptional(value: String?) {
    guard let unwrappedValue = value else {
        print("Value is nil, exiting function.")
        return
    }
    print("Processing unwrapped value: \(unwrappedValue)")
}

processOptional(value: "Some data")
processOptional(value: nil)

Other ways to handle Optionals include force unwrapping (!), which should be used with extreme caution as it will crash if the Optional is nil, and the nil-coalescing operator (??), which provides a default value if the Optional is nil.

let definitelyPresent: String? = "I am here"
let forcedUnwrapped = definitelyPresent! // Use with caution!

let userProvidedInput: String? = nil
let displayValue = userProvidedInput ?? "(No input provided)"
print(displayValue) // Output: (No input provided)

Error Handling: Robustness in the Face of Failure

Swift’s error handling mechanism allows you to write code that can gracefully respond to and recover from error conditions. Errors are represented by types that conform to the Error protocol. You use throw to indicate that a function, method, or closure encountered an error, and do-catch statements to handle those errors.

enum NetworkError: Error {
    case invalidURL
    case noData
    case serverError(code: Int)
}

func fetchData(from urlString: String) throws -> Data {
    guard let url = URL(string: urlString) else {
        throw NetworkError.invalidURL
    }

    // Simulate network request
    if urlString == "https://bad.example.com" {
        throw NetworkError.serverError(code: 500)
    } else if urlString == "https://empty.example.com" {
        throw NetworkError.noData
    }

    return Data("Simulated data from \(urlString)".utf8)
}

do {
    let data = try fetchData(from: "https://good.example.com")
    print("Successfully fetched data: \(String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)!)")
} catch NetworkError.invalidURL {
    print("Error: The provided URL is invalid.")
} catch NetworkError.noData {
    print("Error: No data was received from the server.")
} catch NetworkError.serverError(let code) {
    print("Error: Server returned an error with code \(code).")
} catch {
    print("An unexpected error occurred: \(error)")
}

// Functions that can throw errors must be marked with 'throws'
// Calls to throwing functions must be prefixed with 'try'
// If you don't handle an error, you can propagate it using 'try?' (returns Optional) or 'try!' (force unwrap)
let optionalData = try? fetchData(from: "https://good.example.com") // optionalData will be Data? or nil
// let crashingData = try! fetchData(from: "https://bad.example.com") // This would crash!

Structs vs. Classes: Value and Reference Types

Swift offers two primary ways to define custom data types: structures (struct) and classes (class). The key difference lies in how they handle values and references.

  • Structs (Value Types): When you assign a struct instance to a new variable or pass it to a function, a copy of that instance is made. Changes to the copy do not affect the original.

    struct NetworkDevice {
    var ipAddress: String
    var hostname: String
    var isOpenPorts: [Int]
}

var device1 = NetworkDevice(ipAddress: "192.168.1.1", hostname: "router", isOpenPorts: [80, 443])
var device2 = device1 // device2 is a copy of device1

device2.ipAddress = "192.168.1.2"
device2.isOpenPorts.append(22)

print("Device 1 IP: \(device1.ipAddress)") // Output: Device 1 IP: 192.168.1.1
print("Device 2 IP: \(device2.ipAddress)") // Output: Device 2 IP: 192.168.1.2
print("Device 1 Open Ports: \(device1.isOpenPorts)") // Output: Device 1 Open Ports: [80, 443]
print("Device 2 Open Ports: \(device2.isOpenPorts)") // Output: Device 2 Open Ports: [80, 443, 22]

    Structs are generally preferred for small data models that encapsulate a few related values, especially when copying behavior is desired. They are also stored on the stack, which can offer performance benefits.

  • Classes (Reference Types): When you assign a class instance to a new variable or pass it to a function, a reference to the original instance is made. Both variables then point to the same instance in memory. Changes made through one variable will affect the other.

    class ExploitModule {
    var name: String
    var version: String
    var targets: [String]

    init(name: String, version: String, targets: [String]) {
        self.name = name
        self.version = version
        self.targets = targets
    }
}

let exploit1 = ExploitModule(name: "EternalBlue", version: "1.0", targets: ["Windows SMB"])
let exploit2 = exploit1 // exploit2 refers to the same instance as exploit1

exploit2.version = "1.1"
exploit2.targets.append("Windows 7")

print("Exploit 1 Version: \(exploit1.version)") // Output: Exploit 1 Version: 1.1
print("Exploit 2 Version: \(exploit2.version)") // Output: Exploit 2 Version: 1.1
print("Exploit 1 Targets: \(exploit1.targets)") // Output: Exploit 1 Targets: ["Windows SMB", "Windows 7"]

    Classes are used when you need shared mutable state, inheritance, or Objective-C interoperability. They are stored on the heap.

Protocols: Defining Blueprints of Functionality

Protocols define a blueprint of methods, properties, and other requirements that a class, struct, or enum can adopt. They are a powerful way to achieve polymorphism and define interfaces in Swift, promoting flexible and extensible code design. In cybersecurity tool development, protocols can be used to define common interfaces for different types of scanners, parsers, or exploit modules.

protocol Scanner {
    var target: String { get set }
    func performScan() throws -> String
}

struct PortScanner: Scanner {
    var target: String
    var ports: ClosedRange<Int>

    func performScan() throws -> String {
        print("Performing port scan on \(target) for ports \(ports.lowerBound)-\(ports.upperBound)...")
        // Simulate scan logic
        if target == "bad.host" {
            throw NetworkError.serverError(code: 404)
        }
        return "Scan results for \(target): Port 22 (SSH) Open, Port 80 (HTTP) Open"
    }
}

struct VulnerabilityScanner: Scanner {
    var target: String
    var vulnerabilityDatabase: [String]

    func performScan() throws -> String {
        print("Performing vulnerability scan on \(target)...")
        // Simulate scan logic
        if vulnerabilityDatabase.isEmpty {
            return "No vulnerabilities found for \(target)."
        }
        return "Vulnerabilities found on \(target): \(vulnerabilityDatabase.joined(separator: ", "))"
    }
}

do {
    let myPortScanner = PortScanner(target: "example.com", ports: 1...100)
    let portScanResult = try myPortScanner.performScan()
    print(portScanResult)

    let myVulnScanner = VulnerabilityScanner(target: "web.app", vulnerabilityDatabase: ["XSS", "SQLi"])
    let vulnScanResult = try myVulnScanner.performScan()
    print(vulnScanResult)
} catch {
    print("Error during scan: \(error)")
}

Extensions: Adding Functionality to Existing Types

Extensions allow you to add new functionality to an existing class, struct, enum, or protocol type, even if you don’t own the original source code. This is incredibly powerful for organizing code, adding utility methods, or conforming existing types to new protocols without modifying their original definition. In cybersecurity, you might use extensions to add hashing functions to String or Data types, or to add network utility methods to IPAddress types.

import Foundation
import CommonCrypto // For SHA256 hashing

extension String {
    func sha256() -> String {
        if let data = self.data(using: .utf8) {
            var hash = [UInt8](repeating: 0, count: Int(CC_SHA256_DIGEST_LENGTH))
            data.withUnsafeBytes { _ = CC_SHA256($0.baseAddress, CC_LONG(data.count), &hash) }
            return hash.map { String(format: "%02x", $0) }.joined()
        }
        return ""
    }

    func base64Encoded() -> String? {
        return self.data(using: .utf8)?.base64EncodedString()
    }

    func base64Decoded() -> String? {
        guard let data = Data(base64Encoded: self) else { return nil }
        return String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)
    }
}

let sensitiveData = "mysecretpassword"
let hashedData = sensitiveData.sha256()
print("SHA256 Hash: \(hashedData)")

let encodedString = "Hello World!".base64Encoded()
print("Base64 Encoded: \(encodedString ?? "")")

let decodedString = encodedString?.base64Decoded()
print("Base64 Decoded: \(decodedString ?? "")")

Concurrency: Performing Tasks Simultaneously

Modern applications, especially network-intensive tools, benefit greatly from concurrency, allowing multiple parts of your code to run independently. Swift provides powerful and safe concurrency features, primarily through async/await and Actors, to manage asynchronous operations and shared mutable state.

import Foundation

// Simulate a network request that takes time
func simulateNetworkRequest(for host: String) async throws -> String {
    print("\(Date()): Starting network request for \(host)...")
    try await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: UInt64.random(in: 1_000_000_000...3_000_000_000)) // Simulate 1-3 seconds delay
    print("\(Date()): Finished network request for \(host).")
    return "Data from \(host)"
}

// Using async/await to perform concurrent tasks
func performConcurrentScans() async {
    print("\nStarting concurrent scans...")
    async let result1 = simulateNetworkRequest(for: "host1.com")
    async let result2 = simulateNetworkRequest(for: "host2.com")
    async let result3 = simulateNetworkRequest(for: "host3.com")

    do {
        let allResults = try await [result1, result2, result3]
        for result in allResults {
            print("Received: \(result)")
        }
    } catch {
        print("Error during concurrent scan: \(error)")
    }
    print("All concurrent scans initiated.")
}

// To run async code in a top-level context (like a script)
// Task { await performConcurrentScans() }

// Example of an Actor for safe shared state (e.g., a log collector)
actor LogCollector {
    private var logs: [String] = []

    func addLog(_ message: String) {
        logs.append("\(Date()): \(message)")
    }

    func retrieveLogs() -> [String] {
        return logs
    }
}

func demonstrateActor() async {
    print("\nDemonstrating Actor for safe state management...")
    let collector = LogCollector()

    await collector.addLog("Scan started.")
    await collector.addLog("Found open port 80.")
    await collector.addLog("Vulnerability detected.")

    let collectedLogs = await collector.retrieveLogs()
    print("Collected Logs:")
    for log in collectedLogs {
        print(log)
    }
}

// To run actor demonstration in a top-level context
// Task { await demonstrateActor() }

// You would typically call these from a main function or an application lifecycle method
// For a simple script, you can wrap them in a Task block at the top level
Task { await performConcurrentScans() }
Task { await demonstrateActor() }

Memory Management: Automatic Reference Counting (ARC)

Swift uses Automatic Reference Counting (ARC) to manage memory automatically. ARC keeps track of strong references to instances of classes, and when the number of strong references to an instance drops to zero, ARC deallocates the memory used by that instance. This largely eliminates the need for manual memory management (like retain/release in Objective-C or malloc/free in C), reducing memory leaks and dangling pointers, which are common vulnerabilities in languages with manual memory management.

While ARC handles most memory management, it’s important to understand strong reference cycles. A strong reference cycle occurs when two or more objects hold strong references to each other, preventing them from being deallocated. Swift provides weak and unowned references to break these cycles.

  • weak references: Do not keep a strong hold on the instance they refer to, and thus do not prevent ARC from deallocating the referenced instance. They are always declared as optional types, because the value of a weak reference can become nil at runtime.
  • unowned references: Also do not keep a strong hold on the instance they refer to. However, unlike weak references, an unowned reference is assumed to always have a value. Therefore, it’s used when you know that the reference will always refer to an instance that has not been deallocated.

Understanding ARC and how to prevent strong reference cycles is crucial for writing stable and secure Swift applications, especially for long-running tools or server-side components where memory leaks can lead to denial-of-service conditions or other stability issues.

These advanced concepts, when mastered, allow you to leverage Swift’s full potential for building sophisticated and reliable cybersecurity tools. They provide the necessary control and safety features to handle complex data structures, asynchronous operations, and memory management effectively, making Swift a powerful contender in the security professional’s toolkit.

Creating and Compiling a Swift Project from the Command Line

In this section, we’ll cover how to create a new Swift project, write a simple “Hello, World!” program, and compile it using the command line.

  1. Install Swift

    Before you can create and compile a Swift project, you’ll need to have Swift installed on your system. You can download the latest version of Swift from the official Swift website. Follow the installation instructions for your platform (macOS, Linux, or Windows).

  2. Create a New Project

    To create a new Swift project, first, create a new directory for your project:

    mkdir MySwiftProject
cd MySwiftProject

    Next, create a new Swift file called main.swift in the project directory:

    touch main.swift

    Open the main.swift file using your favorite text editor, and add the following code:

    print("Hello, World!")

    Save and close the file.

  3. Compile the Swift Project

    To compile the Swift project, run the following command from the project directory:

    swiftc main.swift -o MySwiftProject

    This command will compile the main.swift file into an executable called MySwiftProject. The -o flag specifies the output file name.

  4. Run the Compiled Executable

    To run the compiled executable, enter the following command:

    ./MySwiftProject

    This will execute the compiled MySwiftProject program, and you should see the following output:

    Hello, World!

Congratulations! You’ve successfully created, compiled, and executed a simple Swift project using the command line. Now you can start building more complex Swift applications and tools for your penetration testing and red teaming tasks.

Swift for Pen Testing and Red Teaming

Now that we’ve covered the basics of Swift, let’s explore how we can use this powerful language in the realm of penetration testing and red teaming. Swift’s versatility and ease of use make it an excellent choice for creating custom tools and scripts that aid in our hacking endeavors.

Brute Force Password Cracking

Swift can be used to create a simple brute force password cracker. This type of tool attempts to guess passwords by systematically trying every possible combination of characters within a defined charset and length. While often slow for complex passwords, it’s a fundamental concept in offensive security and demonstrates string manipulation, iteration, and cryptographic hashing in Swift.

The example below uses the CommonCrypto framework (available on Apple platforms) for SHA256 hashing. For cross-platform Swift, you would typically use a third-party library or implement a hashing algorithm yourself.

import Foundation
import CommonCrypto // For SHA256 hashing on Apple platforms

// Extension to Data for SHA256 hashing and hex string conversion
extension Data {
    func sha256() -> Data {
        var hash = [UInt8](repeating: 0, count: Int(CC_SHA256_DIGEST_LENGTH))
        self.withUnsafeBytes { bufferPointer in
            _ = CC_SHA256(bufferPointer.baseAddress, CC_LONG(self.count), &hash)
        }
        return Data(hash)
    }

    var hexString: String {
        return map { String(format: "%02x", $0) }.joined()
    }
}

/// Performs a brute-force attack to crack a SHA256 hash.
/// - Parameters:
///   - targetHash: The SHA256 hash to crack (hex string).
///   - charset: The set of characters to use for generating passwords (e.g., "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789").
///   - maxLength: The maximum length of passwords to attempt.
/// - Returns: The cracked password string if found, otherwise nil.
func bruteForceCrack(targetHash: String, charset: String, maxLength: Int) -> String? {
    // Recursive helper function to generate and test combinations
    func recurse(_ currentAttempt: String) -> String? {
        // Check if the current attempt's hash matches the target hash
        if let hashedAttempt = currentAttempt.data(using: .utf8)?.sha256().hexString, hashedAttempt == targetHash {
            return currentAttempt // Password found!
        }

        // If current attempt length exceeds max or is already too long, stop
        if currentAttempt.count >= maxLength {
            return nil
        }

        // Recursively try appending each character from the charset
        for char in charset {
            if let result = recurse(currentAttempt + String(char)) {
                return result // Propagate the found password up the call stack
            }
        }
        return nil // No password found from this branch
    }

    print("Starting brute-force attack...")
    // Start the recursion with an empty string
    return recurse("")
}

// --- Usage Example ---
let commonCharset = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789"
// SHA256 hash for "password"
let knownHash = "5e884898da28047151d0e56f8dc6292773603d0d6aabbdd62a11ef721d1542d8"

// Attempt to crack a short password (for demonstration purposes)
if let cracked = bruteForceCrack(targetHash: knownHash, charset: commonCharset, maxLength: 8) {
    print("Cracked password: \(cracked)")
} else {
    print("Password not found within the given charset and max length.")
}

// Example of a more complex hash (e.g., for "Pa$w0rd") - cracking this would take a very long time
// let complexHash = "a8b1a9d2e3f4g5h6i7j8k9l0m1n2o3p4q5r6s7t8u9v0w1x2y3z4a5b6c7d8e9f0"
// if let crackedComplex = bruteForceCrack(targetHash: complexHash, charset: commonCharset + "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ!@#$%^&*()", maxLength: 10) {
//     print("Cracked complex password: \(crackedComplex)")
// } else {
//     print("Complex password not found.")
// }

Explanation:

  • Data Extension: We extend Data to add sha256() and hexString properties. sha256() uses CommonCrypto (an Apple framework) to compute the SHA256 hash of the data. hexString converts the resulting hash Data into a human-readable hexadecimal string.
  • bruteForceCrack Function: This is the core logic. It takes the targetHash, charset, and maxLength as input.
  • recurse Nested Function: This recursive function generates all possible password combinations.
    • Base Case: If the currentAttempt’s hash matches the targetHash, the password is found, and the function returns it.
    • Pruning: If the currentAttempt exceeds maxLength, that branch of the search is terminated.
    • Recursive Step: For each character in the charset, it appends the character to the currentAttempt and calls recurse again.
  • Performance Considerations: Brute-forcing is computationally intensive. Even for short passwords, the number of combinations grows exponentially. This example is purely for demonstration; real-world brute-force attacks often leverage specialized hardware (GPUs), precomputed rainbow tables, and highly optimized algorithms.

Port Scanning

Port scanning is a fundamental reconnaissance technique used to identify open ports and services running on a target system. Swift’s Network framework (available on Apple platforms) provides a modern, asynchronous way to establish network connections, making it suitable for building efficient port scanners.

import Foundation
import Network // Requires Network.framework, typically on Apple platforms

/// Scans a range of TCP ports on a given host.
/// - Parameters:
///   - host: The target host (IP address or hostname).
///   - ports: A closed range of ports to scan (e.g., 1...1024).
///   - timeout: The maximum time in seconds to wait for a connection to establish for each port.
///   - completion: A closure that is called when the scan is completed, returning an array of open ports.
func scanPorts(host: String, ports: ClosedRange<Int>, timeout: TimeInterval = 2.0, completion: @escaping ([Int]) -> Void) {
    let dispatchQueue = DispatchQueue(label: "portScannerQueue", attributes: .concurrent)
    let dispatchGroup = DispatchGroup()
    var openPorts = [Int]()
    let lock = NSLock() // To safely append to openPorts from multiple threads

    print("Starting port scan on \(host) for ports \(ports.lowerBound)-\(ports.upperBound)...")

    for port in ports {
        dispatchGroup.enter() // Indicate that a task has started
        dispatchQueue.async {
            let endpoint = NWEndpoint.Host(host)
            let portEndpoint = NWEndpoint.Port(rawValue: UInt16(port))!
            let connection = NWConnection(to: portEndpoint, using: .tcp)

            connection.stateUpdateHandler = { state in
                switch state {
                case .ready:
                    lock.lock()
                    openPorts.append(port)
                    lock.unlock()
                    print("Port \(port) on \(host) is OPEN.")
                    connection.cancel() // Close the connection once port is found open
                    dispatchGroup.leave() // Indicate that this task is finished
                case .failed(let error):
                    // print("Port \(port) on \(host) is CLOSED or filtered. Error: \(error.localizedDescription)")
                    connection.cancel()
                    dispatchGroup.leave()
                case .cancelled:
                    dispatchGroup.leave()
                default:
                    break
                }
            }

            connection.start(queue: dispatchQueue)

            // Set a timeout for the connection attempt
            dispatchQueue.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + timeout) {
                if connection.state != .ready && connection.state != .failed && connection.state != .cancelled {
                    // print("Port \(port) on \(host) timed out.")
                    connection.cancel() // Cancel if it hasn't connected or failed yet
                }
            }
        }
    }

    // Notify when all tasks in the group are complete
    dispatchGroup.notify(queue: .main) {
        let sortedOpenPorts = openPorts.sorted()
        print("\nPort scanning completed for \(host). Found \(sortedOpenPorts.count) open ports: \(sortedOpenPorts)")
        completion(sortedOpenPorts)
    }
}

// --- Usage Example ---
let targetHost = "scanme.nmap.org" // Use a legitimate target for testing, like scanme.nmap.org
let targetPorts: ClosedRange<Int> = 20...100

// Call the scanPorts function
scanPorts(host: targetHost, ports: targetPorts, timeout: 3.0) { foundPorts in
    print("Final list of open ports: \(foundPorts)")
}

// Note: For real-world use, ensure you have permission to scan the target host.
// The Network framework is primarily for client-side connections. For raw socket
// programming or more advanced packet manipulation, you might need to drop down
// to C-level APIs or use third-party libraries.

Explanation:

  • Network Framework: This example leverages Apple’s Network framework, which provides a modern, high-performance API for network communication. It’s asynchronous by design, which is crucial for efficient port scanning (you don’t want to wait for one port to timeout before checking the next).
  • scanPorts Function:
    • Takes host, a ClosedRange<Int> for ports, and an optional timeout.
    • Uses DispatchQueue with a .concurrent attribute to allow multiple connection attempts to run simultaneously, significantly speeding up the scan.
    • DispatchGroup is used to keep track of all individual port scan tasks. enter() is called when a task starts, and leave() when it finishes (either successfully connecting, failing, or timing out).
    • NSLock is used to protect openPorts array from race conditions when multiple concurrent tasks try to append to it.
    • NWConnection: Represents a network connection. We configure it for TCP.
    • stateUpdateHandler: A closure that gets called whenever the connection’s state changes. We look for .ready (connection established, port open) or .failed/.cancelled (port closed or filtered).
    • Timeout: A DispatchQueue.asyncAfter is used to cancel connections that take too long, preventing the scanner from hanging on unresponsive ports.
    • dispatchGroup.notify: This closure is executed only after all enter() calls have been matched by leave() calls, ensuring the completion handler is called only when the entire scan is truly finished.
  • Usage: The example demonstrates scanning ports 20-100 on scanme.nmap.org, a host provided by Nmap specifically for testing purposes.
  • Limitations: While Network.framework is powerful, for very low-level packet manipulation (e.g., crafting custom SYN packets for stealth scans), you might need to integrate with C libraries or use specialized third-party Swift packages that wrap such functionalities.

File System Interaction: Searching for Sensitive Files

In penetration testing, identifying sensitive files (e.g., configuration files, log files, private keys) is a common objective. Swift can interact with the file system to search for files based on names, extensions, or even content. Here, we’ll demonstrate a basic recursive file search.

import Foundation

/// Searches for files with a specific extension within a directory and its subdirectories.
/// - Parameters:
///   - directoryURL: The URL of the directory to start the search from.
///   - fileExtension: The file extension to search for (e.g., "log", "conf", "key").
/// - Returns: An array of URLs pointing to the found files.
func findFiles(in directoryURL: URL, withExtension fileExtension: String) -> [URL] {
    let fileManager = FileManager.default
    var foundFiles: [URL] = []

    guard let enumerator = fileManager.enumerator(at: directoryURL,
                                                  includingPropertiesForKeys: [.isRegularFileKey],
                                                  options: [.skipsHiddenFiles, .skipsPackageDescendants]) else {
        print("Error: Could not create enumerator for directory: \(directoryURL.path)")
        return []
    }

    print("Searching for *.\(fileExtension) files in \(directoryURL.path) and its subdirectories...")

    for case let fileURL as URL in enumerator {
        do {
            let fileAttributes = try fileURL.resourceValues(forKeys: [.isRegularFileKey])
            if fileAttributes.isRegularFile == true && fileURL.pathExtension == fileExtension {
                foundFiles.append(fileURL)
            }
        } catch {
            print("Error accessing file attributes for \(fileURL.path): \(error.localizedDescription)")
        }
    }
    return foundFiles
}

// --- Usage Example ---
// IMPORTANT: Replace with a path you have permission to access and want to scan.
// For security reasons, avoid scanning sensitive system directories without explicit understanding.
let startDirectory = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/Users/youruser/Documents") // Example: Your Documents folder
let sensitiveExtension = "log"

let sensitiveFiles = findFiles(in: startDirectory, withExtension: sensitiveExtension)

if sensitiveFiles.isEmpty {
    print("No .\(sensitiveExtension) files found in \(startDirectory.path).")
} else {
    print("\nFound the following .\(sensitiveExtension) files:")
    for file in sensitiveFiles {
        print("- \(file.lastPathComponent) (\(file.path))")
    }
}

// Example: Searching for SSH private keys
let sshKeyDirectory = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/Users/youruser/.ssh") // Example: Your SSH directory
let keyFiles = findFiles(in: sshKeyDirectory, withExtension: "key")

if !keyFiles.isEmpty {
    print("\nPotentially sensitive key files found:")
    for keyFile in keyFiles {
        print("- \(keyFile.lastPathComponent) (\(keyFile.path))")
    }
}

Explanation:

  • FileManager.default: Swift’s primary class for interacting with the file system.
  • enumerator(at:includingPropertiesForKeys:options:): This method provides a convenient way to traverse a directory and its subdirectories. We specify isRegularFileKey to only consider regular files and skipsHiddenFiles, skipsPackageDescendants to avoid unnecessary traversal.
  • fileURL.pathExtension: Used to check the file’s extension.
  • Error Handling: The do-catch block handles potential errors during file attribute access.
  • Security Note: When using such tools, always be mindful of the directories you are scanning and the permissions you have. Scanning system-critical directories without proper authorization can lead to unintended consequences or security risks.

Network Packet Analysis (Basic Sniffing)

While full-fledged packet sniffing often requires low-level access and specialized libraries (like libpcap or Nmap’s underlying packet capture mechanisms), Swift can be used to build basic network monitoring tools, especially on macOS/iOS where the Network framework provides some capabilities for observing network traffic. For true raw packet sniffing, you would typically bridge to C libraries.

Here’s a conceptual example using NWListener to accept incoming TCP connections, which can be a component of a simple network analysis tool or a honeypot. This isn’t a “sniffer” in the traditional sense (observing all traffic on an interface) but demonstrates handling network data.

import Foundation
import Network

/// A simple TCP listener that echoes received data.
class TCPEchoListener {
    private let port: NWEndpoint.Port
    private var listener: NWListener?

    init(port: UInt16) {
        self.port = NWEndpoint.Port(rawValue: port)!
    }

    func start() throws {
        listener = try NWListener(using: .tcp, on: port)
        listener?.stateUpdateHandler = { state in
            switch state {
            case .ready:
                print("Listener ready on port \(self.port)")
            case .failed(let error):
                print("Listener failed with error: \(error)")
                self.stop()
            case .cancelled:
                print("Listener cancelled.")
            default:
                break
            }
        }

        listener?.newConnectionHandler = { newConnection in
            print("New connection established from \(String(describing: newConnection.endpoint))")
            self.handleConnection(newConnection)
        }

        listener?.start(queue: .main)
    }

    func stop() {
        listener?.cancel()
        listener = nil
        print("Listener stopped.")
    }

    private func handleConnection(_ connection: NWConnection) {
        connection.stateUpdateHandler = { state in
            switch state {
            case .ready:
                print("Connection ready: \(connection.debugDescription)")
                self.receive(on: connection)
            case .failed(let error):
                print("Connection failed: \(error)")
                connection.cancel()
            case .cancelled:
                print("Connection cancelled: \(connection.debugDescription)")
            default:
                break
            }
        }
        connection.start(queue: .main)
    }

    private func receive(on connection: NWConnection) {
        connection.receiveMessage { (content, context, isComplete, error) in
            if let content = content, !content.isEmpty {
                let receivedString = String(data: content, encoding: .utf8) ?? "Undecodable data"
                print("Received from \(connection.endpoint): \(receivedString)")
                // Echo back the received data
                connection.send(content: content, completion: .contentProcessed({ sendError in
                    if let sendError = sendError {
                        print("Send error: \(sendError)")
                    }
                }))
            }
            if let error = error {
                print("Receive error: \(error)")
                connection.cancel()
            } else if isComplete {
                print("Connection complete from \(connection.endpoint)")
                connection.cancel()
            } else {
                self.receive(on: connection) // Continue receiving
            }
        }
    }
}

// --- Usage Example ---
// For demonstration, you can test this by connecting to localhost:8080
// using `netcat` or a web browser after running the Swift script.
// Example netcat command: echo "Hello from netcat" | nc localhost 8080

let echoListener = TCPEchoListener(port: 8080)

do {
    try echoListener.start()
    print("TCP Echo Listener started on port 8080. Press Enter to stop.")
    _ = readLine() // Keep the program running until Enter is pressed
    echoListener.stop()
} catch {
    print("Failed to start listener: \(error)")
}

Explanation:

  • NWListener: Creates a listener for incoming network connections.
  • stateUpdateHandler: Monitors the listener’s state (ready, failed, cancelled).
  • newConnectionHandler: Called when a new client connects. It then calls handleConnection for the new connection.
  • handleConnection: Sets up a stateUpdateHandler for the individual connection and starts it.
  • receive: Recursively calls itself to continuously receive messages from the connection. It prints the received data and echoes it back.
  • Limitations: This example is a basic echo server. True packet sniffing involves capturing raw packets from a network interface, which is a more privileged operation and typically requires lower-level C APIs (like pcap) that are not directly exposed by Swift’s Network framework. For such advanced tasks, you would likely need to wrap C libraries using Swift’s C interoperability features or use existing Swift packages that provide such wrappers.

Interacting with APIs: OSINT Example

Swift can be used to interact with web APIs, which is a common task in Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering. This example demonstrates how to make a simple HTTP GET request to a public API (e.g., a dummy API for demonstration) and parse the JSON response.

import Foundation

/// Fetches data from a given URL and attempts to parse it as JSON.
/// - Parameters:
///   - urlString: The URL string of the API endpoint.
///   - completion: A closure that is called with the result: a Dictionary if JSON parsing is successful, or an Error.
func fetchDataFromAPI(urlString: String, completion: @escaping (Result<[String: Any], Error>) -> Void) {
    guard let url = URL(string: urlString) else {
        completion(.failure(APIError.invalidURL))
        return
    }

    let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { data, response, error in
        if let error = error {
            completion(.failure(error))
            return
        }

        guard let httpResponse = response as? HTTPURLResponse, (200...299).contains(httpResponse.statusCode) else {
            completion(.failure(APIError.invalidResponse(statusCode: (response as? HTTPURLResponse)?.statusCode ?? -1)))
            return
        }

        guard let data = data else {
            completion(.failure(APIError.noData))
            return
        }

        do {
            if let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: []) as? [String: Any] {
                completion(.success(json))
            } else {
                completion(.failure(APIError.jsonParsingFailed))
            }
        } catch {
            completion(.failure(error))
        }
    }
    task.resume()
}

enum APIError: Error, LocalizedError {
    case invalidURL
    case invalidResponse(statusCode: Int)
    case noData
    case jsonParsingFailed

    var errorDescription: String? {
        switch self {
        case .invalidURL:
            return "The provided URL is invalid."
        case .invalidResponse(let statusCode):
            return "Invalid HTTP response with status code: \(statusCode)."
        case .noData:
            return "No data received from the API."
        case .jsonParsingFailed:
            return "Failed to parse JSON response."
        }
    }
}

// --- Usage Example ---
// Using a public dummy API for demonstration
let dummyAPIURL = "https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/todos/1"

fetchDataFromAPI(urlString: dummyAPIURL) { result in
    switch result {
    case .success(let json):
        print("API Response (JSON):")
        for (key, value) in json {
            print("- \(key): \(value)")
        }
    case .failure(let error):
        print("Error fetching data: \(error.localizedDescription)")
    }
}

// Example with a bad URL
let badAPIURL = "https://this.is.not.a.real.api.com/data"
fetchDataFromAPI(urlString: badAPIURL) { result in
    switch result {
    case .success(let json):
        print("API Response (JSON):")
        for (key, value) in json {
            print("- \(key): \(value)")
        }
    case .failure(let error):
        print("Error fetching data from bad URL: \(error.localizedDescription)")
    }
}

Explanation:

  • URLSession: Swift’s primary API for making network requests. URLSession.shared provides a default shared session.
  • dataTask(with:completionHandler:): Creates a task that retrieves the contents of a URL and calls a handler upon completion.
  • Result<Success, Failure>: Swift’s way of representing either a success value or a failure error. This is a modern and safe way to handle outcomes of operations that can fail.
  • JSONSerialization: Used to parse JSON data into Swift objects (like Dictionary or Array).
  • APIError Enum: A custom error type defined using an enum that conforms to the Error and LocalizedError protocols, providing more descriptive error messages.
  • OSINT Application: This pattern can be extended to interact with various OSINT APIs (e.g., Shodan, VirusTotal, social media APIs with proper authentication) to gather information during reconnaissance phases.

Basic Payload Encoding/Decoding

In red teaming, encoding and decoding payloads is a frequent requirement to bypass simple signature-based detections or to prepare data for specific protocols. Swift’s Data type and String conversions make this straightforward.

import Foundation

/// Encodes a string to Base64.
/// - Parameter input: The string to encode.
/// - Returns: The Base64 encoded string, or nil if encoding fails.
func base64Encode(input: String) -> String? {
    guard let data = input.data(using: .utf8) else { return nil }
    return data.base64EncodedString()
}

/// Decodes a Base64 string.
/// - Parameter input: The Base64 string to decode.
/// - Returns: The decoded string, or nil if decoding fails.
func base64Decode(input: String) -> String? {
    guard let data = Data(base64Encoded: input) else { return nil }
    return String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)
}

/// Converts a string to its hexadecimal representation.
/// - Parameter input: The string to convert.
/// - Returns: The hexadecimal string.
func hexEncode(input: String) -> String {
    return input.data(using: .utf8)?.map { String(format: "%02x", $0) }.joined() ?? ""
}

/// Converts a hexadecimal string back to a regular string.
/// - Parameter input: The hexadecimal string.
/// - Returns: The decoded string, or nil if decoding fails.
func hexDecode(input: String) -> String? {
    var data = Data(capacity: input.count / 2)
    var index = input.startIndex
    while index < input.endIndex {
        let nextIndex = input.index(index, offsetBy: 2)
        if let byte = UInt8(input[index..<nextIndex], radix: 16) {
            data.append(byte)
        } else {
            return nil // Invalid hex character
        }
        index = nextIndex
    }
    return String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)
}

// --- Usage Example ---
let originalPayload = "shellcode_payload_here"

// Base64 Encoding/Decoding
if let encodedBase64 = base64Encode(input: originalPayload) {
    print("Original: \(originalPayload)")
    print("Base64 Encoded: \(encodedBase64)")
    if let decodedBase64 = base64Decode(input: encodedBase64) {
        print("Base64 Decoded: \(decodedBase64)")
    }
}

print("---")

// Hex Encoding/Decoding
let encodedHex = hexEncode(input: originalPayload)
print("Original: \(originalPayload)")
print("Hex Encoded: \(encodedHex)")
if let decodedHex = hexDecode(input: encodedHex) {
    print("Hex Decoded: \(decodedHex)")
}

// Example of URL Encoding/Decoding (built-in to Foundation)
let originalURLComponent = "param with spaces & special chars"
if let urlEncoded = originalURLComponent.addingPercentEncoding(withAllowedCharacters: .urlQueryAllowed) {
    print("\nURL Encoded: \(urlEncoded)")
    if let urlDecoded = urlEncoded.removingPercentEncoding {
        print("URL Decoded: \(urlDecoded)")
    }
}

Explanation:

  • Data and String Conversions: Swift’s String and Data types provide convenient initializers and methods for converting between different encodings, including UTF8 and Base64.
  • Base64: base64EncodedString() and Data(base64Encoded:) are built-in methods for Base64 operations.
  • Hexadecimal: Custom functions hexEncode and hexDecode are provided to convert strings to and from hexadecimal representations. This involves iterating through the string’s UTF8 bytes and formatting them as two-digit hex values.
  • URL Encoding: Swift’s String also has built-in methods for URL percent-encoding, crucial for crafting safe URLs for web requests.
  • Application: These functions are essential for preparing payloads for network transmission, obfuscating strings in executables, or decoding received data during red team operations.

These expanded examples provide a more comprehensive view of how Swift can be applied in cybersecurity, moving beyond simple concepts to more practical and relevant scenarios. They also demonstrate the use of Swift’s standard library and common patterns for handling data and network operations.

Pros and Cons of Swift for Pen Testers and Red Teamers

Now that we’ve seen some examples of how Swift can be used in penetration testing and red teaming, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using Swift in this context.

Pros

  1. Modern syntax: Swift’s clean and modern syntax makes it easy to learn and write code quickly.
  2. Strongly typed and safe: Swift’s strong typing and safety features help prevent common bugs and security vulnerabilities.
  3. Cross-platform: Swift is supported on macOS, Linux, and even Windows (via the Swift for TensorFlow project), making it a versatile choice for developing custom tools and scripts.
  4. Excellent performance: Swift is designed to provide excellent performance, which can be beneficial when writing resource-intensive tools.
  5. Large and active community: Swift has a large and active community, making it easy to find help, libraries, and resources.

Cons

  1. Not as widely used in cybersecurity: While Swift is growing in popularity, it’s not as widely used in the cybersecurity community as languages like Python, which means there may be fewer existing tools and resources available.
  2. Limited support on older systems: Since Swift is a relatively new language, support for older systems may be limited, which can be a concern when targeting legacy systems during a penetration test or red team engagement.
  3. Larger binary size: Swift executables tend to be larger in size compared to those produced by other languages like C or Rust. This may be a concern when deploying tools with size constraints, such as when embedding a payload in an exploit.
  4. Learning curve: While Swift is designed to be easy to learn, there can still be a learning curve if you are not already familiar with the language or its concepts. This may slow down your initial productivity when developing tools or scripts.
  5. Dependency on Apple platforms: Although Swift is open source and can be used on non-Apple platforms, its development and tooling are primarily driven by Apple. This may cause some concerns for those who prefer to work with more vendor-neutral technologies.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve covered the basics of the Swift programming language, its syntax, and essential concepts such as variables, data types, operators, control structures, and functions. We’ve also explored how Swift can be used in the context of penetration testing and red teaming, including examples of a brute force password cracker, a port scanner, and a simple HTTP server.

While Swift has some drawbacks, such as not being as widely used in the cybersecurity community and limited support on older systems, it offers many benefits, such as a modern and clean syntax, strong typing and safety features, cross-platform support, excellent performance, and a large and active community.

Overall, Swift is an exciting language that has the potential to become a valuable tool in the arsenal of penetration testers and red teamers. By understanding the basics of the language and exploring its use cases in cybersecurity, you can leverage Swift to develop powerful custom tools and scripts that will aid you in your hacking endeavors.

Happy hacking!