In Part 1, I described the philosophy behind building SHENRON: the need for persistence tooling that adapts, mutates, and survives real world response not just lab conditions. In this post, I’m sharing how that vision is realized at the code and architecture level.
Modular by Design
SHENRON’s core strength is modularity. Instead of a single monolithic payload or a static implant, it’s a framework made of loosely coupled components—each responsible for a different phase of persistence, stealth, or automation.
Persistence Layer:
Multiple persistence mechanisms (cron jobs, systemd units, custom boot scripts), all randomized and rotated per deployment.
Payload Chaining:
Each payload is self contained and wrapped with its own stealth/anti forensics logic. Payloads can be chained, replaced, or respawned automatically if tampered with.
Mutation Engine:
Every execution can modify file paths, hashes, script logic, and timing. This keeps each deployment unpredictable and harder to signature.
Decoy & Noise:
The framework plants decoys fake jobs, logs, or harmless binaries to force defenders to spend time and resources on red herrings.
Orchestrator (TUI):
The Terminal UI dashboard ties everything together, enabling management, monitoring, and chaining of modules from a shell on any system (Linux, Termux, embedded).
Layered Interaction & Self-Healing
SHENRON modules are designed to watch each other’s backs. If a persistence mechanism is removed, another layer can re-establish access. Modules check for tampering, trigger mutation routines, and re-seed their own artifacts if needed.
Example Workflow:
Initial Drop: Multiple persistence hooks and decoys are deployed in randomized order.
Integrity Checks: Modules regularly verify their own presence and operational status.
Mutation & Respawn: On detection or removal, the framework can mutate itself, create new persistence artifacts, or respawn from decoys/backups.
Decoy Waste: Even burned modules are left as noise, buying time and obscuring real activity.
Automated Backup: Payloads and configs are periodically backed up to hidden or external locations (USB, encrypted bundles, QR).
Design Tradeoffs & Real World Lessons
Complexity vs. Resilience: More modules mean more moving parts, but the resilience against real IR teams is orders of magnitude higher.
Noise as Cover: Deliberate decoy generation is more effective than pure stealth wasting blue team time is as important as hiding.
Mutation Isn’t Magic: It’s another barrier, not a silver bullet. The goal is always to buy more time and outlive the first, second, and third round of cleanup.
Why Not Use Off the Shelf Solutions?
In real world red teaming, the average open-source persistence kit is either too rigid or too noisy. SHENRON’s modular, adaptive approach evolved after seeing advanced implants get wiped by simple, creative defenders using basic tools.
A single static artifact is all it takes to lose an op.
Resilience means surviving across boots, sweeps, and mistakes even your own.
The Evolutionary Nature of Adversarial Payloads
True persistence isn’t a static implant. Real adversaries adapt, refactor, and evolve faster than defenders can catalog indicators. That’s why SHENRON’s “shape shifting” isn’t a gimmick it’s the next step in payload survival.
In most environments, defenders think in terms of artifacts: hashes, IOC lists, or known file paths. But a living payload mutates those details out of existence. Every cycle, SHENRON spawns a slightly different self, tuning its behavior to host changes, user activity, and blue team sweeps.
The shape-shifter isn’t just hard to catch it’s hard to even define.
Technical Spotlight: Multi Layer Persistence and the “Seedbank” Principle
SHENRON doesn’t rely on a single foothold or persistence trick. Instead, it deploys multiple, redundant modules that watch each other’s backs.
Example:
Quantum Entropy Distorter: Morphs its own code structure and storage location with each execution.
Self Sealing Nano Sandbox: Periodically audits the host for missing or corrupted payloads and silently redeploys pristine, mutated backups from the local seedbank.
Recursive Payload Seedbank: Spreads copies of key persistence modules into obscure corners dot directories, log rotations, user cache, even within benign app data so that if one layer is burned, others will quietly recover it.
This layered approach creates an ecosystem: SHENRON’s payloads cooperate, re-seed, and self heal.
If you’re a defender, you’re not fighting one adversary you’re fighting a swarm.
Shape-Shifter in Practice: Timeline of a Real Intrusion
Let’s say blue team lands a lucky hit and wipes SHENRON’s primary beacon. Here’s what happens next:
1.Nano Sandbox notices the absence within minutes and triggers seedbank recovery.
2.Quantum Distorter rebuilds itself, changing its structure and logs for plausible deniability.
- Any attempt to “clean” one payload triggers decoy jobs and fresh rounds of mutated implants across new directories.
By the time IR thinks they’ve “cleared” the host, the shape shifter is already back in business morphed, redeployed, and logging every move.
Adversarial Philosophy: Why I Built It This Way
I got tired of seeing red team tools get caught in under a week because they relied on one trick or a single static path.
Adversaries in the wild aren’t running the same script twice. The best ones treat every host as a living organism testing, mutating, adapting, and leaving as little static trace as possible.
SHENRON is my answer to that reality. It’s a living, breathing organism built to survive even the most determined digital predator hunt.
Operational Guidance: How to Actually Use This (Responsibly)
Let’s be clear: this is research and training code—meant for learning, simulation, and red team defense.
I recommend deploying SHENRON modules in isolated test labs, capture the flag events, or blue team training environments.
Try to burn it, then trace what you missed guaranteed you’ll spot a persistence path you overlooked.
Threat Model Table
| Blue Team Control | SHENRON Response |
|---|---|
| File Hashing/IOC | Code and filename mutation, hashless |
| EDR Process Detection | Morphs names, shifts execution paths |
| Cron/Scheduled Task | Phantom decoys, randomized intervals |
| Disk Forensics | Recursive, encrypted, hidden seedbank |
| User Behavioral Analysis | Decoys mimic normal user activity |
What’s Next
In the next post, I’ll go deeper into SHENRON’s mutation engine and anti forensics logic how it self modifies, adds confusion, and survives in hostile environments.
If you’re building or defending against similar frameworks, or want to discuss modular persistence in depth, drop a comment or DM. Always open to feedback and new perspectives.