Cobalt Strike Research Labs is a unique component of the Cobalt Strike platform, standing as a distinct offering that delivers cutting-edge offensive security tooling to red teams.
It combines the expertise of the teams behind both Cobalt Strike and Outflank Security Tooling to close the gap between emerging offensive research and the tools red teams actually deploy by putting new tradecraft into operators’ hands faster, with tighter integration into workflows they already use.
Cobalt Strike Research Labs (CS:RL) gives red teamers ready to use cutting edge tooling and experimental features built for Cobalt Strike to further enhance their engagements.
Cobalt Strike Research Labs: Creations
CS:RL provides red teams with access to next generation tools and knowledge that challenge the limits of offensive security operations. Sample projects include:
User-Defined Reflective Loaders (UDRLs)
UDRLs focused on advanced evasion techniques, with custom loading strategies and implementing obfuscation and masking to avoid static signatures.
Sleep Masks
Advanced obfuscation techniques to ensure that Beacon’s in-memory footprint is masked whilst it is sleeping/waiting for tasks.
Process Injection Techniques
New process injection techniques to support post-exploitation activities.
User-Defined Command & Control Channels (UDC2)
Enable C2 traffic to seamlessly blend with legitimate tools and communication patterns already present within the target environment.
OpSec Checks in Beacon Booster
By uploading the raw shellcode, our Beacon Booster can apply a User defined Reflective Loader and check for your Beacon configuration. As part of this we include a public profile checker run to warn in case publicly available profiles are being used, as they pose a higher detection risk.
Experimental Tradecraft
Cutting-edge tools under active development designed to support a broad range of use cases, including:
Knowledge Base and Training
Beyond tools and techniques, CS:RL provides resources to ensure red teams can effectively leverage these advanced capabilities.
Knowledge Base
A wiki-style repository documenting CS:RL tools, implementation guidance, and use cases to accelerate adoption and maximize operational effectiveness.
Specialized Training Resources
Educational materials and that help red team operators understand the underlying concepts and tactical applications of CS:RL tooling.
Watch a Demo
Watch a technical demo of Cobalt Strike Research labs to learn more about the philosophy behind CSRL and how it will fit into Cobalt Strike and Outflank arsenals.
Access and Community
Research Labs content is delivered through a streamlined, centralized platform designed for ease of access and collaboration:
Unified Portal Access
All Research Labs tools, documentation, and resources are hosted on the Cobalt Strike and OST portal, providing a single location for downloading the latest releases.
Slack Community
Research Labs subscribers gain access to a private Slack workspace where uses can collaborate, share insights, and provide feedback to the Cobalt Strike team and fellow practitioners.
Access to Cobalt Strike Research Labs
Access to CS:RL is exclusively available to users with the Red Team Suite or the Offensive Security Suite.
Cobalt Strike Users
Those without the suites will still benefit from CS:RL. The core product roadmap, release cadence, and philosophy of Cobalt Strike remains focused on deep operator customization, full offline capability, and advancing the security conversation.
CS:RL adds a dedicated space for the Cobalt Strike team to test new ideas, gather operator feedback, and validate experimental features in real-world conditions. The features that prove themselves through CS:RL may graduate into the core product once they have reached the right level of maturity.
This means that every Cobalt Strike user ultimately gains a stronger tool thanks to a more battle-tested pipeline of innovation feeding the platform.
Outflank Security Tooling (OST) Users
While the OST roadmap continues on its own path, the Cobalt Strike team is now actively building on the underlying platform provided by OST, increasing development resources and research investment. The increased collaboration enables more powerful, tightly integrated capabilities to be developed faster, with a feedback loop that benefits both products.
Want to Gain Entrance to Cobalt Strike Research Labs?
Access is exclusive to the Red Team Suite and Offensive Security Suite. Learn more about these offerings and the advanced research capabilities they provide.