Fix Python 3.13 compatibility (crypt removal & deprecated import logic) — now in the actively-maintained pwncat-vl fork

[Chocapikk]

Note

Upstream pwncat is unmaintained, so I maintain an actively-developed fork: pwncat-vl — full Python 3.13 / 3.14 support, plus many more fixes and features.

This PR started as an early Python 3.13 compatibility patch. The implementation has changed substantially since, so the fork is the source of truth, not this diff. Install it directly:

pipx install git+https://github.com/Chocapikk/pwncat-vl

Issues and PRs are welcome on the fork.

[Yakui420]

Are you also getting an error when trying to get a shell from a windows target?

I get this:

[12:05:36] received connection from 10.10.100.15:49331         
[12:06:06] connection failed: channel receive timed out: b"Invoke-Expression : The
           term 'stty' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script
           file, or operable \r\nprogram. Check the spelling of the name, or if a
           path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.\r\nAt
           line:1 char:501\r\n+ ... BytesRead - 1);$Output = try {Invoke-Expression
           $Command 2>&1 | Out-S ...\r\n+
           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\r\n    + CategoryInfo          :
           ObjectNotFound: (stty:String) [Invoke-Expression],
           CommandNotFoundException\r\n    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoun
           dException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.InvokeExpressionCommand\r\n
           \r\n"
(local) pwncat$

[Chocapikk]

Hey @Yakui420 , I haven't looked or tested it on Windows environments. But I just think that this payload is not compatible with the env. It says that a command cannot be found, I think it's "stty" here, you will have to add an alternative payload for the interactive shell.