How to Convert Python Script to Exe

There are a lot of great tutorials on Null Byte using Python to create backdoors, reverse shells etc, so I thought it might be worthwhile making a tutorial on how to convert these python scripts to exe files for Windows victim machines.

This has a number of benefits:

1) The victim doesn't have to have python installed to be able to run your program

2) The victim cannot read the source code (though of course they could disassemble the exe that's probably not the type of person you're targeting ;) )

3) The exe will bundle third party python modules when it's compiled, meaning they don't have to be setup on the victim's system

Step 1: Download and Install Py2Exe for Windows

http://sourceforge.net/projects/py2exe/files/py2exe/0.6.9/Py2Exe

Unfortunately it's only available for windows :(

Step 2: Create the Python Program You Want to Compile

I called mine myScript.py

Step 3: Create setup.py

This is the python script that py2exe uses to create your exe. I think it's fairly self-explanatory.

Make sure you save it in the same directory as the file you want to compile.

Note, if you are using any third party python modules, you must specify them in this file.

For example, if myScript.py made use of the pandas module, I would specify it here like so:

Step 4: Compile!

Now go to your command prompt and compile your program, by running the following:

python setup.py py2exe

Step 5: Test Out Your Exe

Py2Exe will have created two folders: build and dist.

The dist folder contains your exe, and it's safe to delete the build folder.

Step 6: Happy Compiling!

Not a very exciting tutorial, but one that you'll hopefully find useful :)

Image credits: interskill.com.au