File transfers

When it applies

You have a shell and need to stage a tool onto the target, or pull data/loot back to your box, and there's no shared filesystem. Pick the method by what the target has (Linux vs Windows, which binaries exist) and whether you're reaching it directly or through a pivot. $LHOST is your box.

Why it works

Almost every host can speak HTTP, SMB, or raw TCP with something already installed — a language runtime, certutil, bitsadmin, nc, or /dev/tcp. You host the file on your side and pull it with whatever the target has; for exfil you reverse the direction. Base64 copy-paste works even with no network path at all.