> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://riteshs4hu.gitbook.io/infosec-notes/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://riteshs4hu.gitbook.io/infosec-notes/internal-and-external-network-sec/pivoting-port-forwarding.md).

# Pivoting - Port Forwarding

**Pivoting** is a post-exploitation technique used to route traffic through a compromised host in order to access systems within an internal network that would otherwise be inaccessible. This approach is commonly used during lateral movement in internal penetration testing or red team operations.

This is typically achieved using **port forwarding** or **network tunneling**, allowing the attacker to forward traffic to or from internal systems by leveraging the compromised machine as a relay point.

### Common Techniques