What is Keystroke Injection USB (or Cable)?

Keystroke Injection USB is a hardware-based cyberattack that uses a malicious USB device to emulate a keyboard and automatically execute pre-programmed keystrokes on a target machine.

Expanded Explanation

Keystroke Injection via USB involves plugging in a device—such as a Rubber Ducky, MalDuino, or similar rogue tool—that mimics a legitimate keyboard to a computer. Because operating systems typically trust human interface devices (HID), these attacks can bypass many traditional security mechanisms. Once connected, the device rapidly types out a sequence of commands, such as opening a terminal, downloading a payload, or exfiltrating data to an attacker’s server. These attacks can happen in seconds and require no software installation, making them effective against unsuspecting users or poorly monitored endpoints. Ethical hackers use these tools in red team engagements to test how well organizations detect and respond to physical security threats.

Related Terms

HID spoofing, BadUSB, Rubber Ducky, physical access attacks, and endpoint security testing

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If you’re interested in Keystroke Injection USBs (or Cables), we recommend: Learn Social Engineering From Scratch Course

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