Identifier / Programs / Linux and Unix
zcat
Compress/uncompress files with gzip compression (LZ77). tldr-pages
GTFOBins file-read 1 documented command
How zcat is abused
file-read
-fForce: allow read from tty toyboxEach abuse is GTFOBins's category and the options and words it uses; the full write-up is on GTFOBins's page for zcat.
1 documented command
file-read unprivileged, with sudo
zcat -f /path/to/input-fileThe command the identifier reads trips no Sigma process-creation rule. This command is from GTFOBins, at commit acd524623f9c of 2026-05-27, under the GPL-3.0, with no warranty. Changed: Markdown is shown formatted. The source is in lolbas-gtfobins-commands.json.gz, and the full entry is on GTFOBins’s page for zcat. The identifier reads the line that runs zcat.
Everyday use
Compress a file, replacing it with a gzip archive
gzip path/to/fileIdentifyDecompress a file, replacing it with the original uncompressed version
gzip --decompress path/to/file.gzIdentifyDisplay the name and reduction percentage for each file compressed
gzip --verbose path/to/file.gzIdentifyNone of the 3 examples the identifier reads matches GTFOBins abuse or trips a Sigma process-creation rule.
Options
Show every option of zcat
-fForce: allow read from tty