Phishing Simulation Redirect and Tracking Logger - n8n Workflow

Security professionals and Red Team operators needing automated tracking of simulation artifacts.
Automation specialists looking for advanced n8n templates for custom logging.
Users who require a verifiable record of simulated link interactions.
Anyone utilizing n8n to integrate Google Sheets into operational security tasks.

Effective security simulations require accurate tracking of user interactions, such as link clicks. This powerful n8n workflow automates the process of generating a simulated phishing link, performing a simulated 'click' (redirect hit), and immediately logging the transaction details to a structured Google Sheet. This allows Red Teams to maintain comprehensive audit trails and analyze simulation effectiveness. By using this n8n template, users gain a repeatable, transparent method for testing complex redirect logic and ensuring all simulation activities are recorded. This particular n8n workflow starts with a manual n8n trigger, giving the operator full control over when the simulation phase begins.

This specialized n8n workflow operates in a linear fashion, designed for controlled execution and precise logging:

1. Manual Start: The automation begins with the '⚡ Trigger RedirectCloak' n8n trigger, which initiates the entire security sequence on demand.


2. Configuration Retrieval: The first Google Sheets n8n node fetches necessary configuration data (e.g., target URLs, campaign IDs, or user lists) required for the simulation.


3. Link Generation: The '🔗 Generate Redirect Link' n8n node uses the data retrieved to construct the simulated, trackable redirect URL. This customizes the data passed through the n8n workflow items.


4. Simulation Execution: The '🛰️ Simulate Redirect Hit' n8n node simulates the actual action of a target clicking the generated link. In a real-world scenario, this might involve capturing IP address, user agent, or timestamp data. This is a crucial step in the n8n workflow to replicate interaction.


5. Logging Results: Finally, the '📄 Append Redirect Logs' Google Sheets n8n node takes the results (including tracking data and timestamps from the simulated hit) and appends this information as a new row in a designated log spreadsheet. This ensures a persistent record for post-simulation analysis.

To deploy this custom n8n workflow, follow these steps:

1. Import: Copy the provided n8n workflow JSON code.


2. Paste: In your n8n instance, click 'New' and select 'Import from JSON'. Paste the code and save the new n8n workflow.


3. Credentials Setup: You must configure credentials for the Google Sheets n8n nodes:

1. Configuration: Update the sheet names, IDs, and column settings within both Google Sheets n8n nodes to match your tracking log and configuration sheets.


2. Customization: Edit the '🔗 Generate Redirect Link' and '🛰️ Simulate Redirect Hit' Set n8n nodes to define the specific variables (like tracking parameters or simulation artifacts) relevant to your Red Team exercise. Once configured, you can activate and execute the n8n trigger.

⚡ Trigger RedirectCloak (Manual Trigger):
Function: Acts as the starting n8n trigger point for the entire n8n workflow, allowing manual, on-demand execution of the simulation sequence.
Key Configuration: None (Manual).
Google Sheets (Initial Retrieval):
Function: Retrieves the base configuration data necessary to construct the simulation links, potentially including base URLs or target metadata.
Key Configuration: Requires a Spreadsheet ID and the specific Sheet Name/Range to read from.
🔗 Generate Redirect Link (Set n8n Node):
Function: Responsible for programmatically constructing the final phishing/tracking URL that will be logged. This n8n node holds the core logic for link customization.
Key Configuration: Used to define variables (e.g., linkid, targeturl, trackingtoken).
🛰️ Simulate Redirect Hit (Set n8n Node):
Function: Simulates the data collected when a user interacts with the generated link, capturing essential logging details like timestamps or simulated client data.
Key Configuration: Defines simulation output variables (e.g., timestamp, simulatedip, user_agent).
📄 Append Redirect Logs (Google Sheets n8n Node):
Function: Appends the comprehensive tracking and simulation data generated by the preceding steps to a centralized Google Sheet, creating an audit log for the n8n workflow execution.
* Key Configuration: Set to 'Action: Append' and requires the target log Spreadsheet ID and Sheet Name.