diff --git a/lib/msf/core/post/file.rb b/lib/msf/core/post/file.rb
index e25616931be1..06a1452aa911 100644
--- a/lib/msf/core/post/file.rb
+++ b/lib/msf/core/post/file.rb
@@ -166,6 +166,19 @@ def writable?(path)
     cmd_exec("test -w '#{path}' && echo true").to_s.include? 'true'
   end
 
+  #
+  # See if +path+ on the remote system exists and is readable
+  #
+  # @param path [String] Remote path to check
+  #
+  # @return [Boolean] true if +path+ exists and is readable
+  #
+  def readable?(path)
+    raise "`readable?' method does not support Windows systems" if session.platform == 'windows'
+
+    cmd_exec("test -r '#{path}' && echo true").to_s.include? 'true'
+  end
+
   #
   # Check for existence of +path+ on the remote file system
   #
@@ -318,6 +331,8 @@ def read_file(file_name)
       return session.shell_command_token("type \"#{file_name}\"")
     end
 
+    return nil unless readable?(file_name)
+
     if command_exists?('cat')
       return session.shell_command_token("cat \"#{file_name}\"")
     end