diff --git a/snowsaw/plugins/shell.py b/snowsaw/plugins/shell.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6607f8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/snowsaw/plugins/shell.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import os
+import subprocess
+import snowsaw
+
+
+class Shell(snowsaw.Plugin):
+    """
+    Core plugin to run arbitrary shell commands.
+    """
+    _directive = "shell"
+
+    def can_handle(self, directive):
+        return directive == self._directive
+
+    def handle(self, directive, data):
+        if directive != self._directive:
+            raise ValueError("Core plugin \"Shell\" cannot handle the directive \"{}\"".format(directive))
+        return self._process_commands(data)
+
+    def _process_commands(self, data):
+        """
+        Processes specified commands.
+
+        :param data: The commands to process
+        :return: True if the commands have been processed successfully, False otherwise
+        """
+        success = True
+        defaults = self._context.defaults().get("shell", {})
+        with open(os.devnull, "w") as devnull:
+            for item in data:
+                stdin = stdout = stderr = devnull
+                if isinstance(item, dict):
+                    cmd = item["command"]
+                    msg = item.get("description", None)
+                    if item.get("stdin", defaults.get("stdin", False)) is True:
+                        stdin = None
+                    if item.get("stdout", defaults.get("stdout", False)) is True:
+                        stdout = None
+                    if item.get("stderr", defaults.get("stderr", False)) is True:
+                        stderr = None
+                elif isinstance(item, list):
+                    cmd = item[0]
+                    msg = item[1] if len(item) > 1 else None
+                else:
+                    cmd = item
+                    msg = None
+                if msg is None:
+                    self._log.lowinfo(cmd)
+                else:
+                    self._log.lowinfo('{} [{}]'.format(msg, cmd))
+                executable = os.environ.get("SHELL")
+                ret = subprocess.call(cmd, shell=True, stdin=stdin, stdout=stdout, stderr=stderr, cwd=self._context.snowblock_dir(),
+                                      executable=executable)
+                if ret != 0:
+                    success = False
+                    self._log.warning("Command [{}] failed".format(cmd))
+        if success:
+            self._log.info("=> All commands have been executed")
+        else:
+            self._log.error("Some commands were not successfully executed")
+        return success