/ tags/ Password Cracking

# Voleur

Hack-The-Box 72 / 72
7 min read

Windows Medium machine - Voleur.

HTB Active Directory Microsoft's directory service for managing users, computers, and permissions across a Windows domain. Windows Linux Sudo Linux command for running as another user — misconfigured sudo rules are a common privilege escalation path. SSH Secure Shell — encrypted remote login, targeted via key theft, brute force, or misconfigured access. Nmap A network scanner used to enumerate open ports, services, and versions on a target. DNS The Domain Name System — translates hostnames to IPs; often leaks subdomains and internal naming during recon. NTLM Windows' legacy authentication protocol — vulnerable to relay and pass-the-hash attacks. WinRM Windows Remote Management — used for remote PowerShell access, often the lateral-movement endpoint on AD boxes. SMB Server Message Block — Windows file-sharing protocol, frequently abused for enumeration and lateral movement. Password Cracking Recovering a plaintext password from a captured hash via brute-force or wordlist attacks. BloodHound A tool that maps Active Directory trust relationships as a graph to reveal hidden attack paths to Domain Admin. LDAP Lightweight Directory Access Protocol — used to query Active Directory; often vulnerable to injection or anonymous binds.
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# Titanic

Hack-The-Box 69 / 72
3 min read

Windows Easy machine - Titanic.

HTB Windows RCE Remote Code Execution — the ability to run arbitrary commands on a target system remotely. Linux SSH Secure Shell — encrypted remote login, targeted via key theft, brute force, or misconfigured access. CVE A publicly catalogued, known vulnerability with a unique identifier (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). Docker A containerization platform — misconfigured sockets or escapes can lead to host compromise. DNS The Domain Name System — translates hostnames to IPs; often leaks subdomains and internal naming during recon. Password Cracking Recovering a plaintext password from a captured hash via brute-force or wordlist attacks. LFI Local File Inclusion — a web vulnerability letting an attacker read arbitrary files on the server. MySQL Brute Force Systematically trying many credential combinations until one succeeds. SQLi SQL Injection — manipulating database queries via unsanitized input to read or alter data. Cronjob A scheduled task on Linux — often abused for privilege escalation when it runs as root with a writable script.
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# Sauna

Hack-The-Box 59 / 72
6 min read

Windows Easy machine - Sauna.

HTB Active Directory Microsoft's directory service for managing users, computers, and permissions across a Windows domain. Windows Nmap A network scanner used to enumerate open ports, services, and versions on a target. DNS The Domain Name System — translates hostnames to IPs; often leaks subdomains and internal naming during recon. WinRM Windows Remote Management — used for remote PowerShell access, often the lateral-movement endpoint on AD boxes. SMB Server Message Block — Windows file-sharing protocol, frequently abused for enumeration and lateral movement. Password Cracking Recovering a plaintext password from a captured hash via brute-force or wordlist attacks. DCSync Abusing domain replication permissions to ask a Domain Controller for password hashes as if you were another DC. BloodHound A tool that maps Active Directory trust relationships as a graph to reveal hidden attack paths to Domain Admin. LDAP Lightweight Directory Access Protocol — used to query Active Directory; often vulnerable to injection or anonymous binds.
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# Querier

Hack-The-Box 53 / 72
5 min read

Windows Medium machine - Querier.

HTB Active Directory Microsoft's directory service for managing users, computers, and permissions across a Windows domain. Windows Sudo Linux command for running as another user — misconfigured sudo rules are a common privilege escalation path. Nmap A network scanner used to enumerate open ports, services, and versions on a target. NTLM Windows' legacy authentication protocol — vulnerable to relay and pass-the-hash attacks. SMB Server Message Block — Windows file-sharing protocol, frequently abused for enumeration and lateral movement. Password Cracking Recovering a plaintext password from a captured hash via brute-force or wordlist attacks.
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# Keeper

Hack-The-Box 36 / 72
3 min read

Linux Easy machine - Keeper.

HTB Linux Sudo Linux command for running as another user — misconfigured sudo rules are a common privilege escalation path. SSH Secure Shell — encrypted remote login, targeted via key theft, brute force, or misconfigured access. Password Cracking Recovering a plaintext password from a captured hash via brute-force or wordlist attacks. SUID A Linux permission bit that runs a binary as its owner — misconfigured SUID binaries are a classic privesc vector.
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# Jeeves

Hack-The-Box 34 / 72
6 min read

Windows Medium machine - Jeeves.

HTB Windows Sudo Linux command for running as another user — misconfigured sudo rules are a common privilege escalation path. Nmap A network scanner used to enumerate open ports, services, and versions on a target. NTLM Windows' legacy authentication protocol — vulnerable to relay and pass-the-hash attacks. SMB Server Message Block — Windows file-sharing protocol, frequently abused for enumeration and lateral movement. Password Cracking Recovering a plaintext password from a captured hash via brute-force or wordlist attacks. Brute Force Systematically trying many credential combinations until one succeeds.
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