/ tags/ Windows

# Servmon

Hack-The-Box 60 / 72
5 min read

Windows Easy machine - Servmon.

HTB Active Directory Microsoft's directory service for managing users, computers, and permissions across a Windows domain. Windows Linux 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. FTP File Transfer Protocol — frequently misconfigured with anonymous access, exposing sensitive files. Brute Force Systematically trying many credential combinations until one succeeds. Path Traversal Using '../' sequences to escape a web app's intended directory and read arbitrary files.
Read

# 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.
Read

# Return

Hack-The-Box 56 / 72
6 min read

Windows Easy machine - Return.

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. 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. LDAP Lightweight Directory Access Protocol — used to query Active Directory; often vulnerable to injection or anonymous binds.
Read

# Remote

Hack-The-Box 55 / 72
6 min read

Windows Easy machine - Remote.

HTB Windows RCE Remote Code Execution — the ability to run arbitrary commands on a target system remotely. 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. PHP FTP File Transfer Protocol — frequently misconfigured with anonymous access, exposing sensitive files. SMB Server Message Block — Windows file-sharing protocol, frequently abused for enumeration and lateral movement. NFS Network File System — shared Linux file storage, sometimes exported with no_root_squash for privilege escalation.
Read

# Puppy

Hack-The-Box 54 / 72
8 min read

Windows Intermediate machine - Puppy.

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. DNS The Domain Name System — translates hostnames to IPs; often leaks subdomains and internal naming during recon. PHP 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. 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. Brute Force Systematically trying many credential combinations until one succeeds. SUID A Linux permission bit that runs a binary as its owner — misconfigured SUID binaries are a classic privesc vector. NFS Network File System — shared Linux file storage, sometimes exported with no_root_squash for privilege escalation.
Read