A CTF (Capture The Flag) Boot To Root (B2R) is a type of cybersecurity challenge where participants are tasked with gaining unauthorized access to a computer system (the "Boot" part) and then obtaining and eventually capturing a specific flag or set of flags (the "Root" part). The flags could be strings of text, files, or other data that prove the participant has successfully compromised the system.
In these challenges, participants typically start with minimal information about the target system and have to use various techniques, including vulnerability analysis, exploitation, privilege escalation, and more, to gain access and ultimately root access to the system. The challenges often simulate real-world scenarios and are designed to test participants' skills in penetration testing, exploit development, reverse engineering, and other cybersecurity domains. They can be hosted online or in-person as part of cybersecurity competitions, training events, or educational exercises.
Task 1 - Deploy the machine
Install docker.io (if you do not already have it installed) -> sudo apt install docker.io
Download machine from DockerLabs website and setup lab:
unzip trust.zip
sudo bash auto_deploy.sh upload.tar
and we obtained IP machine -> 🎯 Target IP: 172.17.0.2
We can put the IP in the file to associate it with an easier to remember name:
suecho"172.17.0.2 upload">>/etc/hosts
Create a directory for machine on a dedicated folder and subdir containing: nmap,content,exploits,scripts
mkdir-pDockerLabs/trustcdDockerLabs/trustmkdir{nmap,content,exploits,scripts}# At the end of the LabCTRL+C#To stop running machinesed-i'$ d'/etc/hosts# To clean up the last line from the /etc/hosts file# To repair potential problem during activitiessudosystemctlrestartdockersudodockerstop $(dockerps-q)sudodockercontainerprune-force
Task 2 - Reconnaissance and Exploitation
I prefer to start recon by pinging the target, this allows us to check connectivity and get OS info.
Sending these three ICMP packets, we see that the Time To Live (TTL) is ~64 secs. this indicates that the target is a *nix system, while Windows systems usually have a TTL of 128 secs.
2.1 Ports in listening and relative services
Of course, we start looking for information about our target by scanning the open ports with the nmap tool
nmap-Pn-n-p0-upload
PORTSTATESERVICE80/tcpopenhttp
There's only one open port (80), analyze it searching more info about service version and potential vulns:
nmap-A-sVC-p80upload-oNnmap/port_scan
PORTSTATESERVICEVERSION80/tcpopenhttpApachehttpd2.4.52 ((Ubuntu))|_http-title:Uploadhereyourfile|_http-server-header:Apache/2.4.52 (Ubuntu)MACAddress:02:42:AC:11:00:02 (Unknown)Warning:OSScanresultsmaybeunreliablebecausewecouldnotfindatleast1openand1closedportAggressiveOSguesses:Linux2.6.32 (96%), Linux 3.2 - 4.9 (96%), Linux 4.15 - 5.8 (96%), Linux 2.6.32 - 3.10 (96%), Linux 5.0 - 5.5 (96%), Linux 3.4 - 3.10 (95%), Linux 3.1 (95%), Linux 3.2 (95%), AXIS 210A or 211 Network Camera (Linux2.6.17) (95%), Synology DiskStation Manager 5.2-5644 (94%)NoexactOSmatchesforhost (test conditionsnon-ideal).NetworkDistance:1hop
command
result
sC
run default scripts
sV
enumerate versions
A
aggressive mode
Pn
no ping
oN
output to file with nmap formatting
Focusing on port 80 we have a web server so by running the whatweb command we extract more information and then display the content via the browser
whatwebhttp://upload
Let's display the default Apache page, try analysing the source page with CTRL+U
But we don't discover nothing of interisting.
2.2 Brute force hidden web directory
Now, we try to find potential hidden directory using gobuster:
We find a 301 status code (redirect), that contains file uploaded using form of index page.
2.3 Upload shell
Trying to upload php file I notice that there is no trace of sanitization, so we have a clear path and we can use a backdoor or a reverse shell in php. In my case I opt for a reverse shell, specifically I use the one present on Kali usually at the path: /usr/share/webshells/php/php-reverse-shell.php
I copy it, assign it execution permissions and modify it by inserting my local IP (kali) and port where we will listen with netcat