HTB Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (CPTS) Journey and Key Takeaways

Key Highlights:

250 Targets Hacked
400+ Module Sections Completed
500+ Challenge Questions Solved
750,000+ Words Read

Course Coverage:

Pentest Methodologies: Reconnaissance, exploitation, and reporting.
IT Environments: Windows, Linux, and Active Directory.
Web Pentesting: Manual and automated operations.
Advanced Techniques: Pivoting, privilege escalation, and post-exploitation.
Real-World Scenarios: Structured and insightful skill assessments.

Practice-Verified Commands and Codes:

1. Reconnaissance with Nmap:

nmap -sV -sC -oA target_scan 192.168.1.1

This command performs a version detection (-sV), script scanning (-sC), and outputs results in all formats (-oA).

2. Exploitation with Metasploit:

msfconsole
use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue
set RHOSTS 192.168.1.2
exploit

This example uses the EternalBlue exploit against a Windows target.

3. Privilege Escalation on Linux:

sudo -l
find / -perm -4000 -o -perm -2000 2>/dev/null

These commands check for sudo privileges and SUID/SGID files that could be exploited.

4. Active Directory Enumeration with BloodHound:

bloodhound-python -d domain.local -u user -p password -c All

This command collects data for BloodHound to visualize AD attack paths.

5. Web Application Testing with SQLMap:

sqlmap -u "http://example.com/page?id=1" --dbs

This command identifies databases on a vulnerable web application.

What Undercode Say:

The journey to becoming a Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (CPTS) is both challenging and rewarding. The course provides a comprehensive roadmap from beginner to advanced levels, covering essential methodologies and tools. Real-world scenarios ensure practical knowledge, making it invaluable for aspiring penetration testers.

Key Takeaways:

Reconnaissance: Tools like Nmap and Recon-ng are essential for gathering information.
Exploitation: Metasploit and Exploit-DB are go-to resources for exploiting vulnerabilities.
Privilege Escalation: Understanding Linux and Windows privilege escalation techniques is crucial.
Active Directory: Tools like BloodHound and PowerView help in enumerating and exploiting AD environments.
Web Application Testing: SQLMap, Burp Suite, and OWASP ZAP are indispensable for web pentesting.

Additional Commands:

Linux File Transfer: Use `scp` or `wget` to transfer files.

scp file.txt [email protected]:/path/to/destination
wget http://example.com/file.txt

Windows Command Execution: Use `PsExec` for remote command execution.
```
psexec \192.168.1.2 -u user -p password cmd.exe
```
Network Sniffing: Use `tcpdump` for packet analysis.
```
tcpdump -i eth0 -w capture.pcap
```

Conclusion:

The HTB CPTS course is a robust training program that equips you with the skills needed to excel in penetration testing. By mastering the tools and techniques covered, you can confidently tackle real-world challenges. Continuous learning and practice are key to staying ahead in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity.

References:

Hackers Feeds, Undercode AI