root@thehacksparrow:~/writeups$ SYSTEM ONLINE
root@sparrow:~/writeups$ cat delivery.md
// writeups

Delivery

9 Jan 2021 · 11 min read · root access
Delivery - maquina de Hack The Box

Executive summary — Delivery is an Easy Linux box that isn't solved with a technical exploit but by chaining logic flaws: osTicket is used as an indirect mailbox (<ticketID>@delivery.htb) to bypass Mattermost's email verification and get in; inside, an internal channel leaks maildeliverer's SSH credentials and the hint that root's password is a variation of «PleaseSubscribe!». A Mattermost configuration file exposes its database credentials, which we use to dump root's bcrypt hash; with the hint in hand we apply hashcat rules instead of brute force to crack the password, which turns out to be reused as the system's root password. An osTicket → Mattermost → SSH → MySQL → hashcat rules → root path.

PlatformHack The Box
Operating systemLinux
DifficultyEasy
StatusRetired
Target IP10.129.23.103

Attack map

[80] delivery.htb  +  [helpdesk] osTicket  +  [8065] Mattermost
   │  osTicket (guest): open a ticket → «<ticketID>@delivery.htb» mailbox
   │  Check Ticket Status trusts email+ID → an unvalidated mail viewer
   │  register on Mattermost with that email → read the confirmation in the ticket
   ▼
[Mattermost]  internal channel leaks: maildeliverer SSH creds + hint «root ~ PleaseSubscribe!»
   ▼
[SSH]  maildeliverer : Youve_G0t_Mail!  (user.txt)
   │  /opt/mattermost/config/config.json → mmuser:Crack_The_MM_Admin_PW
   │  MySQL → Users table → «root» bcrypt hash
   ▼
[hashcat]  base «PleaseSubscribe!» + best64 rules → PleaseSubscribe!21
   ▼
[ROOT]  su - (password reuse) → root.txt

1. Reconnaissance

We start by mapping the attack surface with two nmap passes: a fast sweep across every TCP port, then a second one with scripts and version detection against the ports found.

nmap -p- --min-rate 10000 10.129.23.103
nmap -p22,80,8065 -sC -sV 10.129.23.103
22/tcp    open  ssh
80/tcp    open  http
8065/tcp  open  http  (Mattermost)

Hypothesis: a public web port (80) plus a secondary application (8065) plus open SSH is a very typical pattern for an easy box: the entry point is the web app, and the end goal is reusable credentials for the system.

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