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

OpenAdmin

4 Jan 2020 · 10 min read · root access
OpenAdmin - maquina de Hack The Box

Executive summary — OpenAdmin is an Easy Linux box with a long, instructive credential-reuse chain: an unauthenticated RCE in OpenNetAdmin 18.1.1 (CVE-2019-3980); cleartext DB credentials reused for SSH (jimmy); an internal web app, reachable only on localhost, that leaks joanna's SSH key (whose passphrase we crack with John); and a final escalation via sudo nano (GTFOBins). An ONA RCE → jimmy → joanna → sudo nano → root path.

PlatformHack The Box
Operating systemLinux
DifficultyEasy
StatusRetired
Target IP10.129.23.183

Attack map

[80/HTTP] Apache 2.4.29 → dirsearch → /music → /ona/  = OpenNetAdmin 18.1.1
   │  CVE-2019-3980 (EDB-47691) — unauthenticated xajax command injection → www-data
   ▼
[FILE] database_settings.inc.php → ona_sys:n1nj4W4rri0R! (cleartext, reused)
   ▼
[SSH]  jimmy
   │  internal group → /var/www/internal (main.php) served on localhost:52846
   │  main.php leaks joanna's id_rsa (shell_exec)
   ▼
[SSH]  joanna  (cracked «bloodninjas» passphrase with John/rockyou)  → user.txt
   │  sudo -l → (ALL) NOPASSWD: /bin/nano /opt/priv
   ▼
[ROOT]  nano → Ctrl+R Ctrl+X («execute command», GTFOBins) → root reverse shell → root.txt

1. Reconnaissance

We start with the basics: which ports are open and what software is listening on each. That decides where we go next.

nmap -A 10.129.23.183
22/tcp  open  ssh      OpenSSH
80/tcp  open  http     Apache httpd 2.4.29 (Ubuntu)

Only two ports: SSH and an Apache server showing Ubuntu's default page, nothing interesting at first glance. With SSH not a reasonable brute-force target, port 80 is the vector.

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