Now go pwn Forest like a pro. Happy hacking!
Forest is an easy-difficulty Windows machine on Hack The Box
that serves as a foundational lab for Active Directory (AD) exploitation. The attack path involves enumerating users via LDAP or RPC, gaining a foothold through AS-REP Roasting , and escalating privileges by abusing a chain of Active Directory group permissions Phase 1: Reconnaissance & Enumeration
Your initial goal is to map the attack surface and identify valid domain users. Service Scanning
: A full Nmap scan reveals standard Domain Controller ports: 88 (Kerberos), 135 (RPC), 389 (LDAP), 445 (SMB), and 5985 (WinRM). nmap -p- -sV -sC -Pn 10.10.10.161 User Discovery
: Since anonymous LDAP binds are allowed, you can enumerate users without credentials. Tool options ldapsearch enum4linux to list accounts like svc-alfresco Phase 2: Initial Access (AS-REP Roasting) One of the discovered accounts, svc-alfresco , has "Do not require Kerberos pre-authentication" enabled. Hack The Box
Forest HackTheBox Walkthrough: Mastering Active Directory Exploitation
Hack The Box's Forest machine is a classic Windows "Easy" box that serves as a cornerstone for learning Active Directory (AD) exploitation. Despite its "Easy" rating, many users find it challenging because it requires a deep understanding of AD misconfigurations, particularly AS-REP Roasting and DACL abuse.
This walkthrough provides a comprehensive guide to gaining a foothold and escalating to Domain Admin. Phase 1: Reconnaissance and Enumeration forest hackthebox walkthrough best
The first step is identifying the attack surface. Since Forest is a Windows machine, we expect to see standard AD services.
Nmap Scan: Start with a full port scan to identify open services.
Port 88 (Kerberos): Confirms the machine is a Domain Controller.
Port 389 (LDAP): Reveals the domain name htb.local and hostname forest.htb.local.
Port 445 (SMB) and 5985 (WinRM): Potential entry points for lateral movement and remote management.
User Enumeration: Use rpcclient with a null session to enumerate domain users. Command: rpcclient -U '' -N 10.10.10.161
Use enumdomusers to generate a list of valid usernames, such as svc-alfresco, andy, and mark. Phase 2: Initial Access via AS-REP Roasting
With a list of valid users, the next objective is finding an account vulnerable to AS-REP Roasting—a technique targeting accounts that do not require Kerberos pre-authentication. Now go pwn Forest like a pro
The Forest machine on Hack The Box is a retired Windows Server 2016 domain controller that serves as a cornerstone for learning Active Directory (AD) exploitation. While officially rated as "Easy," many in the community consider it a "Bit Hard" due to its focus on complex AD misconfigurations and trust relationships. Top-Rated Walkthroughs & Resources
For the most comprehensive learning experience, these sources are highly recommended by the community:
IppSec (YouTube): Widely considered the gold standard. He demonstrates every step, including common pitfalls and "Beyond Root" analysis, such as looking at DCSync traffic on the wire.
0xdf Hacks Stuff: Provides a highly detailed written technical breakdown, focusing on the underlying Windows concepts that make the exploits possible.
Rana Khalil (Medium): A top choice for those wanting to avoid Metasploit. She provides a step-by-step guide using manual techniques and PowerShell.
HackTheBox Academy: The "Active Directory Enumeration & Attacks" module specifically uses Forest as a recommended lab for practicing the skills required for the OSCP exam. Core Attack Path Breakdown HacktheBox — Forest - InfoSec Write-ups
TL;DR. Forest is in the list of my favorite machines. It exposes you to different tools and offers practical usage of enumerating, InfoSec Write-ups
Next, we try to query RPC endpoints anonymously using rpcclient. Next, we try to query RPC endpoints anonymously
rpcclient -U "" -N 10.10.10.161
Result: We manage to connect! This is a major misconfiguration. We can now enumerate domain users.
Inside the rpcclient prompt:
rpcclient $> enumdomusers
This returns a list of users in the domain htb.local:
We have a list of valid usernames. This allows us to proceed to the next attack vector: Kerberos User Enumeration.
Forest is a medium-level Linux box on Hack The Box, a popular online platform for cybersecurity enthusiasts to practice their skills in a legal and safe environment. This walkthrough aims to provide a step-by-step guide on how to compromise the Forest box, covering all the necessary steps to achieve root access.
Upload SharpHound.exe or use BloodHound.py from Kali:
bloodhound-python -d htb.local -u svc-alfresco -p s3rvice -ns 10.10.10.161 -c all
Load the resulting zip files into BloodHound and run the pre-built query: "Find principals with DCSync rights" or "Shortest Path to Domain Admin".
BloodHound reveals: The user svc-alfresco is a member of the Account Operators group.
Machine IP: 10.10.10.161
OS: Windows Server 2016 (Domain Controller)
Domain: htb.local
Difficulty: Medium