Field notes from the front line of offensive security.
In-depth research, machine and challenge write-ups, step-by-step walkthroughs, and tactical guides drawn from real engagements and labs. Practical, technical, and written to help you understand not just what works — but why it works.
The first hour after a breach decides how bad it gets. This guide walks through the rapid response plan for 2026: how to recognise the warning signs, contain the damage before it spreads, work out exactly what was exposed, and lock everything back down. Ten clear steps — plus what to do afterwards so it doesn't happen again.
A cyber attack is a deliberate attempt to break into a system, network, or device to steal, disrupt, or destroy data. This guide breaks down how attacks unfold — from reconnaissance to impact — and walks through the eight most common types: malware, phishing and privilege escalation, man-in-the-middle, DoS/DDoS, zero-day, DNS tunnelling, cryptojacking, and ransomware. It closes with the five defensive layers that meaningfully reduce your risk.
A step-by-step walkthrough of the GoodGames machine from Hack The Box, demonstrating how chaining SQL Injection, Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI) in a Flask/Jinja2 dashboard, and a Docker container escape via mounted filesystem SUID abuse leads to full root compromise — from a login form to host root.
A step-by-step walkthrough of the Sau machine from Hack The Box, demonstrating how chaining an SSRF vulnerability in Request Baskets (CVE-2023-27163) with unauthenticated command injection in Maltrail v0.53 and a systemd pager privilege escalation (CVE-2023-26604) leads to full root compromise — from filtered ports to root shell.
A step-by-step walkthrough of the Jerry machine from Hack The Box, demonstrating how default credentials on an Apache Tomcat Web Application Manager lead to full system compromise via malicious WAR file deployment — achieving SYSTEM-level access without any privilege escalation.
A full walkthrough of Conversor, an easy Linux machine from Hack The Box. Exploit an XSLT injection in a web app to land a shell via a cron job, crack a database password hash for SSH access, then abuse a sudo needrestart misconfiguration (CVE-2024-48990) to reach root.
A full walkthrough of Expressway, an easy Linux machine from Hack The Box Season 9. Enumerate an IKE/IPsec VPN, crack the pre-shared key for SSH access, then exploit a vulnerable sudo to reach root.
A full walkthrough of Cap, an easy Linux machine from Hack The Box. Exploit an IDOR flaw to grab another user's packet capture, pull plaintext FTP credentials from the pcap for SSH access, then abuse a Linux capability (cap_setuid on Python) to escalate to root.
A full walkthrough of Silentium, a Season 10 machine from Hack The Box. Follow the complete process from initial enumeration through exploitation to privilege escalation, with each step explained clea
Base is a Tier 2 machine on HTB's Starting Point. You'll bypass a PHP login with type juggling and upload a web shell for a foothold, then escalate to root via a sudo misconfiguration.
Markup is a Tier 2 machine on HTB's Starting Point. You'll exploit an XXE injection to read files for a foothold, then abuse a scheduled task to escalate privileges and capture both flags.
A structured, repeatable methodology for solving any HackTheBox machine — walking you through all 7 phases from reconnaissance to root, with the exact commands, tools, and checks to use at each step.