Hack The Box: Information Gathering - Web Edition

The "Information Gathering - Web Edition" module on Hack The Box introduced me to tools and techniques that are essential for effective web reconnaissance. Information gathering is the first step of any penetration test, and it’s often one of the most critical. One of the highlights of this module was learning how to use the whois tool to uncover publicly available details about domain ownership, administrative contacts, and registration information. This was fascinating because it showed how seemingly harmless data could be pieced together to build a complete picture of a target's infrastructure.

The module also went beyond the basics of whois by teaching me how to interpret its results critically. Misconfigured domains or overly detailed registration records can inadvertently reveal a wealth of information to an attacker. It’s a reminder of how small oversights can lead to larger security vulnerabilities.

I also explored web reconnaissance techniques like crawling websites, analyzing HTTP headers, and searching for hidden directories. These activities helped me better understand the target’s architecture and potential weak points. What I’ve realized is that this phase is not just about collecting information but about finding the pieces that matter. If the reconnaissance phase is rushed or incomplete, it’s easy to miss out on crucial details that could determine the success of an attack. This module reinforced the value of patience and thoroughness in any penetration testing process.

Class Project 3: Security Monitoring Environment

In class, my team and I worked on creating a security monitoring environment for the fictional company VSI as part of Project 3. This project allowed me to step into the role of a defender and see the other side of cybersecurity—the importance of monitoring and responding to threats in real time.

We set up a centralized logging environment using Splunk, integrating logs from both Windows Servers and Apache Web Servers. This setup provided a real-time view of system activity, and it was fascinating to see how dashboards and alerts could be customized to monitor specific events. For example, we created alerts for failed login attempts, spikes in HTTP requests, and access from unusual geolocations. These insights were not just theoretical; they directly mirrored the kinds of scenarios I’m learning to exploit on Hack The Box.

The second part of the project involved analyzing simulated attacks on our environment. Reviewing the logs was like solving a mystery. For instance, we noticed a sudden increase in HTTP POST requests, which led us to uncover brute-force login attempts. Similarly, high-severity Windows events revealed attempts at privilege escalation. This exercise helped me understand the importance of log correlation—seeing how individual events can form a bigger picture when analyzed together.

What made this project stand out was the recommendations we developed. From implementing AI-driven threat detection to strengthening web application firewalls, we brainstormed ways to improve the environment’s resilience. This tied back nicely to my learning on Hack The Box, where I’ve been exploring how attackers exploit these very vulnerabilities. Understanding both sides—the attacker’s perspective and the defender’s role—has been incredibly eye-opening.

In conclusion, this week reinforced the idea that cybersecurity is a constant battle of observation and reaction. Whether it’s gathering information to exploit a system or analyzing data to prevent attacks, the key is knowing what to look for and acting decisively. The combination of Hack The Box and classwork has helped me appreciate the interplay between offensive and defensive strategies, and I’m excited to continue building on these skills.