In this post, I will share my experience and tips on the Dante ProLab at HackTheBox. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get started or a professional looking to improve your skills, these insights will be valuable.
Introduction to the Dante Lab
The Dante Lab is an ideal choice for those aiming to prepare for the OSCP exam but want to gain practical experience in a realistic corporate environment before investing in the OSCP (minimum $1600) access. This Lab comprises 13 machines, including 7 Linux VMs and 6 Windows VMs. Dante presents vulnerabilities, configuration errors, and common attack paths seen in real engagements. It’s an excellent opportunity for users to deepen their knowledge of both Linux and Windows exploitation.
Pivoting/Tunneling Skills
This environment offers both Linux and Windows operating systems. You will enhance your information gathering and situational awareness skills, become proficient in exploiting Windows and Linux buffer overflows, get acquainted with the Metasploit framework, and much more! Completing this workshop will showcase your network penetration testing skills, including:
- Enumeration
- Exploit Development
- Lateral Movement
- Privilege Escalation
- Web Application Attacks
One of the new skills I had to master in this Lab is pivoting and tunneling. You will often encounter situations where you need to navigate through multiple machines to reach your goal. Personally, I found Ligolo-NG to be an outstanding tunnel/pivot tool for navigating the Dante Lab. Its versatility and user-friendliness make it a solid choice for those looking to master this skill. I’ve written a detailed article about it that you can check out here.
General Advice
Here are some essential tips for succeeding in the Dante Lab:
- Remember that the Dante Lab doesn’t require complex attacks. Stay focused on enumeration and learning.
- Don’t rush. Details matter, and I’ve often missed important elements by trying to go too fast.
- Take regular breaks. Sometimes, the answer is right in front of you, and a break can help you see it more clearly.
- The enumeration is the most important part. Do not overlook it.
- Persist before asking for help. The key is enumeration. If you don’t find a lead, keep enumerating.
Post-Exploitation
After compromising a server during the enumeration phase, continue to explore. Source code, history, hidden files, and more can reveal crucial information. Have a checklist to ensure you don’t miss anything.
Conclusion
My time in the Dante ProLab has been both educational and fun. This lab has helped me with a deeper understanding of various techniques and their real-world applications. If you’re preparing for the OSCP, I highly recommend this lab.
If you’re considering taking this lab, I wish you the best of luck on your Dante journey 🙏.