Hackthebox Red Failure May 2026

Using the password hint, I was able to crack the password using John the Ripper. With the credentials in hand, I used psexec to gain access to the VM.

Next, I tried to exploit the RPC port using a Metasploit module, but it didn’t yield any results. I also attempted to connect to the SMB port using SMBclient, but was unable to authenticate. hackthebox red failure

In the end, my “hackthebox red failure” turned into a valuable learning experience. I realized that success in CTF challenges often requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. By analyzing my missteps and adjusting my approach, I was ultimately able to gain access to the VM. Using the password hint, I was able to

nmap -sV -p- 10.10.10.59 The scan revealed several open ports, including 80 (HTTP), 135 (RPC), and 445 (SMB). I also noticed that the VM was running Windows 7. I also attempted to connect to the SMB

enum \10.10.10.59 This revealed a share called “Users” that I had previously missed. I mounted the share using SMBclient and found a user named “bill” with a password hint.