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Ethical Hacking Techniques Every OSCP Student Must Master
1- Information Gathering and Reconnaissance
Before launching any attack, a hacker must gather as much information as possible about the target. Reconnaissance helps in identifying vulnerabilities and potential attack vectors. Essential techniques include:
Passive reconnaissance (WHOIS lookups, Google Dorking, OSINT tools)
Active reconnaissance (Nmap scanning, Netcat probing, enumeration scripts)
Identifying open ports, services, and running versions
Recommended Tools: Nmap, Netcat, Recon-ng, Shodan, Maltego
2. Exploitation with Metasploit and Manual Exploits
A crucial part of ethical hacking is exploiting vulnerabilities. OSCP students must learn both automated and manual exploitation techniques.
Using Metasploit for automated attacks
Writing custom exploits in Python or Bash
Leveraging buffer overflow vulnerabilities
Exploiting misconfigurations and weak credentials
Recommended Tools: Metasploit, ExploitDB, SQLmap, Burp Suite
3. Privilege Escalation (Windows & Linux)
Gaining initial access is only the beginning; the next step is escalating privileges to gain full control over the target system.
Windows Privilege Escalation: Finding misconfigured services, insecure file permissions, unquoted service paths
Linux Privilege Escalation: Exploiting SUID binaries, kernel vulnerabilities, misconfigured cron jobs
Extracting password hashes and leveraging pass-the-hash attacks
Recommended Tools: LinPEAS, WinPEAS, BloodHound, PowerUp, PrivEsc scripts
4. Post-Exploitation and Lateral Movement
Once inside the system, ethical hackers need to maintain access and move across networks.
Creating backdoors using netcat or SSH keys
Dumping credentials using Mimikatz or hashdump
Lateral movement techniques like pass-the-hash, pivoting, and tunneling
Recommended Tools: Mimikatz, CrackMapExec, Impacket, Chisel
5. Web Application Exploitation
Many OSCP labs contain web-based applications that have vulnerabilities. Key web exploitation techniques include:
SQL Injection (SQLi)
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
File Upload Vulnerabilities
Directory Traversal Attacks
Recommended Tools: Burp Suite, SQLmap, Nikto, Gobuster
6. Password Cracking & Credential Attacks
Weak passwords are one of the most common security weaknesses. OSCP students should practice cracking passwords using brute-force techniques and password spraying.
Cracking Linux and Windows hashes
Using rainbow tables and wordlists
Exploiting SSH, RDP, SMB login weaknesses
Recommended Tools: Hashcat, John the Ripper, Hydra, CeWL
7. Buffer Overflow Exploitation
OSCP places a strong emphasis on buffer overflow attacks, which require understanding memory structure and writing custom exploits.
Identifying buffer overflow vulnerabilities
Controlling EIP (Extended Instruction Pointer)
Writing Python scripts to develop custom exploits
Recommended Tools: Immunity Debugger, Mona.py, Pwntools
8. Active Directory Attacks (Advanced)
While not heavily covered in OSCP, Active Directory exploitation is an important skill for ethical hackers.
Kerberoasting to crack service accounts
NTLM relay attacks
Abusing misconfigured GPOs (Group Policy Objects)
Recommended Tools: BloodHound, CrackMapExec, Rubeus, Mimikatz
9. Network Pivoting & Tunneling
When attacking multi-layered networks, OSCP candidates must learn how to pivot from one machine to another.
Setting up SSH tunneling and port forwarding
Using proxy chains for anonymous connections
Creating SOCKS proxies for network pivoting
Recommended Tools: Chisel, ProxyChains, SSH, Meterpreter
10. Writing Detailed Penetration Test Reports
A key requirement of the OSCP exam is writing a professional penetration testing report. The report should include:
Clear documentation of vulnerabilities found
Step-by-step attack paths
Remediation recommendations
Recommended Tools: KeepNote, CherryTree, Dradis, Markdown editors
Conclusion
Mastering these ethical hacking techniques is essential for passing the OSCP certification and becoming a skilled penetration tester. OSCP is all about hands-on learning, so practice in home labs and CTF platforms like Hack The Box and TryHackMe is essential. With persistence, problem-solving skills, and continuous learning, achieving OSCP certification is within your reach!
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