Exploitation Techniques and Hands-on Challenges

Month 3: Exploitation Techniques and Hands-on Challenges

Duration: 1 Month

Time Commitment: 12-15 hours per week

Week 1: Exploiting SQL Injection (SQLi)

Objective: Learn how to exploit SQL Injection vulnerabilities effectively and escalate
attacks.

Day 1-3: Advanced SQL Injection (SQLi) Techniques

1. SQLi Techniques:
o Union-based SQLi (extracting multiple values in one query).
o Time-based Blind SQLi (inferring data based on timing of responses).
o Error-based SQLi (leveraging error messages to find vulnerabilities).
o Out-of-Band SQLi (using secondary channels for exploitation).
2. Hands-on Practice:
o SQLmap: Learn how to use SQLmap for automatic exploitation of SQL
injection.
o Manual Exploitation: Practice manually exploiting SQL injection on
vulnerable web applications.
o Bypass Filters: Understand how to bypass basic input sanitization
mechanisms and WAFs (Web Application Firewalls).
3. Resources:
o Course: "SQL Injection Advanced Techniques" on TryHackMe or Hack The
Box.
o Video: “Mastering SQL Injection” on YouTube.
o Platform: Vulnerable Web App (e.g., DVWA or Hack The Box's "Hacking
SQL").

Day 4-7: Post-Exploitation with SQLi

1. Post-Exploitation Techniques:
o Database Enumeration: Learn how to list tables, columns, and users.
o Bypassing Authentication: Exploit SQLi to bypass login pages and escalate
privileges.
o Exfiltrating Data: Extract data from the database using SQLi.
2. Hands-on Practice:
o Exploit a SQLi vulnerability to dump sensitive information (e.g., usernames,
passwords).
o Gain administrative privileges through SQLi.
 3. Resources:
o Video: “Post-Exploitation with SQL Injection” on YouTube.
o Platform: Hack The Box or TryHackMe rooms focused on SQLi.

Week 2: Exploiting Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Objective: Master Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) exploitation and manipulation.

Day 8-10: XSS Exploitation

1. XSS Techniques:
o Stored XSS: Injecting malicious scripts that get stored in the server and
execute when users visit the page.
o Reflected XSS: Exploiting a reflection of malicious code from the URL or
input fields.
o DOM-based XSS: Injecting malicious scripts into the DOM that execute
when a page loads.
2. Hands-on Practice:
o Use Burp Suite to identify and exploit XSS vulnerabilities.
o Craft XSS payloads to perform cookie stealing or keylogging attacks.
o Perform Reflected XSS by injecting payloads into input fields and URLs.
3. Resources:
o Course: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Exploitation on TryHackMe.
o Platform: Hack The Box rooms focused on XSS (e.g., "XSS 101").
o Video: “Cross-Site Scripting Attack Tutorial” on YouTube.

Day 11-14: Advanced XSS and Bypassing Filters

1. Bypassing XSS Filters:

o Bypass WAFs: Use obfuscation techniques like encoding payloads to evade
detection by Web Application Firewalls (WAFs).
o DOM-Based XSS Exploits: Manipulating JavaScript on the client-side for
XSS.
2. Hands-on Practice:
o Bypass input sanitization filters using techniques like URL encoding,
Base64 encoding, or using unexpected characters.
o Practice exploiting DOM-based XSS using JavaScript manipulation in the
browser.
3. Resources:
o Book: The Web Application Hacker's Handbook (XSS chapter).
o Platform: OWASP Juice Shop for real-world XSS exploitation challenges.

Week 3: Exploiting Command Injection and SSRF

Objective: Understand Command Injection and Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

exploitation techniques.
Day 15-17: Command Injection Exploitation

1. Command Injection Overview:

o Learn how attackers inject operating system commands into vulnerable web
applications.
o Command Injection via form inputs (e.g., search, user-agent, headers).
2. Hands-on Practice:
o Use Burp Suite to manipulate form fields that can be vulnerable to command
injection.
o Exploit Command Injection to execute arbitrary OS commands (e.g., ping,
ls).
3. Resources:
o Course: Command Injection Exploitation on TryHackMe.
o Platform: Hack The Box rooms that feature Command Injection
vulnerabilities.

Day 18-21: Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

1. SSRF Techniques:
o Learn about Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), a vulnerability where
attackers can force the server to make arbitrary requests to internal resources.
o Understand how SSRF can lead to internal network access, such as interacting
with internal services and APIs.
2. Hands-on Practice:
o Practice SSRF exploitation on vulnerable web applications.
o Use Burp Suite to intercept and modify URLs in web requests that lead to
SSRF.
3. Resources:
o Video: “SSRF Exploitation Explained” on YouTube.
o Platform: TryHackMe rooms focused on SSRF exploitation.

Week 4: Exploit Development and Post-Exploitation Techniques

Objective: Learn about exploit development and post-exploitation techniques in a web

pentest context.

Day 22-24: Exploit Development

1. Writing Simple Exploits:

o Learn how to write custom exploits for known vulnerabilities (e.g., SQLi,
XSS, Command Injection).
o Python or PHP: Practice developing simple scripts to automate exploitation
or bypassing filters.
2. Hands-on Practice:
o Develop an SQLi exploit script that interacts with a vulnerable web server.
o Write a simple XSS exploit to inject a malicious script into a vulnerable
application.
3. Resources:
 o Course: Exploit Development Fundamentals on Udemy or YouTube.
o Book: The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook (Exploit Development
chapter).

Day 25-28: Post-Exploitation Techniques

1. Post-Exploitation with Web Attacks:

o After exploiting a vulnerability, understand how to maintain access and
escalate privileges.
o Pivoting: How to use the compromised server as a jumping-off point for
further attacks (e.g., internal systems).
o Data Exfiltration: Techniques for stealing data from compromised systems.
2. Hands-on Practice:
o Use a reverse shell after exploiting a Command Injection vulnerability.
o Perform privilege escalation by exploiting weak configurations or flaws in
web applications.
3. Resources:
o Platform: TryHackMe rooms focused on Post-Exploitation (e.g., "Linux
PrivEsc").
o Book: The Hacker Playbook (Chapter on post-exploitation).

Final Week: Putting It All Together - Real-World Pentesting Practice

Objective: Perform a full web penetration test on a vulnerable machine, identifying and
exploiting vulnerabilities in a realistic environment.

1. Hands-on Challenge:
o Complete a Capture The Flag (CTF) challenge focused on web application
pentesting.
o Apply SQL Injection, XSS, Command Injection, and other techniques
you’ve learned.
o Exploit vulnerabilities, escalate privileges, and report findings.
2. Resources:
o Platform: Hack The Box, TryHackMe, VulnHub for realistic pentesting
challenges.
o Reporting: Write a full penetration testing report, covering vulnerabilities,
exploitation steps, and remediation suggestions.

End of Month 3 Review

 Review all the techniques learned throughout the month.

 Continue practicing through challenges on platforms like Hack The Box,
TryHackMe, and VulnHub.