> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://rootea.es/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Writer

> Verified writeups for the Writer machine of Hack The Box

# Writer

<p className="machine-summary"><span className="prompt"><code>\$ tldr</code></span> RPC + SQLi load\_file → command injection → cron + apt config privesc</p>

<div className="machine-meta">
  | ·                | ·                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
  | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
  | Operating system | Linux                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
  | Difficulty       | Medium                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
  | Vector           | <span className="vbadge vbadge-web">Web</span>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
  | IP               | `10.10.11.101`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
  | Retirement date  | 2021-12-11                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
  | Skills           | RPC Enum SQLi Bypass Login + SQL Injection \[Database Enumeration] SQLi - File System Enumeration (Abusing load\_file) Python Code Analysis Command Injection Cracking Hashes Postfix Enumeration Abusing Cron Job \[User Pivoting] Abusing apt config files \[Privilege Escalation] |
</div>

## Writeups

| Language | Author                   | Format | Link                                                      |
| -------- | ------------------------ | ------ | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| 🇪🇸 ES  | **S4vitar**              | Vídeo  | [Open](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh5ywJJX1oE)       |
| 🇪🇸 ES  | **El Pingüino de Mario** | Vídeo  | [Open](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbrs2-D57hA)       |
| 🇬🇧 EN  | **0xdf**                 | Texto  | [Open](https://0xdf.gitlab.io/2021/12/11/htb-writer.html) |
| 🇬🇧 EN  | **IppSec**               | Vídeo  | [Open](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkvDid7xO7o)       |

## Skill resources

Curated documentation for each technique listed in the *Skills* column above. Sources: HackTricks, GTFOBins, PortSwigger, etc.

| Skill                            | Source      | Link                                                                                         |
| -------------------------------- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| OS Command Injection             | PortSwigger | [Open](https://portswigger.net/web-security/os-command-injection)                            |
| Cracking Hashes (hashcat / John) | HackTricks  | [Open](https://book.hacktricks.wiki/en/generic-methodologies-and-resources/brute-force.html) |
| SQL Injection                    | HackTricks  | [Open](https://book.hacktricks.wiki/en/pentesting-web/sql-injection/index.html)              |
| SQL Injection                    | PortSwigger | [Open](https://portswigger.net/web-security/sql-injection)                                   |
| Port Forwarding / Pivoting       | HackTricks  | [Open](https://book.hacktricks.wiki/en/generic-hacking/tunneling-and-port-forwarding.html)   |

## Related skills worth mastering

Remote Code Execution (RCE) · Brute Force / Rate-Limit Bypass · Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

## If you liked this machine, try

* [Nightmare](/en/htb/machines/linux/insano/nightmare) — Linux, Insane
* [Toby](/en/htb/machines/linux/insano/toby) — Linux, Insane
* [Node](/en/htb/machines/linux/medio/node) — Linux, Medium
* [Cronos](/en/htb/machines/linux/medio/cronos) — Linux, Medium
* [Union](/en/htb/machines/linux/medio/union) — Linux, Medium

***

## Comments & tips

Did the official writeup not work? Found a smarter trick? Share it here — comments live in [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/FFuson/HTB_Writeups/discussions).

<div className="rootea-giscus-wrap" data-giscus-term="machine:writer" data-giscus-lang="en" />

*Last updated: 2026-06-07*

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