The Grand Finale — Unraveling the Umbrella Corporation

This machine is not just a technical challenge; it's a mental exercise. Here, the vulnerabilities you thought you knew are mirages. What truly matters is hidden in plain sight. This is a test of patience, observation, and lateral thinking.

Exposed Backups: The Forgotten Goldmine

Often, administrators forget to delete or protect backups. A file like web_backup.zip can contain buried secrets:

• Configuration files with credentials
• Internal scripts and configurations
• Sensitive data that shouldn't be publicly accessible

Never underestimate an exposed backup. It can be the master key to bypass seemingly insurmountable barriers.

Evil-WinRM: Remote Control on Windows Systems

Evil-WinRM is a tool that allows for remote connection with Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) or PowerShell Remoting.

It allows you to:

• Execute commands remotely
• Access Windows systems interactively
• Escalate privileges and move laterally when you have valid credentials

Scheduled Tasks: The Clock That Works for You

In Windows, scheduled tasks can run with elevated permissions (even SYSTEM). If you have access to modify scripts that run automatically with SYSTEM permissions, you have an open door to escalate privileges.

Modifying a script like run.ps1 that runs every minute can be a way to:

• Create users with elevated privileges
• Execute arbitrary commands with maximum permissions
• Completely control the machine without alerts

Permissions and Security: The Key to Escalation

For the escalation to work, you need:

• Write permissions on the script that the scheduled task executes
• To understand that the task runs as SYSTEM (maximum privilege)
• To know that any change to that script will execute automatically, without intervention

This is a classic misconfiguration vulnerability that can lead to total system dominance.

Creating Users and Groups in Windows

The net user and net localgroup commands are powerful administrative tools for:

• Adding new users (net user username password /add)
• Adding users to groups with specific permissions (net localgroup group user /add)

In this challenge, creating a user with administrator permissions opens the door to the entire system.

Base64 Decoding: The Final Layer

Even if you have managed to get into the system and get the flag, it may be encoded in Base64 to add an extra layer. Remember:

• Base64 is not encryption, but encoding.
• It can be easily reverted using tools like CyberChef or simple commands.
• Decoding the flag is the final step to reveal the true hidden message.

Observe Carefully, Question Everything

When you face an environment saturated with false leads, the true path is found in what seems forgotten or insignificant. Don't fall into the trap of pure technique or obvious vulnerabilities that cannot be exploited. Look for configurations, files that shouldn't be there, and accesses that the system takes for granted.

Every detail can be the key that opens a hidden door.

Recapping

• Exposed backups can contain vital secrets to move forward.
• Evil-WinRM is essential for remotely accessing Windows systems with credentials.
• Scheduled tasks running as SYSTEM can be modified to escalate privileges.
• Basic Windows commands (net user, net localgroup) allow you to manage users and permissions.
• Base64 is an easy-to-decode layer that can hide the flag or important information.
• Patience, deep analysis, and creativity are essential to overcome this level.

This is a challenge that tests everything you've learned. It's not just technique. It's vision. It's not just strength. It's subtlety.

Follow the trail where others only see walls. Modify the reality that the system offers you, and only then will you open the door to the Umbrella Corporation and claim your flag.