WordPress, SMB and the Art of Thinking Like an Attacker

This challenge is not just about exploiting a service or using a tool. It's about reading between the lines. Looking for patterns, connections, clues hidden in everyday things. Today we work with WordPress and SMB, two common pillars in modern systems… and frequent targets of attacks.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a content management system (CMS) written in PHP and backed by MySQL or MariaDB databases. It is used by millions of personal websites, blogs, and even enterprise portals.

Why is it important in cybersecurity?

• It is one of the most widely used CMSs in the world.
• Many installations are misconfigured or outdated.
• Thousands of third-party plugins and themes can introduce vulnerabilities.
• Access credentials are often based on personal or public habits.

The Hacker Mindset

Hacking is not just about using tools. It's about thinking. Observing. Connecting the dots. In offensive cybersecurity, the entry vector is often not in the code, but in the user's narrative.

• What do they post?
• How do they write?
• What do they say about themselves?
• Dates, names, cities, pets, hobbies…

What seems like a simple personal post… can be a map. The most common weakness in security is still human. The successful attacker is not the most technical, but the most curious.

What is SMB?

SMB (Server Message Block) is a network protocol developed by Microsoft to share files, printers, and resources between machines on a local network.

It allows:

• Accessing remote files.
• Browsing shared folder structures.
• Reading and writing documents between Windows systems (or Samba on Linux).

Why is it relevant?

• Sometimes it is exposed to the internet.
• Weak passwords allow access without strong authentication.
• It can be used to enumerate users, share sensitive files, or escalate privileges.

Enum4linux

enum4linux is a tool designed to extract information from Windows/Samba systems via SMB.

It allows you to enumerate:

• Users
• Groups
• Shared resources
• Password policies
• System information

Basic usage example:

1enum4linux -a <IP>

Using enum4linux correctly can give you the key username to access other system services. But the password is not always brute-forced. Sometimes it is deduced.

The Power of Deduction

When you can't break down the door, try to find a hidden key. A story, a year, a name, who is John? What do they share about themselves? The challenge is to:

• Read content that seems harmless.
• Use it to create a personalized dictionary.
• Don't rely on rockyou.txt, but build your own possible_passwords.txt.

Because in the real world, attackers don't just use predefined lists. They investigate. They think. They personalize.

Recap

• WordPress can be an entry point if you know how to observe.
• SMB allows you to enumerate and access resources if you have credentials.
• enum4linux is key to obtaining usernames in Windows/Samba networks.
• Public information can be used to create targeted dictionaries.
• The hacker mindset is the most powerful tool: observe, deduce, exploit.

The most effective attack is not always the most technical, sometimes it's the most attentive. Next time you read a personal post, don't just think about what it says, think about what it reveals.