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Overview

Welcome to the HackMyVM (HMV) section of my blog!

HackMyVM is a community-driven, hands-on cybersecurity platform focused on vulnerable virtual machines (VMs). It provides a space for users to build, share, and practice their penetration testing skills on community-created "boot-to-root" style machines.

On HackMyVM, the primary goal is "boot-to-root." You download a VM, identify vulnerabilities, and escalate privileges to gain full administrative access (the "root" user).

Why HackMyVM?​

HackMyVM offers a fantastic, free library of machines created by the community. It's an excellent environment for those who want to:

  • Improve practical offensive security skills.
  • Learn the full process of enumerating a target, finding vulnerabilities, and escalating privileges.
  • Practice on a diverse range of VMs built by different authors, each with unique challenges.
  • Prepare for roles in penetration testing or security analysis.

HMV has a strong community focus, allowing you to see how others approach problems and even submit your own VMs.

What you'll find here​

In this section I share my personal write-ups and solutions for HackMyVM machines. Each write-up explains not only how I solved the problem, but also why I chose the approach - the goal is to help you understand the investigative process: where to look, how to analyze findings, and how to craft an exploit.

Write-ups will be organized by the VM, detailing the path from initial enumeration to final root access.

Happy hacking!

@tndt