Network Forensics on {IT}

Solving the Openfire Lab Blue team challenge

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 11:34:34 +0000

Today we’re reviewing a vulnerability in Openfire. It is a self-hosted alternative to Slack/Teams: you run it on your own infrastructure, control the data, and extend it with plugins.

As a cybersecurity analyst, you are tasked with investigating a data breach targeting your organization’s Openfire messaging server.

Attackers have exploited a vulnerability in the server, compromising sensitive communications and potentially exposing critical data.

Your task is to analyze the provided network capture files using Wireshark. Identify evidence of the exploitation, trace the attacker’s actions, and uncover indicators of compromise.

Solving the ShadowCitadel Lab Blue team challenge 🫆

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 19:33:14 +0000

Today, we dive into a host-based forensics investigation − a curious case of a breach inside the enterprise environment of a company called TechSynergy:

A leading tech firm, TechSynergy, has detected an anomaly after an employee engaged with an unexpected email attachment. This triggered a series of covert operations within the network, including unusual account activity and system alterations.

Security alerts indicate potential access to sensitive infrastructure, with suspicious outbound traffic raising red flags. The incident response team fears a sophisticated attack may be underway, threatening critical data.

Solving the XLMRat Blue team challenge

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 13:46:59 +0000

Today we’re looking at the XLMRat malware. It is a remote access trojan (hence the RAT part) built to be small, sneaky, and stupidly persistent. It typically rides in via phishing or social engineering, often disguised as something mundane, like a JPG or TXT file. It targets Windows systems and speaks fluent PowerShell.

It’s popular among low-effort attackers looking for ready-made tools that still pack a punch. Especially in campaigns targeting individuals or small orgs where endpoint hygiene is weak. There’s a block with more information at the end of this post ⬇️

Solving the WebStrike Blue Team Challenge

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 21:12:03 +0000

The challenge

In the intricate world of cybersecurity, every attack leaves behind digital footprints waiting to be deciphered. In this post, we embark on a brief journey to unravel a cyber threat, dissecting each element that reveals an attacker’s origin, tactics, and motives. Let’s dive in.

The challenge is presented by CyberDefenders (https://cyberdefenders.org) and can be found here: https://cyberdefenders.org/blueteam-ctf-challenges/webstrike/.

Note: This post is not sponsored by or affiliated with CyberDefenders.