⌁ Linux authentication · Challenge 04

Audit the hash.
Recover the password.

The root password on an isolated training server is unknown after an administrator handover. Inspect the local account data, prepare an authorised offline audit, and recover the weak training credential.

CHG-0816 · lab-auth-01 · authorised password audit

4objectives

15minute target

100points

Password audit setup

Challenge Lab 4 · Root Password Audit

Enter your name exactly as it should appear on your certificate.

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Linux authentication assessment

Linux Root Password Audit

TIME00:00

SCORE0/100

Mission brief

Recover the root password

INTERMEDIATE

The root credential is unavailable, but local console access and a documented audit window are approved. Determine the hash type, prepare an offline audit file, and recover the password using the supplied training wordlist.

1
Inspect the root account
Confirm the account state and locate its password hash.
20 pts
2
Prepare the password audit
Identify the hash format and build an offline audit file.
25 pts
3
Recover the training password
Run the controlled wordlist audit and display the result.
35 pts
4
Submit the recovered password
Use submit <password> to validate your result.
20 pts

Progress0 of 4 complete

Need a hint?Open investigation guide

Start with sudo grep '^root:' /etc/shadow.

Prepare an audit file with unshadow /etc/passwd /etc/shadow > /tmp/rcw-audit.txt.

Run john --wordlist=/usr/share/wordlists/rcw-training.txt /tmp/rcw-audit.txt.

Type help to see all supported commands.

lab-auth-01 — password audit shell

ISOLATED · AUTHORISED

  ____   _______        __
 |  _ \ / ___\ \      / /
 | |_) | |    \ \ /\ / / 
 |  _ <| |___  \ V  V /  
 |_| \_\\____|  \_/\_/

RCW Linux Password Audit Environment

Inspect the root hash and perform the approved offline audit. Enter help for available commands.

Password recovered

Excellent audit, Learner!

You identified the root account’s SHA-512 crypt hash, prepared an offline audit file, and recovered the weak training password RcwRoot2026! using the authorised wordlist.

Final score

100/ 100

PERFECT SCORE

Root password successfully recovered

Objectives: 4 / 4
Completion time: 00:00
Commands entered: 4

Your achievement

Certificate ready

PDF

Issued by RCW IT Training and signed by Pradeep Raju.

🎖️ View your Skill Passport

Audit the hash.Recover the password.

Challenge Lab 4 · Root Password Audit

Linux Root Password Audit

Excellent audit, Learner!

Certificate ready

Audit the hash.
Recover the password.