TLS/SSL Certificate Management
Beginner75 min5 objectives

TLS/SSL Certificate Management

Practice TLS/SSL Certificate Management by producing and reviewing portable evidence without requiring unavailable host, cloud, hardware, or multi-node access.

Briefing

### Scenario You are a tls practitioner handling a realistic client engagement. For TLS/SSL Certificate Management, the client has provided a staging environment that mirrors production but is isolated to this lab. Your task is to demonstrate the core technique on the local target without touching external systems. The scenario is intentionally scoped to what you can verify inside the container. ### Environment and scope Use the Ubuntu 22.04 practice container. Working directory is `/home/student/lab-work` (create it with `mkdir -p`). Target is `127.0.0.1` and `127.0.0.1:8080` where a `python3 -m http.server` or service-specific daemon runs. Install only needed tools via `sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y openssl, nginx, curl` then verify with `openssl version (3.0.2) && nginx -v (1.18.0)`. Credentials: `student:lab123` with `sudo` (created via `useradd` + `chpasswd` + `sudoers.d` as in `labs.service.ts:554`). Do not scan or query outside 127.0.0.0/8 or lab-work. Scope is strictly container-only; no external cloud, hardware, or nested container engines. ### Mission objective For TLS/SSL Certificate Management: install and verify tooling, prepare the local target (`nginx 8443 ssl with self-signed lab.internal`), execute the technique step-by-step, and collect evidence. Each walkthrough step produces a verifiable artifact (file, command output, or service state) that you will cite in your submission. ### Success criteria You have completed the lab when: - Tooling verification passes (`openssl version (3.0.2) && nginx -v (1.18.0)` returns expected version without error) - Local target is running and responds (`curl -s http://127.0.0.1:8080/` or `dig @127.0.0.1` or `tshark -r` shows expected output) - `solution.md` in `lab-work` documents each step's exact command, raw output excerpt, and your interpretation (what the output proves) - All flag answers are direct values from your local output (e.g., version string, status code, IP, header name) and no external hosts were targeted (`history | grep -E "nmap|dig|tshark|openssl|nikto|curl"` shows only 127.0.0.1) Runtime mode: portable artifact validation

Objectives

  • 1Prepare workspace and verify tooling
  • 2Prepare local target for TLS/SSL Certificate Management
  • 3Generate cert
  • 4Configure nginx TLS and verify
  • 5Complete CA Creator
  • 6Complete Server Cert
  • 7Tune and interpret
  • 8Compile and verify submission

Flags

CA Creator+200 pts

Submit the synthesized artifact value for CA Creator (e.g., IP 127.0.0.2 or zone name) as verified by dig or cat /etc/bind/.

Server Cert+200 pts

Submit the verifiable output value for Server Cert as produced by the local tool on 127.0.0.1 (e.g., version, status, IP, or header).

OCSP Stapler+200 pts

Submit the verifiable output value for OCSP Stapler as produced by the local tool on 127.0.0.1 (e.g., version, status, IP, or header).

HSTS Header+150 pts

Submit the verifiable output value for HSTS Header as produced by the local tool on 127.0.0.1 (e.g., version, status, IP, or header).

HTTPS Config+200 pts

Submit the verifiable output value for HTTPS Config as produced by the local tool on 127.0.0.1 (e.g., version, status, IP, or header).