Server Administration: Debian Server Hardening
Advanced60 min5 objectives

Server Administration: Debian Server Hardening

Practice Server Administration: Debian Server Hardening in a deterministic local workspace without unavailable external infrastructure.

Briefing

### Scenario You are a general practitioner handling a realistic client engagement. For Server Administration: Debian Server Hardening, 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 curl, python3, nmap, openssl` then verify with `curl --version && python3 --version`. 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 Server Administration: Debian Server Hardening: install and verify tooling, prepare the local target (`127.0.0.1 and /home/student/lab-work`), 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 (`curl --version && python3 --version` 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 Server Administration: Debian Server Hardening
  • 3Execute Server Administration: Debian Server Hardening technique
  • 4Capture evidence
  • 5Complete Firewall Active
  • 6Complete SSH Hardened
  • 7Tune and interpret
  • 8Compile and verify submission

Flags

SSH Hardened+150 pts

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

fail2ban Guard+200 pts

Submit the verifiable output value for fail2ban Guard as produced by the local tool on 127.0.0.1 (e.g., version, status, IP, or header).

Root Auditor+150 pts

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

AIDE Watcher+300 pts

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

Firewall Active+200 pts

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

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