Crushing the HTB CPTS Exam in Record Time: Insights & Pro Tips
Introduction
Taking an HTB CPTS certification exam is an intense but rewarding experience. In this post, I’ll share my journey, challenges, and key takeaways to help those preparing for the exam.
Going into the exam, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Having completed multiple HTB ProLabs, CBBH/CPTS/CAPE paths, and 100+ machines in the HTB platform, I understood Active Directory attacks, lateral movement, privilege escalation, and more. However, the real challenge was dealing with unexpected roadblocks and time management.
Challenges Faced
Time Pressure: Even with strong enumeration skills, certain footholds took many steps and time longer than expected.
Unpredictable Obstacles: Some attacks didn’t work as expected, requiring alternative approaches.
Maintaining Focus: Long hours of troubleshooting can be mentally exhausting, but persistence is key.
Strategies That Worked for Me
Structured Enumeration: I used PowerView and BloodHound to map out the environment quickly.
Thinking Creatively: I looked for misconfigurations or alternative privilege escalation methods if a common attack path didn't work.
Efficient Notetaking: Documenting every step helped me avoid repeating mistakes and made reporting easier.
Breaks & Time Management: Stepping away for short breaks helped maintain focus during long sessions.
Why the exam is hard
The difficulty of the HTB certification exam doesn’t come from requiring insane or highly advanced techniques. Instead, the real challenge lies in chaining multiple vulnerabilities together to achieve the final goal. This process involves numerous steps and demands very creative thinking.
Unlike simpler hacking scenarios, this exam isn’t about launching Metasploit, changing an IP address and port, and immediately gaining RCE. It’s also not about downloading a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit from GitHub, running it, and instantly obtaining the highest privileges. Instead, it requires a deep dive into the environment, thorough enumeration, and carefully crafted attack chains.
This necessity for multi-step exploitation makes the exam challenging but also incredibly realistic. It forces candidates to think beyond automated tools and adopt a structured, strategic approach to penetration testing.
My Progress in the Exam
Despite the complexity of the exam, I managed to complete it in just 3 days and 22.5 hours, making me one of the fastest individuals to finish it. This was only possible due to meticulous planning, structured enumeration, and maintaining a high level of focus throughout the challenge.
Here are some snapshots of my progress during the exam:
Day 1: 20%
Day 2: 40%
Day 3: 50%
Day 4: 85% (pass grade)
Day 4: 100% (full grade)
CPTS-Like Machines
If you're preparing for the exam, practicing on the CPTS-like machines list I created can be incredibly helpful. Below is a list of machines, along with their detailed write-ups on my blog.
Heal, Linux
MonitorThree, Linux
Forest, Windows
Active, Windows
Remote, Windows
Queier, Windows
Resolute, Windows
Cicada, Windows
Administrator, Windows
Sizzle, Windows
Flight, Windows
Blackfield, Windows
Offshore, Red Team lab
Obsidian Exam Template
To stay organized and structured during the exam, I created the Obsidian Exam Template—a well-structured note-taking system that helps document findings, attack paths, and pivoting strategies efficiently. This template ensures that no critical details are missed and helps maintain a clear workflow throughout the exam.
I designed it to be highly organized, easy to follow, and effective for tracking progress. If you're preparing for an HTB exam, this template can be a game-changer in keeping your methodology structured and ensuring nothing is overlooked.
My Tips for the Exam
Understand the Web Application: Before rushing into exploitation, take time to analyze how the application works. Understanding its functionality first will help you exploit it more effectively.
It’s a Realistic Exam, not a CTF: Prioritize real-world attack scenarios over CTF-style challenges that rely on obscure tricks or hidden credentials.
Try Different PoCs: If an exploit doesn’t work despite following all steps correctly, look for alternative scripts. Different implementations can yield different results.
Don’t Rely Solely on Automated Tools: While automated tools can be valuable, manual enumeration provides deeper visibility into users, groups, ACLs, and other critical details, ensuring more comprehensive coverage.
Take Breaks When Stuck: If a step seems straightforward, but you’re struggling, take a break or get some sleep. A fresh perspective can reveal obvious solutions you previously overlooked.
Use My Obsidian Template: It provides a structured approach to note-taking, making reporting easier and helping you track your progress efficiently.
Complete Enumeration Before Exploitation: Don’t rush into attacks without fully understanding the environment. A well-executed enumeration phase is the foundation for success.
Assess Your Readiness & Seek Guidance: If you’re uncertain about your skills, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to help you upskill and prepare effectively for the exam.
Final Thoughts
HTB certification exams are tough but incredibly valuable for aspiring penetration testers. They push you to develop a structured methodology, troubleshoot effectively, and think like an attacker. If you’re preparing for one, stay patient, practice consistently, and don’t be afraid to fail—every challenge is a learning opportunity.
Good luck to all future candidates! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out
Contact Information:
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blind0banditTelegram:
@blind0bandit
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