Rooted. This is a good box to work on to help you pay attention to what you have around you. Thanks to @jkr for a nice box to work on.
So here are the hints:
INITIAL
- If you feel that a common port should be open, try a reset or move to the free servers.
- Attacking it too much is NOT the way in.
- A recent exploit should be all you need to get in.
USER
- Any enumeration script will reveal interesting files and a place to start.
- Look online for the manual on how the system is setup.
- There’s no place like ****, but you may find you can get in deeper.
- Why not take a crack at what’s inside?
ROOT
- It’s too cold to go outside where you are.
- I told that raccoon to get the fudge out of my bins
- For some, size DOES matter.
As always, I am available for more concrete hints on this forum (private message) or Discord (Not the HTB site). I’ll say again for people who keep forgetting, tell me your progress (what you’ve tried, what you know, etc.) or I will end up spoiling it for you.