Rooted, thank you to @JMFL for keeping me on target. Root was very cool. Much of the hints have already been said. With the standard enum scripts you may miss an important file. There is a certain python tool (previously mentioned) that will help you verify which file that is special. Once you know what it does, work your magic to have it do what you want first.
Rooted, fun box overall especially enjoyed the initial foothold, User wasn’t to exceptional, and root despite being simple was a lot of fun.
Hints:
foothold: Dont overthink it, bypass your restrictions and use your magical powers to hide something in something else. After that find where things end up after you leave them.
User:
What you initially find may not be the whole answer, but it can be part of the solution. If the initial tool you try isnt there, maybe go searching through alternatives.
Root:
Basic enum scripts to find interesting files, after that check to see what different users do behind the scenes when you use these interesting files, with the final step: where does linux usually search for these kinds of files? Can you modify that?
Finally rooted the box. Spent alot of time on sillythings.
Big shoutout to @solid5n4k3 and @sh4d0wless for the hints
Foothold: Basic Dump and Bypass. You can get it without the use of a script but with all the resets going on i ended up making a script to speed up the process of getting back in.
User: Use what you found in your foothold. Looks like you can do this two ways
Root: Spent along time on this. Alot of useful tips in this thread already, i found it easier to have two shells on the box so you can see what the other is doing. After that you just need to be on the right path
Rooted!!
user is straightforward hint get a stable shell for it!!!
for root try to find the interesting files using different scripts online.
after that try to read the file and find out the things its calling to do its work
Yikes, this box was a beast. Really cool stuff to learn in the foothold part.
Being newer to this field the root actually took me a lot longer. lol, in the end it was pretty silly. I was way over thinking it.
All around though, a solid learning box. I’ll use what I’ve learned here on many more I’m sure.