OSCP Exam: My November 2022 Experience

Hey everyone! So, you're here because you're either prepping for the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) exam, or you're just curious about what it's all about. Awesome! I recently took the OSCP exam in November 2022, and I wanted to share my experience, the things I learned, and some strategies that might help you on your journey. Let's dive in! This is all about my experience with the OSCP exam and how I tackled it. I'll break down everything from the preparation phase, what the exam day was like, and some tips that I wish I knew before I started. This is not just a retelling of my exam experience, but also a guide that can help you with your own OSCP exam journey, especially if you're planning to take the exam after me.

Pre-Exam Prep: The Grind and the Glory

Alright, let's talk about the real work: preparation. This is where the rubber meets the road. Before you even think about the exam, you've got to put in the hours. For me, that meant going through the Offensive Security course materials, which are pretty comprehensive. They give you a solid foundation in penetration testing, network security, and exploiting systems. You'll learn about various tools like Nmap, Metasploit, and a bunch of other goodies. But here's the thing: just reading the material isn't enough. You've got to get hands-on. The labs are your playground. They are where you'll spend most of your time, but they're absolutely essential. This is where you actually do the work. I spent countless hours in the labs, trying to solve every machine, regardless of the difficulty. I strongly recommend getting all the lab machines. Seriously, the more you practice, the better you'll get. I would recommend doing all the exercises and lab machines. I did this, and I can tell you that it helps. Make sure you fully understand the concepts. Don't just follow the instructions; understand why you're doing what you're doing. This will save you a ton of time during the exam. During my prep, I made sure to take detailed notes. I'm talking everything – commands, configurations, exploit steps, and any little trick I learned along the way. Your notes are your bible during the exam. You can't remember everything, so good notes are crucial.

My prep was a journey filled with ups and downs. There were days when I felt like I was on top of the world, effortlessly popping shells and moving through the labs. And then there were days when I was staring at a machine for hours, completely stumped. The key is to keep going. Don't get discouraged. When you hit a wall, take a break, research, and come back to it with a fresh perspective. Embrace the struggle! It's all part of the learning process. The labs are designed to challenge you. They force you to think outside the box, to Google like a pro, and to develop your problem-solving skills. Believe me, these skills are invaluable during the exam. Also, don't forget to practice buffer overflows. They're a core part of the OSCP curriculum, and you'll likely encounter them on the exam. Practice them, understand how they work, and make sure you can reliably exploit them. It is important that you have a good understanding of buffer overflows and can exploit them effectively. So, put in the time and effort. The more you put in, the better prepared you'll be. It is also important to practice report writing. The exam requires you to write a professional penetration test report, so practice documenting your findings, the steps you took, and how you exploited each machine. In the end, the OSCP is not just about passing an exam, it's about gaining real-world skills and knowledge that you can apply in your career. It's a challenging certification, but it's also incredibly rewarding. So, gear up, put in the work, and get ready to earn that OSCP certification. Let's go!

Exam Day: The Pressure Cooker

Alright, fast forward to exam day. This is it, the moment of truth. You've prepared, you've studied, and now it's time to put your skills to the test. The exam is 24 hours long, and it's a marathon, not a sprint. The exam starts with a VPN connection to the Offensive Security network. You'll be given a set of target machines, and your mission is to gain root access on as many of them as possible within the time frame. It is important to know that you are also scored on the report that you write. The exam environment is exactly like the lab, so no surprises there. When you get into the exam, take a deep breath, and don't panic. Seriously, the pressure can be intense, but try to stay calm. Take your time to enumerate each machine, gather as much information as possible, and create a plan before you start exploiting. Enumeration is key. This is where you gather information about the target machines. You'll be using tools like Nmap, Nikto, and others to identify open ports, services, and vulnerabilities. This stage is super important. The more you know about the target, the better your chances of exploiting it. The best way to approach the exam is to create a methodology. You can create a methodology by following certain steps, such as enumeration, exploitation, privilege escalation, etc. Create a step-by-step methodology to help you solve the machines.

I started the exam by creating a detailed plan. I had a checklist of things to do for each machine, like scanning, enumerating services, and searching for known vulnerabilities. Then, I took it one machine at a time, documenting everything in my notes. Don't forget to document everything. Every command you run, every piece of information you gather, and every step you take should be documented. This is crucial for the final report. Make sure to take screenshots of the important steps. Screenshots will be vital for your report, as they will provide visual evidence of your exploits. I had my notes organized and ready to go. I also had all the tools and scripts that I needed at my fingertips. I made sure I was comfortable with the tools and techniques I was going to use. I knew the tools and how to use them. During the exam, I stuck to my plan, and I didn't get sidetracked by shiny objects. If you find a potential vulnerability, research it and understand it before you attempt to exploit it. Don't just blindly run exploits. Make sure you understand how they work, and that you're exploiting the correct vulnerability. It's also important to manage your time. This can be one of the most difficult aspects of the exam. You have 24 hours, but it goes by fast. Set time limits for each machine. If you're stuck, move on to another one and come back to it later. It's also really important to take breaks, eat, and stay hydrated. You need to keep your energy up to perform at your best. I would suggest taking breaks. Take a break to take a walk outside, or do something to clear your head. Then, come back with a fresh perspective. Overall, exam day is intense, but if you're prepared, and you stay focused, you can get through it. Believe in yourself. You've got this!

Post-Exam: Reporting and Reflections

Alright, you've made it through the 24-hour exam. Now it's time for the final push: the report. You have another 24 hours to write a professional penetration test report documenting everything you did during the exam. This is a critical part of the exam, so don't take it lightly. Report writing is not fun, but it is important. Offensive Security provides a template for the report, so use it. It is also important to follow the structure that is in the template. The template covers all the important sections, like the executive summary, methodology, findings, and recommendations. You will need to detail everything you did, including the steps you took to exploit each machine, the vulnerabilities you identified, and the proof that you got root access. Make sure your report is clear, concise, and easy to read. Use screenshots to support your findings. Use screenshots to provide visual evidence of your exploits. You must have screenshots of the important parts of the process. I highly recommend spending time to practice report writing before you take the exam. Practice will help you write a clear and concise report. The report is worth a significant portion of your final score, so make sure you do a good job. I spent a good amount of time writing my report. I went through all my notes, added all the screenshots, and crafted a detailed and professional report. Remember, the report is not just a formality; it's a crucial part of the exam. After submitting the report, it's time to wait. The wait can feel like forever, but eventually, you'll get your results. Hopefully, you'll pass. If you do, congratulations! You've earned it. The OSCP is a challenging certification, but it's also incredibly rewarding. It will open doors to new opportunities in the cybersecurity field. If you don't pass the first time, don't worry. Learn from your mistakes, and try again. The most important thing is that you don't give up. Keep studying, keep practicing, and keep learning. The OSCP exam experience was definitely a challenging but rewarding experience. I learned so much, and I'm proud of the skills and knowledge I gained. Good luck to everyone who is preparing for the OSCP exam. It is difficult, but it is possible! Keep learning, keep practicing, and never give up. You can do it!