In this chapter, we've covered Microsoft environments and the vulnerabilities inherent within them. The focus has largely been on third-party applications for this chapter due to the difficulty in finding out-of-date Microsoft operating systems and services on the Internet. If you own copies of Microsoft OSs or services, these are goldmines for the creation of vulnerable boxes to attack as they can present multiple exploits in one installation. Alas, I cannot guarantee that you have one or more outdated Microsoft installation(s).

We have gone through three scenarios covering Adobe ColdFusion, MSSQL, and TFTP. These vulnerabilities will allow new testers to get used to the Windows architecture, hone those well-needed Nmap and Metasploit skills, and also get a handle on regular services, SQL and TFTP, which have their own nuances to master. Also, this chapter has provided the framework for the later chapters to capitalize on. The sections on flag placement and design, post-exploitation and pivoting, and secure network creation will be referenced heavily throughout the rest of the book. In order to save time later, become comfortable with these ideas now.

The next chapter is Chapter 2, Linux Environments, a chapter which I'm sure you'll enjoy as we plumb the depths of SMB, tear up Telnet, and poke fun at Apache.