Mission 1 Briefing
Every penetration test starts with basic navigation. Linux servers power most of the internet, and knowing how to move through a file system is the foundation of all offensive security. In this mission, you'll learn the three most fundamental commands: ls (list files), cd (change directory), and cat (read files).
Linux organizes everything in a tree structure starting from / (root). Directories contain files and other directories. Your home directory (~) is where you start. Think of it like nested folders on your computer, but controlled entirely by text commands.
Any file or directory starting with a dot (.) is "hidden" — it won't show up in a normal listing. System configuration files, secrets, and sensitive data are often stored in hidden files. Attackers and defenders alike use this to obscure important data.
Every file has an owner and permission settings that control who can read, write, or execute it. When exploring a compromised system, understanding what you can and can't access is critical.
When a penetration tester gains initial access to a system, the first thing they do is orient themselves — understand the file structure, find configuration files, look for credentials or sensitive data left behind. Many real breaches have been caused by developers leaving API keys, passwords, or private keys in hidden files that weren't properly cleaned up.
You can return to this lesson anytime during the mission