If you are preparing for the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) exam, you know the mantra: Try Harder. But trying harder without a plan is just a recipe for burnout. These OSCP Notes are the definitive Mastermind companion, designed to be the strategy guide you wish you had from day one.
Unlike the official course material which can feel like drinking from a firehose, this guide consolidates the most critical methodologies, exploit chains, and exam survival tactics into a streamlined, actionable resource.
It is updated for the 2025/2026 exam changes including the critical Active Directory expansion and the removal of bonus points and ensuring you aren't wasting time on outdated tactics. Whether you are stuck on a privilege escalation vector or need a structured workflow for the 24-hour exam marathon, these notes provide the technical depth and mental framework required to secure those 70 points.
Crushing the Active Directory (AD) Set
With the new exam format allocating 40 points specifically to the Active Directory set, this is where you live or die. These notes provide a rigorous, step-by-step methodology for the Assume Breach scenario.
You won't just learn about tools; you'll get the exact syntax for enumerating the domain with BloodHound and PowerView, identifying attack paths, and executing lateral movement.
The guide covers essential attacks like Kerberoasting, AS-REP Roasting, and Pass-the-Hash, explaining the underlying mechanics so you can troubleshoot when things go wrong. It details how to pivot from the initial foothold machine to the Domain Controller, ensuring you capture every flag in the chain.
Methodical Enumeration & Initial Access
The majority of exam failures happen because of poor enumeration. This guide fixes that by providing a "leave no stone unturned" checklist. It goes beyond basic Nmap scans, offering advanced enumeration techniques for common services like SMB, HTTP, SQL, and SNMP.
You will find specific cheat sheets for web application attacks including SQL Injection, Directory Traversal, and File Inclusion, tailored to the kinds of misconfigurations you'll actually see in the exam labs. The notes emphasize process over tools, teaching you how to synthesize information from multiple sources (like gobuster results + source code analysis) to find the initial foothold that others miss.
Privilege Escalation: Windows & Linux
Getting a shell is only half the battle; becoming root or SYSTEM is the rest. These notes dedicate substantial sections to privilege escalation on both operating systems. For Linux, it covers kernel exploits, SUID binary abuse, cron job manipulation, and NFS root squashing.
For Windows, it dives into unquoted service paths, token impersonation, and misconfigured permissions. Crucially, it integrates the use of automated enumeration scripts like WinPEAS and LinPEAS but teaches you how to manually verify their output so you don't chase rabbit holes. You'll have the exact commands needed to compile exploits on the fly and transfer them to the target machine without triggering alarms.
Exam Strategy & Report Writing
The OSCP is as much a test of endurance and documentation as it is of hacking skill. These notes include a vital section on exam time management, helping you allocate your 24 hours effectively between the AD set and the standalone machines.
It provides a blueprint for your exam report, the document that actually gets you certified ensuring you include the necessary screenshots, step-by-step reproduction instructions, and remediation advice. You'll learn how to simulate the exam environment beforehand, building the mental resilience needed to maintain focus during the grueling 24-hour window.
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OSCP PDF Notes | 2026 Edition by Motasem Hamdan
Don't Just Try. Succeed.
You can spend hundreds of hours building your own notes from scratch, or you can stand on the shoulders of giants. This guide is the difference between panic and precision.
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