Azure Deployment Error: 'Cookie Value in VHD Footer Not Supported' for Metasploitable 3 Image

Question

I am trying to deploy a Metasploitable 3 image in Azure after converting it to VHD format. However, when I attempt to upload the VHD file, I receive the following error:

"At least one resource deployment operation failed. Please list deployment operations for details. Please see https://aka.ms/arm-deployment-operations for usage details.","details":[{"code":"InvalidParameter","target":"disks","message":"The specified cookie value in VHD footer indicates that disk 'Metasploitable3-fixed.vhd' with blob https://xxstoragea.blob.core.windows.net:8443/metasploitable3/Metasploitable3-fixed.vhd is not a supported VHD. Disk is expected to have cookie value 'conectix'."}]}

What Has Been Done:

• Converted Metasploitable 3 from VMDK to VHD.
• Used PowerShell to verify the disk is Fixed and LogicalSectorSize is 512 bytes.
• Inspected the VHD footer, and "conectix" is present, yet Azure still rejects it.
• Uploaded the VHD as a Page Blob and attempted to create a Managed Disk, but the issue persists.

Question:

• What specific steps configuring and starting Metasploitable 3 in Azure?
• Is there an official Azure validation tool to check VHD compatibility before deployment?

Looking for guidance on the best way to resolve this issue. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi Anthony Aighobahi,

This problem occurs for one of the following reasons:

• The VHD does not comply with the 1 MB alignment (offset). The supported disk size should be 1 MB * N. For example, the disk should be 102,401 MB.
• The VHD is corrupted or not supported.

This article provides a resolution to the issue you are facing: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/azure/virtual-machines/windows/uploaded-vhd-not-support#symptoms

This article shows you how to set up a class that focuses on the forensics side of ethical hacking with Azure Lab Services: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/azure/lab-services/class-type-ethical-hacking?tabs=windows

Similar thread: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/272786/run-metasploitable-in-azure-for-test-lab
For reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/prepare-for-upload-vhd-image

Hope this helps!

If you have any further queries, please let me know in the comments!

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