Challenge Overview
This Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge was created for all digital detectives who love a good mystery and want to hone their cyber skills. The goal is to find hidden flags by inspecting the site’s code, interacting with elements, and solving small puzzles along the way. This CTF will cover various areas, such as HTML inspection, XSS injection, and even base64 decoding. Each page holds clues, so keep a keen eye on everything.
Cyber Sleuth CTF is inspired by real-world web security challenges and provides an immersive experience for those who want to learn about common security vulnerabilities in a controlled, safe environment.
Difficulty Levels
We’ve broken down the CTF into varying difficulty levels, allowing players of all skill levels to participate:
- Beginner: Basic HTML inspection and source viewing.
- Intermediate: Basic JavaScript exploration and minor encoding challenges.
- Advanced: Multi-layered clues, including JavaScript debugging and encoded messages.
Remember, even if you’re a beginner, don’t be discouraged. Every expert was once a beginner.
Common Vulnerabilities Explored
This CTF introduces some common security vulnerabilities and tricks that hackers use to gather information:
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): A common web vulnerability where an attacker injects malicious scripts into a webpage.
- HTML Comments Leak: Sensitive data or clues are hidden in HTML comments, accessible only when viewing the page source.
- JavaScript Obfuscation: Scripts that mask their purpose, hiding crucial information within JavaScript code.
Each vulnerability has clues hidden on the site, helping you develop your skills in a structured way.
Why CTFs Matter
CTFs like Cyber Sleuth provide an exciting way to learn about cybersecurity. They present real-world challenges in a safe and educational setting, allowing players to practice and grow their knowledge. Many cybersecurity professionals started with CTFs, using them to build the fundamental skills that they would later use in their careers.
CTFs teach valuable skills such as attention to detail, persistence, problem-solving, and the ability to think like an attacker—crucial skills for anyone interested in cybersecurity.