Awesome CTF resources
A list of Capture The Flag (CTF) frameworks, libraries, resources and software for started/experienced CTF players
Any contribution is welcome, send me a PR!
-The software and resources collected do not belong to me and have been compiled for educational purposes only-
Contents
0x00. Create
Tools used for creating CTF challenges
Platforms
Frameworks that can be used to host a CTF
- CTFd - Platform to host jeopardy style CTFs.
- FBCTF - Facebook CTF platform to host Jeopardy and "King of the Hill" CTF competitions.
- HackTheArch - Scoring server for CTF competitions.
- kCTF - Kubernetes-based infrastructure for CTF competitions.
- LibreCTF - CTF platform from EasyCTF.
- Mellivora - CTF engine written in PHP.
- NightShade - Simple CTF framework.
- picoCTF - Infrastructure used to run picoCTF.
- rCTF - CTF platform maintained by the redpwn CTF team.
- RootTheBox - CTF scoring engine for wargames.
- ImaginaryCTF - Platform to host CTFs.
Forensics
Tools used to create Forensics challenges
- Belkasoft RAM Capturer - Volatile Memory Acquisition Tool.
- Dnscat2 - Hosts communication through DNS.
- Magnet AXIOM 2.0 - Artifact-centric DFIR tool.
- Registry Dumper - Tool to dump Windows Registry.
Steganography
Tools used to create Stego challenges
Check solve section for steganography.
Web
Tools used to create Web challenges
- Metasploit JavaScript Obfuscator - How to obfuscate JavaScript in Metasploit.
0x01. Solve
Cryptography
Tools used for solving Crypto challenges
- Base65536 - Unicode's answer to Base64.
- Ciphey - Tool to automatically decrypt encryptions without knowing the key or cipher, decode encodings, and crack hashes.
- CyberChef - A web app for encryption, encoding, compression and data analysis.
- Cryptii - Modular conversion, encoding and encryption online.
- dCode.fr - Solvers for Crypto, Maths and Encodings online.
- Decodify - Detect and decode encoded strings, recursively.
- Enigma Machine - Universal Enigma Machine Simulator.
- FeatherDuster - An automated, modular cryptanalysis tool.
- Galois - A fast galois field arithmetic library/toolkit.
- HashExtender - Tool for performing hash length extension attacks.
- Hash-identifier - Simple hash algorithm identifier.
- padding-oracle-attacker - CLI tool and library to execute padding oracle attacks easily.
- PadBuster - Automated script for performing Padding Oracle attacks.
- PEMCrack - Cracks SSL PEM files that hold encrypted private keys. Brute forces or dictionary cracks.
- PKCrack - PkZip encryption cracker.
- Polybius Square Cipher - Table that allows someone to translate letters into numbers.
- Quipqiup - Automated cryptogram solver.
- RSACTFTool - RSA multi attacks tool.
- RSATool - Tool to to calculate RSA and RSA-CRT parameter.
- Rumkin Cipher Tools - Collection of ciphhers/encoders tools.
- Vigenere Solver - Online tool that breaks Vigenère ciphers without knowing the key.
- XORTool - A tool to analyze multi-byte xor cipher.
- yagu - Automated integer factorization.
- Crackstation - Hash cracker (database).
- Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences - OEIS: The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences
Exploiting / Pwn
Tools used for solving Pwn challenges
- afl - Security-oriented fuzzer.
- honggfuzz - Security oriented software fuzzer. Supports evolutionary, feedback-driven fuzzing based on code coverage.
- libformatstr - Simplify format string exploitation.
- One_gadget - Tool for finding one gadget RCE.
- Pwntools - CTF framework for writing exploits.
- ROPgadget - Framework for ROP exploitation.
- Ropper - Display information about files in different file formats and find gadgets to build rop chains for different architectures.
- Shellcodes Database - A massive shellcodes database.
Forensics
Tools used for solving Forensics challenges
- Autopsy - End-to-end open source digital forensics platform.
- Binwalk - Firmware Analysis Tool.
- Bulk-extractor - High-performance digital forensics exploitation tool.
- Bkhive & samdump2 - Dump SYSTEM and SAM files.
- ChromeCacheView - Small utility that reads the cache folder of Google Chrome Web browser, and displays the list of all files currently stored in the cache.
- Creddump - Dump Windows credentials.
- Exiftool - Read, write and edit file metadata.
- Extundelete - Utility that can recover deleted files from an ext3 or ext4 partition.
- firmware-mod-kit - Modify firmware images without recompiling.
- Foremost - Console program to recover files based on their headers, footers, and internal data structures.
- Forensically - Free online tool to analysis image this tool has many features.
- MZCacheView - Small utility that reads the cache folder of Firefox/Mozilla/Netscape Web browsers, and displays the list of all files currently stored in the cache.
- NetworkMiner Network Forensic Analysis Tool (NFAT).
- OfflineRegistryView - Simple tool for Windows that allows you to read offline Registry files from external drive.
- photorec - File data recovery software designed to recover lost files including video, documents and archives from hard disks, CD-ROMs, and lost pictures (thus the Photo Recovery name) from digital camera memory.
- Registry Viewer - Tool to view Windows registers.
- Scalpel - Open source data carving tool.
- USBRip - Simple CLI forensics tool for tracking USB device artifacts (history of USB events) on GNU/Linux.
- Volatility - An advanced memory forensics framework.
- Wireshark - Tool to analyze pcap or pcapng files.
- X-Ways - Advanced work environment for computer forensic examiners.
Misc
Tools used for solving Misc challenges
Bruteforcers:
- changeme - A default credential scanner.
- Hashcat - Advanced Password Recovery.
- Hydra - Parallelized login cracker which supports numerous protocols to attack.
- John the Ripper - Open Source password security auditing and password recovery.
- jwt_tool - A toolkit for testing, tweaking and cracking JSON Web Tokens.
- Ophcrack - Free Windows password cracker based on rainbow tables.
- Patator - Multi-purpose brute-forcer, with a modular design and a flexible usage.
- Turbo Intruder - Burp Suite extension for sending large numbers of HTTP requests and analyzing the results.
Esoteric Languages:
- Brainfuck - Brainfuck esoteric programming language IDE.
- COW - It is a Brainfuck variant designed humorously with Bovinae in mind.
- Malbolge - Malbolge esoteric programming language solver.
- Ook! - Tool for decoding / encoding in Ook!
- Piet - Piet programming language compiler.
- Rockstar - A language intended to look like song lyrics.
- Try It Online - An online tool that has a ton of Esoteric language interpreters.
Sandboxes:
- Any.run - Interactive malware hunting service.
- Intezer Analyze - Malware analysis platform.
- Triage - State-of-the-art malware analysis sandbox designed for cross-platform support.
Reversing
Tools used for solving Reversing challenges
- Androguard - Androguard is a full python tool to play with Android files.
- Angr - A powerful and user-friendly binary analysis platform.
- Apk2gold - CLI tool for decompiling Android apps to Java.
- ApkTool - A tool for reverse engineering 3rd party, closed, binary Android apps.
- Binary Ninja - Binary Analysis Framework.
- BinUtils - Collection of binary tools.
- CTF_import - Run basic functions from stripped binaries cross platform.
- Compiler Explorer - Online compiler tool.
- CWE_checker - Finds vulnerable patterns in binary executables.
- Demovfuscator - A work-in-progress deobfuscator for movfuscated binaries.
- Disassembler.io - Disassemble On Demand. A lightweight, online service for when you donβt have the time, resources, or requirements to use a heavier-weight alternative.
- dnSpy - .NET debugger and assembly editor.
- EasyPythonDecompiler - A small .exe GUI application that will "decompile" Python bytecode, often seen in .pyc extension.
- Frida - Dynamic instrumentation toolkit for developers, reverse-engineers, and security researchers.
- GDB - The GNU Project debugger.
- GEF - A modern experience for GDB with advanced debugging features for exploit developers & reverse engineers.
- Ghidra - A software reverse engineering (SRE) suite of tools developed by NSA.
- Hopper - Reverse engineering tool (disassembler) for OSX and Linux.
- IDA Pro - Most used Reversing software.
- Jadx - Command line and GUI tools for producing Java source code from Android Dex and Apk files.
- Java Decompilers - An online decompiler for Java and Android APKs.
- JSDetox - A JavaScript malware analysis tool.
- miasm - Reverse engineering framework in Python.
- Objection - Runtime mobile exploration.
- Online Assembler/Disassembler - Online wrappers around the Keystone and Capstone projects.
- PEDA - Python Exploit Development Assistance for GDB.
- PEfile - Python module to read and work with PE (Portable Executable) files.
- Pwndbg - Exploit Development and Reverse Engineering with GDB Made Easy.
- radare2 - UNIX-like reverse engineering framework and command-line toolset.
- Rizin - Rizin is a fork of the radare2 reverse engineering framework with a focus on usability, working features and code cleanliness.
- Uncompyle - A Python 2.7 byte-code decompiler (.pyc)
- WinDBG - Windows debugger distributed by Microsoft.
- Z3 - A theorem prover from Microsoft Research.
Steganography
Tools used for solving Stego challenges
- AperiSolve - Platform which performs layer analysis on images.
- BPStegano - Python3 based LSB steganography.
- DTMF Tones - Audio frequencies common to a phone button.
- Exif - Shows EXIF information in JPEG files.
- Exiv2 - Image metadata manipulation tool.
- hipshot - Tool to converts a video file or series of photographs into a single image simulating a long-exposure photograph.
- Image Steganography - Client-side Javascript tool to steganographically hide/unhide images inside the lower "bits" of other images.
- ImageMagick - Tool for manipulating images.
- jsteg - Command-line tool to use against JPEG images.
- Outguess - Universal steganographic tool.
- Pngcheck - Verifies the integrity of PNG and dump all of the chunk-level information in human-readable form.
- Pngtools - For various analysis related to PNGs.
- sigBits - Steganography significant bits image decoder.
- SmartDeblur - Restoration of defocused and blurred photos/images.
- Snow - Whitespace Steganography Tool
- Sonic Visualizer - Audio file visualization.
- Steganography Online - Online steganography encoder and decoder.
- Stegbreak - Launches brute-force dictionary attacks on JPG image.
- StegCracker - Brute-force utility to uncover hidden data inside files.
- stegextract - Detect hidden files and text in images.
- Steghide - Hide data in various kinds of image- and audio-files.
- StegOnline - Conduct a wide range of image steganography operations, such as concealing/revealing files hidden within bits.
- Stegosaurus - A steganography tool for embedding payloads within Python bytecode.
- StegoVeritas - Yet another stego tool.
- stegseek - Lightning fast steghide cracker that can be used to extract hidden data from files.
- stegsnow - Whitespace steganography program.
- Stegsolve - Apply various steganography techniques to images.
- Zsteg - PNG/BMP analysis.
Web
Tools used for solving Web challenges
- Arachni - Web Application Security Scanner Framework.
- Beautifier.io - Online JavaScript Beautifier.
- BurpSuite - A graphical tool to testing website security.
- Commix - Automated All-in-One OS Command Injection Exploitation Tool.
- debugHunter - Discover hidden debugging parameters and uncover web application secrets.
- Dirhunt - Find web directories without bruteforce.
- dirsearch - Web path scanner.
- dontgo403 - Tool to bypass 40x errors.
- ffuf - Fast web fuzzer written in Go.
- git-dumper - A tool to dump a git repository from a website.
- Gopherus - Tool that generates gopher link for exploiting SSRF and gaining RCE in various servers.
- Hookbin - Free service that enables you to collect, parse, and view HTTP requests.
- JSFiddle - Test your JavaScript, CSS, HTML or CoffeeScript online with JSFiddle code editor.
- ngrok - Secure introspectable tunnels to localhost.
- OWASP Zap - Intercepting proxy to replay, debug, and fuzz HTTP requests and responses.
- PHPGGC - Library of PHP unserialize() payloads along with a tool to generate them, from command line or programmatically.
- Postman - Addon for chrome for debugging network requests.
- REQBIN - Online REST & SOAP API Testing Tool.
- Request Bin - A modern request bin to inspect any event by Pipedream.
- Revelo - Analyze obfuscated Javascript code.
- Smuggler - An HTTP Request Smuggling / Desync testing tool written in Python3.
- SQLMap - Automatic SQL injection and database takeover tool.
- W3af - Web application attack and audit framework.
- XSSer - Automated XSS testor.
- ysoserial - Tool for generating payloads that exploit unsafe Java object deserialization.
0x02. Resources
Online Platforms
Always online CTFs
- 247CTF - Free Capture The Flag Hacking Environment.
- Atenea - Spanish CCN-CERT CTF platform.
- CTFlearn - Online platform built to help ethical hackers learn, practice, and compete.
- CTF365 - Security Training Platform
- Crackmes.One - Reverse Engineering Challenges.
- CryptoHack - Cryptography Challenges.
- Cryptopals - Cryptography Challenges.
- echoCTF.RED - Online Hacking Laboratories.
- Hacker101 - CTF Platform by HackerOne.
- HackTheBox - A Massive Hacking Playground.
- HackThisSite - Free, safe and legal training ground for hackers.
- MicroCorruption - Embedded Security CTF.
- OverTheWire - Wargame offered by the OverTheWire community.
- picoCTF - Beginner-friendly CTF platform.
- Pwnable.kr - Pwn/Exploiting platform.
- Pwnable.tw - Pwn/Exploiting platform.
- Pwnable.xyz - Pwn/Exploiting platform.
- PWNChallenge - Pwn/Exploiting platform.
- Reversing.kr - Reverse Engineering platform.
- Root-me - CTF training platform.
- VibloCTF - CTF training platform.
- VulnHub - VM-based pentesting platform.
- W3Challs - Hacking/CTF platform.
- WebHacking - Web challenges platform.
- Websec.fr - Web challenges platform.
- WeChall - Challenge sites directory & forum
Self-hosted CTFs
- Damn Vulnerable Web Application - PHP/MySQL web application that is damn vulnerable.
- Juice Shop - Capture-the-Flag (CTF) environment setup tools for OWASP Juice Shop.
Collaborative Tools
- CTFNote - Collaborative tool aiming to help CTF teams to organise their work.
Writeups Repositories
Repository of CTF Writeups
- Courgettes.Club - CTF Writeup Finder.
- CTFtime - CTFtime Writeups Collection.
- Github.com/CTFs - Collection of CTF Writeups.
Courses
- Roppers Bootcamp - CTF Bootcamp.
0x03. Bibliography
The resources presented here have been gathered from numerous sources. However, the most important are: