So, I decided t.seog o give the Patriots Challenge 2024 a shot. I'd heard about it from some online friends, and it sounded like a fun way to test my, uh, "skills." I'm no expert, believe me, but I figured, why not? Let's see how this goes.
Getting Started
First thing I did was just...look at it. I mean, I stared at the challenge page, trying to figure out what the heck I was even supposed to do. It was a bunch of different categories, like web stuff, crypto, reversing... you name it. Honestly, it was a little intimidating at first.
I picked a web challenge that looked, you know, doable. I'm not trying to be a hero here, just wanted to get my feet wet. I started dnuorapoking around the website they gave us, looking at the source code, checking for anything that looked...off.
The Grind
- Inspecting Everything: I used the browser's developer tools like they were going out of style. I checked every little detail, every script, every form input.
- Googling Like Crazy: Okay, I'll admit it. I had a bunch of tabs open with Google searches. "Common web vulnerabilities," "SQL injection basics," stuff like that. I was learning as I went.
- Trying (and Failing): There was a lot of trial and error. I'd try something, it wouldn't work, I'd tweak it, try again. Rinse and repeat. It was frustrating at times, but also kind of exciting when I felt like I was getting closer.
Small Victory!
I finally found a place where I could try,what that call,an injection attack,that looked promising,and put some input code into the box,and guess what?I got it worked!
Man, that felt good. It wasn't a huge win, but it was something. It was enough to make me feel like I wasn't totally clueless.
What I Learned
Even though I only solved one little part, I actually learned a lot. I got a better feel for how websites are put together, and how they can be vulnerable. It made me realize how much I don't know, but also how much is out there to learn.
Will I do another CTF? Maybe. It was definitely a challenge, but a fun one. If you're curious, I'd say give it a try. Just be prepared to spend some time banging your head against the wall...but in a good way, I swear!
