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elements picoCTF 2024 Solution
Published: April 3, 2024
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Useful tools for Web Exploitation
- URL Encoder / DecoderEncode and decode URL-encoded (percent-encoded) strings. Useful for web exploitation challenges involving query parameters, form data, and HTTP headers.
- JWT DecoderDecode JSON Web Tokens and inspect the header, payload, and signature. Useful for web exploitation challenges.
- Base64 & Base32 DecoderDecode Base64 and Base32 strings with auto-detection. Multi-layer mode unwraps nested encodings automatically.
Related reading
- Server-Side Template Injection for CTF: Detection, Gadgets, and Filter BypassSubmit {{7*7}} to a form. If the page shows 49, you have SSTI. Here is how to go from that one test to full server compromise, and why the fix is one line of code.
- SQL Injection for CTF: From Authentication Bypass to Data ExtractionA practical guide to SQL injection techniques used in CTF competitions: authentication bypass, UNION-based extraction, blind SQLi, NoSQL injection, and sqlmap automation - with picoCTF challenge links throughout.
- What picoCTF Web Challenges Teach You About Real Bugs in ProductionEvery picoCTF web challenge maps to a specific mistake that still ships in production. A field guide to the five surfaces those challenges train, with writeups and the real incidents they rhyme with.
- Networking Tools for CTF ChallengesA hands-on guide to netcat, curl, Wireshark, and nmap for solving picoCTF web exploitation and general skills challenges.
What to try next
- Web ExploitationHard
paper-2
Chain an XSLT injection with a Redis LRU side-channel to exfiltrate the admin's secret from this hardened web app.
picoCTF 2026 - Web ExploitationMedium
Web Gauntlet 3
Defeat a heavily restricted SQL injection filter blocking most SQL keywords, operators, and special characters. Find a minimal injection payload that still bypasses login.
picoCTF 2021 - Web ExploitationMedium
Startup Company
Exploit a web application with a file upload vulnerability or server-side template injection. Navigate the business-themed interface to find and exploit the weakness.
picoCTF 2021 - Web ExploitationMedium
Web Gauntlet
5-round SQL injection with escalating keyword filters. Use string concatenation (ad'||'min') to reconstruct blocked keywords.
picoCTF 2020 Mini-Competition - Web ExploitationMedium
Web Gauntlet 2
Bypass an extended SQL injection filter that blocks common keywords and operators. Craft creative SQL payloads using alternative syntax to authenticate as admin.
picoCTF 2021 - Web ExploitationHard
X marks the spot
Exploit an XML external entity (XXE) injection or XPath injection vulnerability. Craft malicious XML input to extract server-side files containing the flag.
picoCTF 2021