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A curated list of Capture The Flag (CTF) frameworks, libraries, resources, softwares and tutorials. This list aims to help starters as well as seasoned CTF players to find everything related to CTFs at one place.

Contributing

Please take a quick look at the contribution guidelines first.

If you know a tool that isn't present here, feel free to open a pull request.

Why?

It takes time to build up collection of tools used in CTF and remember them all. This repo helps to keep all these scattered tools at one place.

Contents

  • Create

    • Forensics
    • Platforms
    • Steganography
    • Web
  • Solve

    • Attacks
    • Bruteforcers
    • Cryptography
    • Exploits
    • Forensics
    • Networking
    • Reversing
    • Services
    • Steganography
    • Web
  • Operating Systems

  • Starter Packs

  • Tutorials

  • Wargames

  • Websites

  • Wikis

  • Writeups Collections

Create

Tools used for creating CTF challenges

Forensics

Dnscat2

Hosts communication through DNS.

Kroll Artifact Parser and Extractor (KAPE)

Triage program.

Magnet AXIOM

Artifact-centric DFIR tool.

Registry Dumper

Dump your registry.

Tools used for creating Forensics challenges

Platforms

CTFd

Platform to host jeopardy style CTFs from ISISLab, NYU Tandon.

echoCTF.RED

Develop, deploy and maintain your own CTF infrastructure.

FBCTF

Platform to host Capture the Flag competitions from Facebook.

HackTheArch

CTF scoring platform.

Mellivora

A CTF engine written in PHP.

MotherFucking-CTF

Badass lightweight plaform to host CTFs. No JS involved.

NightShade

A simple security CTF framework.

OpenCTF

CTF in a box. Minimal setup required.

PicoCTF

The platform used to run picoCTF. A great framework to host any CTF.

PyChallFactory

Small framework to create/manage/package jeopardy CTF challenges.

RootTheBox

A Game of Hackers (CTF Scoreboard & Game Manager).

Scorebot

Platform for CTFs by Legitbs (Defcon).

SecGen

Security Scenario Generator. Creates randomly vulnerable virtual machines.

Projects that can be used to host a CTF

  • Haaukins- A Highly Accessible and Automated Virtualization Platform for Security Education.

Steganography

Tools used to create stego challenges

Check solve section for steganography.

Web

Metasploit JavaScript Obfuscator
Uglify

Tools used for creating Web challenges

JavaScript Obfustcators

Solve

Tools used for solving CTF challenges

Attacks

Bettercap

Framework to perform MITM (Man in the Middle) attacks.

Yersinia

Attack various protocols on layer 2.

Tools used for performing various kinds of attacks

Crypto

CyberChef

Web app for analysing and decoding data.

FeatherDuster

An automated, modular cryptanalysis tool.

Hash Extender

A utility tool for performing hash length extension attacks.

padding-oracle-attacker

A CLI tool to execute padding oracle attacks.

PkCrack

A tool for Breaking PkZip-encryption.

QuipQuip

An online tool for breaking substitution ciphers or vigenere ciphers (without key).

RSACTFTool

A tool for recovering RSA private key with various attack.

RSATool

Generate private key with knowledge of p and q.

XORTool

A tool to analyze multi-byte xor cipher.

Tools used for solving Crypto challenges

Bruteforcers

Hashcat

Password Cracker

Hydra

A parallelized login cracker which supports numerous protocols to attack

John The Jumbo

Community enhanced version of John the Ripper.

John The Ripper

Password Cracker.

Nozzlr

Nozzlr is a bruteforce framework, trully modular and script-friendly.

Ophcrack

Windows password cracker based on rainbow tables.

Patator

Patator is a multi-purpose brute-forcer, with a modular design.

Turbo Intruder

Burp Suite extension for sending large numbers of HTTP requests

Tools used for various kind of bruteforcing (passwords etc.)

Exploits

DLLInjector

Inject dlls in processes.

libformatstr

Simplify format string exploitation.

Metasploit

Penetration testing software.

one_gadget

A tool to find the one gadget `execve('/bin/sh', NULL, NULL)` call.

Pwntools

CTF Framework for writing exploits.

Qira

QEMU Interactive Runtime Analyser.

ROP Gadget

Framework for ROP exploitation.

V0lt

Security CTF Toolkit.

Tools used for solving Exploits challenges

  • Cheatsheet
  • gem install one_gadget

Forensics

Aircrack-Ng

Crack 802.11 WEP and WPA-PSK keys.

Audacity

Analyze sound files (mp3, m4a, whatever).

Bkhive and Samdump2

Dump SYSTEM and SAM files.

CFF Explorer

PE Editor.

Creddump

Dump windows credentials.

DVCS Ripper

Rips web accessible (distributed) version control systems.

Exif Tool

Read, write and edit file metadata.

Extundelete

Used for recovering lost data from mountable images.

Fibratus

Tool for exploration and tracing of the Windows kernel.

Foremost

Extract particular kind of files using headers.

Fsck.ext4

Used to fix corrupt filesystems.

Malzilla

Malware hunting tool.

NetworkMiner

Network Forensic Analysis Tool.

PDF Streams Inflater

Find and extract zlib files compressed in PDF files.

Pngcheck

Verifies the integrity of PNG and dump all of the chunk-level information in human-readable form.

ResourcesExtract

Extract various filetypes from exes.

Shellbags

Investigate NT\_USER.dat files.

Snow

A Whitespace Steganography Tool.

USBRip

Simple CLI forensics tool for tracking USB device artifacts (history of USB events) on GNU/Linux.

Volatility

To investigate memory dumps.

Wireshark

Used to analyze pcap or pcapng files

OfflineRegistryView

Simple tool for Windows that allows you to read offline Registry files from external drive and view the desired Registry key in .reg file format.

Registry Viewer®

Used to view Windows registries.

Tools used for solving Forensics challenges

  • apt-get install aircrack-ng
  • apt-get install audacity
  • apt-get install samdump2 bkhive
  • apt-get install foremost
  • apt-get install pngcheck

Registry Viewers

Networking

Masscan

Mass IP port scanner, TCP port scanner.

Monit

A linux tool to check a host on the network (and other non-network activities).

Nipe

Nipe is a script to make Tor Network your default gateway.

Nmap

An open source utility for network discovery and security auditing.

Wireshark

Analyze the network dumps.

Zeek

An open-source network security monitor.

Zmap

An open-source network scanner.

Tools used for solving Networking challenges

  • apt-get install wireshark

Reversing

Androguard

Reverse engineer Android applications.

Angr

platform-agnostic binary analysis framework.

Apk2Gold

Yet another Android decompiler.

ApkTool

Android Decompiler.

Barf

Binary Analysis and Reverse engineering Framework.

Binary Ninja

Binary analysis framework.

BinUtils

Collection of binary tools.

BinWalk

Analyze, reverse engineer, and extract firmware images.

Boomerang

Decompile x86/SPARC/PowerPC/ST-20 binaries to C.

cwe_checker

cwe_checker finds vulnerable patterns in binary executables.

demovfuscator

A work-in-progress deobfuscator for movfuscated binaries.

Frida

Dynamic Code Injection.

GDB

The GNU project debugger.

GEF

GDB plugin.

Ghidra

Open Source suite of reverse engineering tools. Similar to IDA Pro.

Hopper

Reverse engineering tool (disassembler) for OSX and Linux.

IDA Pro

Most used Reversing software.

Jadx

Decompile Android files.

Java Decompilers

An online decompiler for Java and Android APKs.

Krakatau

Java decompiler and disassembler.

Objection

Runtime Mobile Exploration.

PEDA

GDB plugin (only python2.7).

Pin

A dynamic binary instrumentaion tool by Intel.

PINCE

GDB front-end/reverse engineering tool, focused on game-hacking and automation.

PinCTF

A tool which uses intel pin for Side Channel Analysis.

Plasma

An interactive disassembler for x86/ARM/MIPS which can generate indented pseudo-code with colored syntax.

Pwndbg

A GDB plugin that provides a suite of utilities to hack around GDB easily.

radare2

A portable reversing framework.

Triton

Dynamic Binary Analysis (DBA) framework.

Uncompyle

Decompile Python 2.7 binaries (.pyc).

WinDbg

Windows debugger distributed by Microsoft.

Xocopy

Program that can copy executables with execute, but no read permission.

Z3

A theorem prover from Microsoft Research.

Detox

A Javascript malware analysis tool.

Revelo

Analyze obfuscated Javascript code.

RABCDAsm

Collection of utilities including an ActionScript 3 assembler/disassembler.

Swftools

Collection of utilities to work with SWF files.

Xxxswf

A Python script for analyzing Flash files.

Tools used for solving Reversing challenges

  • ctf_import – run basic functions from stripped binaries cross platform.

JavaScript Deobfuscators

SWF Analyzers

Services

CSWSH

Cross-Site WebSocket Hijacking Tester.

Request Bin

Lets you inspect http requests to a particular url.

Various kind of useful services available around the internet

Steganography

AperiSolve

Aperi'Solve is a platform which performs layer analysis on image (open-source).

Convert

Convert images b/w formats and apply filters.

Exif

Shows EXIF information in JPEG files.

Exiftool

Read and write meta information in files.

Exiv2

Image metadata manipulation tool.

Image Steganography

Embeds text and files in images with optional encryption. Easy-to-use UI.

Image Steganography Online

This is a client-side Javascript tool to steganographically hide images inside the lower "bits" of other images

ImageMagick

Tool for manipulating images.

Outguess

Universal steganographic tool.

Pngtools

For various analysis related to PNGs.

SmartDeblur

Used to deblur and fix defocused images.

Steganabara

Tool for stegano analysis written in Java.

SteganographyOnline

Online steganography encoder and decoder.

Stegbreak

Launches brute-force dictionary attacks on JPG image.

StegCracker

Steganography brute-force utility to uncover hidden data inside files.

stegextract

Detect hidden files and text in images.

Steghide

Hide data in various kind of images.

StegOnline

Conduct a wide range of image steganography operations, such as concealing/revealing files hidden within bits (open-source).

Stegsolve

Apply various steganography techniques to images.

Zsteg

PNG/BMP analysis.

Tools used for solving Steganography challenges

  • apt-get install pngtools

Web

BurpSuite

A graphical tool to testing website security.

Commix

Automated All-in-One OS Command Injection and Exploitation Tool.

Hackbar

Firefox addon for easy web exploitation.

OWASP ZAP

Intercepting proxy to replay, debug, and fuzz HTTP requests and responses

Postman

Add on for chrome for debugging network requests.

Raccoon

A high performance offensive security tool for reconnaissance and vulnerability scanning.

SQLMap

Automatic SQL injection and database takeover tool.

W3af

Web Application Attack and Audit Framework.

XSSer

Automated XSS testor.

Tools used for solving Web challenges

pip install sqlmap

Resources

Where to discover about CTF

Operating Systems

Android Tamer

Based on Debian.

BackBox

Based on Ubuntu.

BlackArch Linux

Based on Arch Linux.

Fedora Security Lab

Based on Fedora.

Kali Linux

Based on Debian.

Parrot Security OS

Based on Debian.

Pentoo

Based on Gentoo.

URIX OS

Based on openSUSE.

Wifislax

Based on Slackware.

Flare VM

Based on Windows.

REMnux

Based on Debian.

Penetration testing and security lab Operating Systems

Malware analysts and reverse-engineering

Starter Packs

CTF Tools

Collection of setup scripts to install various security research tools.

LazyKali

A 2016 refresh of LazyKali which simplifies install of tools and configuration.

Collections of installer scripts, useful tools

Tutorials

CTF Field Guide

Field Guide by Trails of Bits.

CTF Resources

Start Guide maintained by community.

How to Get Started in CTF

Short guideline for CTF beginners by Endgame

Intro. to CTF Course

A free course that teaches beginners the basics of forensics, crypto, and web-ex.

IppSec

Video tutorials and walkthroughs of popular CTF platforms.

LiveOverFlow

Video tutorials on Exploitation.

MIPT CTF

A small course for beginners in CTFs (in Russian).

Tutorials to learn how to play CTFs

Wargames

Backdoor

Security Platform by SDSLabs.

Crackmes

Reverse Engineering Challenges.

CryptoHack

Fun cryptography challenges.

echoCTF.RED

Online CTF with a variety of targets to attack.

Exploit Exercises

Variety of VMs to learn variety of computer security issues.

Exploit.Education

Variety of VMs to learn variety of computer security issues.

Gracker

Binary challenges having a slow learning curve, and write-ups for each level.

Hack The Box

Weekly CTFs for all types of security enthusiasts.

Hack This Site

Training ground for hackers.

Hacker101

CTF from HackerOne

Hacking-Lab

Ethical hacking, computer network and security challenge platform.

Hone Your Ninja Skills

Web challenges starting from basic ones.

IO

Wargame for binary challenges.

Microcorruption

Embedded security CTF.

Over The Wire

Wargame maintained by OvertheWire Community.

PentesterLab

Variety of VM and online challenges (paid).

PicoCTF

All year round ctf game. Questions from the yearly picoCTF competition.

PWN Challenge

Binary Exploitation Wargame.

Pwnable.kr

Pwn Game.

Pwnable.tw

Binary wargame.

Pwnable.xyz

Binary Exploitation Wargame.

Reversin.kr

Reversing challenge.

Ringzer0Team

Ringzer0 Team Online CTF.

Root-Me

Hacking and Information Security learning platform.

ROP Wargames

ROP Wargames.

SANS HHC

Challenges with a holiday theme

SmashTheStack

A variety of wargames maintained by the SmashTheStack Community.

Viblo CTF

Various amazing CTF challenges, in many different categories. Has both Practice mode and Contest mode.

VulnHub

VM-based for practical in digital security, computer application & network administration.

W3Challs

A penetration testing training platform, which offers various computer challenges, in various categories.

WebHacking

Hacking challenges for web.

Damn Vulnerable Web Application

PHP/MySQL web application that is damn vulnerable.

Juice Shop CTF

Scripts and tools for hosting a CTF on [OWASP Juice Shop](https://www.owasp.org/index.php/OWASP_Juice_Shop_Project) easily.

Always online CTFs

released annually and maintained by SANS.

Self-hosted CTFs

Websites

Awesome CTF Cheatsheet

CTF Cheatsheet.

CTF Time

General information on CTF occuring around the worlds.

Reddit Security CTF

Reddit CTF category.

Various general websites about and on CTF

Wikis

Bamboofox

Chinese resources to learn CTF.

bi0s Wiki

Wiki from team bi0s.

CTF Cheatsheet

CTF tips and tricks.

ISIS Lab

CTF Wiki by Isis lab.

OpenToAll

CTF tips by OTA CTF team members.

Various Wikis available for learning about CTFs

Writeups Collections

0e85dc6eaf

Write-ups for CTF challenges by 0e85dc6eaf

Captf

Dumped CTF challenges and materials by psifertex.

CTF write-ups (community)

CTF challenges + write-ups archive maintained by the community.

CTFTime Scrapper

Scraps all writeup from CTF Time and organize which to read first.

HackThisSite

CTF write-ups repo maintained by HackThisSite team.

Mzfr

CTF competition write-ups by mzfr

pwntools writeups

A collection of CTF write-ups all using pwntools.

SababaSec

A collection of CTF write-ups by the SababaSec team

Shell Storm

CTF challenge archive maintained by Jonathan Salwan.

Smoke Leet Everyday

CTF write-ups repo maintained by SmokeLeetEveryday team.

Collections of CTF write-ups