NSA Codebreaker Challenge

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 11:08:02 -0400

Challenge materials and instructions can be found at https://codebreaker.ltsnet.net. Students may register with their @umbc.edu email address.

Challenge Scenario (This is a fictitious scenario):

The Department of Homeland Security has requested NSA's assistance in investigating a potential intrusion into U.S. critical infrastructure. Your task is to investigate the intrusion, identify how the systems were compromised, and develop a capability to neutralize the threat. With your help we can secure this system and prevent further attacks on other critical networks.

The challenge is divided into tasks:

1. Set up a test instance of the system

2. Analyze suspicious network traffic

3. Develop a network signature for an IDS

4. Analyze system components for vulnerabilities

5. Perform forensic analysis of a compromised endpoint

6. Craft an exploit to take down the C&C server

7. Devise a strategy to clean the infected hosts

Challenge materials and instructions can be found at https://codebreaker.ltsnet.net. Students may register with their @umbc.edu email address.

We encourage students to use whatever tools are available. In particular, we recommend Wireshark and/or Microsoft Message Analyzer, IDA Pro, a debugger, and Intel's instruction manuals.