pwn

name

pwn

description

Solve CTF binary exploitation (pwn) challenges: buffer overflows, format strings, ROP chains, heap exploitation, and shellcoding. Use when given ELF/PE binaries with a remote service to exploit. Triggers: "buffer overflow", "format string", "ROP", "shellcode", "checksec", "NX", "canary", "PIE", "GOT overwrite", "ret2libc", pwntools scripts, .elf files, nc/netcat connection targets. Tools: checksec, ROPgadget, pwntools, gdb, one_gadget. NOT for static reverse engineering (use reverse).

CTF Pwn

Analyze and exploit binary exploitation challenges.

When to Use

Use this command for challenges involving:

• ELF binaries
• Buffer overflows
• Format string vulnerabilities
• ROP chains
• Heap exploitation

Bundled Scripts

• check-tools.sh — Verify required pwn tools are installed
• run-checksec.sh — Check binary protections (CANARY, NX, PIE, RELRO). Outputs JSON with protection status, attack vectors, and suggested exploitation strategy.

Instructions

1. First check tool availability: bash scripts/check-tools.sh

2. Start with checksec to understand binary protections:

   bash scripts/run-checksec.sh $ARGUMENTS
   

   The JSON output includes:

   • protections: status of each protection (enabled/disabled/partial)
   • attack_vectors: viable exploitation approaches
   • suggestions[0]: recommended exploitation STRATEGY based on protections

   Example: if stack_canary=disabled and nx=disabled, the strategy is "Classic buffer overflow with shellcode injection".

3. Based on checksec JSON, proceed with exploitation:

   No Canary + No NX (shellcode):

   from pwn import *
   p = process('./binary')
   shellcode = asm(shellcraft.sh())
   payload = shellcode + b'A' * (offset - len(shellcode)) + p64(buf_addr)
   p.sendline(payload)
   p.interactive()
   

   No Canary + NX + No PIE (ROP):

   ROPgadget --binary ./binary --re "pop rdi"
   

   payload = b'A' * offset + p64(pop_rdi) + p64(bin_sh) + p64(system)
   

   PIE enabled (need leak):

   • Leak address via format string or partial overwrite
   • Calculate base address
   • Build ROP chain with calculated addresses

4. Find offset to return address:

   from pwn import *
   print(cyclic(200))
   # After crash: cyclic_find(0x61616161)
   

Exploitation Checklist

1. Run binary, understand behavior
2. run-checksec.sh → read JSON attack_vectors
3. Find vulnerability (overflow, format string)
4. Find offset to control
5. Build exploit (shellcode or ROP)
6. Test locally, then remote

Team Roles

When using /ctf-kit:team-solve with a pwn challenge, the lead spawns 3 specialists.

Exploit-dev requires plan approval before connecting to remote targets.

Role	Teammate Name	Focus	Tools	First Action
Static Analyst	binary-analyst	checksec, disassembly, vulnerability identification, function mapping, string cross-refs	checksec, radare2, scripts/run-checksec.sh	Run checksec, disassemble main + interesting functions, identify vuln class
Exploit Developer	exploit-dev	Payload crafting, ROP chain building, shellcode, format string exploitation, ret2libc/ret2csu	pwntools, ROPgadget, one_gadget	Build exploit based on static analysis, find gadgets, calculate offsets
Dynamic Analyst	dynamic-analyst	GDB debugging, offset finding, leak discovery, heap state inspection, ASLR/PIE bypass	gdb, pwntools, ltrace, strace	Run binary with cyclic pattern, find crash offset, identify leakable addresses

Workflow coordination

The pwn team has a natural dependency chain:

1. Static analyst runs first → identifies protections and vulnerability type
2. Dynamic analyst runs in parallel → finds offsets and leaks
3. Exploit developer waits for both → builds the final exploit

When to broadcast

• Static: "Binary has no canary + no PIE, vuln in read() at offset 0x40" — exploit dev starts building
• Dynamic: "Crash at offset 72, libc leak via puts@GOT" — exploit dev uses these values
• Exploit dev: "Exploit works locally, switching to remote" — lead reviews plan before remote connection
• Any: "Got shell / found flag" — immediate broadcast, all stop

Example Usage

/ctf-kit:pwn ./challenge
/ctf-kit:pwn ./binary