I Want To Play a Game

What do I need?

• Laptop w/ software (Kali recommended)
  • rdap
  • dig
  • wireshark
  • ssh client
  • nmap
  • aircrack-ng
  • dirbuster
  • proxychains
  • StrongSwan
• Linux/CLI/Terminal skills
• Network cable
• Network adaptor
• Curiosity and the ability to learn new things
• An AI friend (optional)

Networks

Once you are connected to the VPN, the following networks will be used in the challenges.

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 | VPC Name     | CIDR Block      | Purpose                           | Key Features                     |
 |--------------|-----------------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 | Intro VPC    | 10.11.0.0/16    | Entry point for participants      | Basic introduction challenges    |
 | VLAN VPC     | 10.22.0.0/16    | VLAN configuration challenges     | Network segmentation exercises   |
 | Routing VPC  | 10.33.0.0/16    | Advanced routing challenges       | Network path optimization        |
 | Web VPC      | 10.44.0.0/16    | Web application security          | HTTP, the killer app             |
 | DNS VPC      | 10.55.0.0/16    | DNS-related challenges            | Learn how DNS runs the Internet  |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Flags

The games use two types of flags.

1. Informational - You will be directed to find a specific piece of information.
2. Hidden - You will need to solve a riddle or challenge and find the flag in this format. flag{THIS_IS_THE_FLAG} In this example either flag{THIS_IS_THE_FLAG} or THIS_IS_THE_FLAG would be accepted for flag. This is not just an example, this is the flag for the start here challenge.
3. There will be no flags hidden in videos. The CTF is playable without watching any of the videos.

VPN Access

You will use StrongSwan to connect to the VPN. The credentials you receive are in the form of two configuration files: ipsec.conf and ipsec.secrets. What you do with these files depends on your OS.

Linux

Install from package manager or compile from source.

% sudo apt-get install strongswan  # Debian based Linux
% sudo yum install strongswan  # RHEL/CentOS/Fedora Linux
% sudo pacman -S strongswan  # Arch Linux

Once installed copy ipsec.conf and ipsec.secrets to /etc

You will need to be root to start and stop the VPN.

$ sudo ipsec restart  # reload config if running or start if not started
$ sudo ipsec up gate  # start connection to vpn.networkgames.live.

To stop the VPN.

$ sudo ipsec down gate
$ sudo ipsec stop

Mac

Install from HomeBrew

% brew install strongswan

Once StrongSwan is installed ipsec.conf and ipsec.secrets need to be put in the correct directory. Depending on how old your Mac is it will be in either /usr/local/etc or /opt/homebrew/etc The StrongSwan install puts default copies in the correct location. Check to see if the files are in /opt/homebrew/etc and if they are overwrite them with your copies from the challenge. If they are not, then put them in /usr/local/etc

You will need to be root to start and stop the VPN.

% sudo ipsec restart  # reload config if running or start if not started
% sudo ipsec up gate  # start connection to vpn.networkgames.live.

To stop the VPN.

% sudo ipsec down gate
% sudo ipsec stop