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This Operation has concluded and is now closed for participation. See our most recent Operation in the Operation Category for the ongoing event.
This Capture the Flag event is themed after the legendary Cicada 3301 puzzles from 2012-2014. We have no affiliation with Cicada 3301, other than using the mystery as inspiration for this story driven CTF event.
Briefing
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: August 01, 2022, 21:00 EET
subject: Briefing “Cigale 1337”
Hey,
Hope your vacation went well! It’s good to have you back, we’ve got an unusual job for you that has the highest priority. You’re probably familiar with the Cicada 3301 puzzles from years ago. The internet hype that had people chasing around the world.
So, recently we’ve discovered what seems to be a recruitment effort by one of our competing agencies. Dimitri and his team have some indication that they’re based in France, but we’re not sure about this. They’ve taken a name close to Cicada, well the same but in French, and added different numbers.
It seems they’re using this as a recruitment tool to find new talent. As it stands, the market is fairly tight to find good OSINT people and hackers alike. With world war three kicking off, everyone needs more intel people.
Since this undermines our efforts of hiring the best people, HR asked us to find out what this puzzle is all about. Basically we want to complete it, understand it and possibly figure out who’s behind this. Most importantly, to figure out the actual puzzle. This will give us an estimate of the level of expertise our competitors are looking for.
There’s a slim chance of uncovering their shady puzzle. Below you find a link. It’s a password encrypted file with a riddle attached. Unfortunately that’s all we have, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out from here.
Epilogue
John had always known that he was destined for greatness. He was intelligent, resourceful, and driven, and he had always dreamed of being a secret agent. So when he heard about the mysterious “Cigale 1337” organization, he knew he had to find a way in.
The organization was known for its brutal recruitment process, and John knew that it wouldn’t be easy. But he was determined to prove himself, and he threw himself into the challenge with everything he had.
He spent months training his body and mind, preparing for the series of puzzles and challenges that lay ahead. And when the day finally came, he was ready.
The first challenge was a physical test, and John excelled. He was fast, agile, and strong, and he breezed through the obstacle course with ease. The second challenge was a mental test, and again, John shone. He was quick on his feet and had a natural aptitude for solving puzzles.
Finally, it was time for the third and final challenge. John was nervous as he stepped into the room, but he knew he had to stay focused. The task was simple: find the hidden code that would unlock the door.
John searched the room, his eyes scanning every inch for clues. And finally, he found it. A small scrap of paper hidden in a crevice in the wall. He snatched it up and raced to the door, his heart pounding in his chest.
He typed the code into the keypad and waited with bated breath as the door clicked open. He had done it. He had made it into the Cigale 1337.
As he stepped through the doorway, he was greeted by a man who introduced himself as his handler. “Welcome to the organization,” the man said with a smile. “I’m glad to have you on board. You have proven yourself to be a valuable asset.”
John grinned with pride. He had finally achieved his dream, and he knew that there was no limit to what he could accomplish as a member of the Cigale 1337.
Materials and Answer Instruction
Scoreboard: Operation Cigale 1337
| Special Agent Callsign | Position |
|---|---|
| \\’;|| | 100/100 |
| 7069wrk | 100/100 |
| AccessOSINT | 100/100 |
| Bagelnumberfive | 100/100 |
| Eduard | 100/100 |
| Stray | 100/100 |
| vert1cal | 100/100 |
| VoidBinary | 100/100 |
| C1PH3R | 80/100 |
| C1PH3R_3301 | 80/100 |
| dirion8 | 80/100 |
| nobasau | 80/100 |
| NothicEye | 80/100 |
| silhouette | 80/100 |
| asdf | 60/100 |
| blah | 60/100 |
| boubou40 | 60/100 |
| MTB8R | 60/100 |
| DerMichael | 40/100 |
| S/O la Kame House | 40/100 |
| adf | 20/100 |
| dssdws2323dx | 20/100 |
Write-ups: Operation Cigale 1337
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