STORY DRIVEN OSINT CTF

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The Cartel Connection

Briefing

Greetings, Special Agent.

We were contacted by our friends at the National Police of Colombia. They’ve been investigating a drug cartel. Now this is not anything new, especially in their region. However, last week one of their undercover operatives went missing.

Special Agent “Diego Alejandro Martinez Nunez” went dark for several days, after which his handler received a single photograph with the text “help, they will kill me”. Not a trace was found after this contact, which occurred yesterday afternoon at 14:37 Colombia Standard Time.

There is a slim chance the special agent is still alive. We also know the cartel operates only inside Colombia, mostly involved in moving goods overseas using various ships. This should narrow our search down to mostly coastal regions.

Your assignment is to find where the picture was taken. Colombian police is on high alert and ready to move as soon as we have a location.

As always, Special Agent, the Contract is yours, if you choose to accept.

Materials

Answer Instruction

Use the answer to unlock the flagfile, this will reward you with your badge.

Answer Format: streetname-number-neighborhood-city-district-country

Answer Sample: calle-9-sagoc-santiago-de-tolu-sucre-colombia

Flagfile

Be advised, the flagfile is an encrypted ZIP. Make sure your OS supports the ZIP format. Ensure the password contains no hidden characters or formatting, paste in Notepad first if the password doesn’t seem to work.

Download Flagfile here

PS: Don’t forget to claim your Coins and XP, by posting your card in the #card-brag channel in Discord.

Official Write-up

Provided here is the official write-up, it does contain the answer. Use this if you’re stuck, or want to verify if you got the answer correct.

The Cartel Connection

This contract involves a Colombian police undercover agent named Diego Alejandro Martinez Nunez who has gone missing while investigating a notorious drug cartel. The player’s task is to geolocate the location where Diego sent a distress photo from, in order to help rescue him.

Challenge Objectives

  • Analyze the provided photo to determine the location
  • Format the location details into the correct password structure
  • Submit the password to unlock the next step

Solution Steps

Step 1: Geolocate the Photo

The briefing states that the handler for the missing agent, Luis, received a photo with the message “help, they will kill me.” This photo is provided as the starting material for the contract.

By carefully examining the details in the photo, the player should be able to determine that it was taken at a beach house located on Calle 106 #1111, in the Riomar neighborhood of Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia.

Step 2: Generate the Password

The password format for this contract is:

calle-106-riomar-barranquilla-atlantico-colombia

This includes the street name and number, neighborhood, city, district, and country.

Additional Context

The briefing emphasizes that the drug cartel Diego was investigating operates primarily along the coastal regions of Colombia, narrowing down the potential location.

Tips for Players

  • Thoroughly examine the provided photo for any location-specific details
  • Pay close attention to street names, neighborhoods, cities, and other geographic indicators
  • Ensure the password is formatted exactly as specified in the instructions
  • Be prepared for potential additional challenges or layers within the full contract

Creator(s): Frank Diepmaat