Briefing
Greetings, Special Agent.
Glad you could make it. One of our oldest clients, a wealthy French businessman, is requesting we find a location where a conversation between two of his rivals will take place. These two have been after our clients’ fortune for a long time, endlessly scheming to end his business endeavors. After their recent attempt to sink one of our clients’ boats off the coast of Spain, while his wife and daughter were on board, our client has had enough.
The plan is to uncover the location of their meeting and have one of our Field Agents plant a listening device. This will record the meeting and lead to the valuable information our client is looking for. Using this information our client plans to take down the businesses of both rivals.
After their businesses are destroyed, we will be called upon again to fully end their existence. Something that, given the high profile of these men, wil make the Tiberian Order a hefty amount of money. As well as some very good standing with the French elite.
There is a catch to this however. We don’t know where this meeting will take place. Our client was able to intercept an image of the meeting location, which will take place 3 days from now at noon. Besides this photo, we know these rivals share a common interest in luxurious lifestyles along the coastlines of Western and Southern Europe.
Using this information and the intercepted image below, it is your task to figure out exactly where this meeting will take place. Our Field Agent closest to this region will take over from there.
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: country-zipcode-streetname-number
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.
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.
⚠️ SPOILER: Official Write-up
The Listeners CTF Write-up
This CTF challenge involves locating a future meeting place between two business rivals in order to plant a listening device. The objective is to analyze an intercepted image and determine the exact address of the meeting location, which will be used to generate a password for accessing the contract card.
Available Materials
- An intercepted photograph of the meeting location
- Context that the targets favor luxurious lifestyles along Western and Southern European coastlines
- Information about the meeting taking place at noon in 3 days
Background Story
The challenge is set against the backdrop of corporate espionage and revenge. A wealthy French businessman’s yacht was attacked off the Spanish coast, endangering his wife and daughter. After their rescue, he seeks to gather intelligence on his rivals through a planted listening device, ultimately planning to destroy their businesses.
Solution Path: Geolocation
The primary solving method involves careful analysis of the provided photograph to identify its location in Monaco. Key elements to consider:
- Geographical Context:
- Focus on Western and Southern European coastlines
- Look for areas known for luxury and wealth
- Consider locations popular with French business elites
- Visual Analysis:
- Architecture style
- Street layout
- Building characteristics
- Any visible signage or distinctive features
- Specific Location:
- The location is on Boulevard de Belgique in Monaco
- Building number 32
- Located in the 98000 postal code area
Password Generation
The password must follow this specific format:
country-zipcode-streetname-numberThe correct password format would be:
Monaco-98000-Boulevard-de-Belgique-32Key formatting rules:
- Use dashes between each component
- Include the country name
- Include the full street name with proper capitalization
- Include the building number
- Include the postal code
Tips for Solvers
- Start with the broader geographical context of Western/Southern Europe
- Focus on high-end areas given the targets’ preference for luxury
- Use multiple mapping tools to cross-reference potential locations
- Pay careful attention to architectural styles and building patterns
- Double-check all components of the password format
- Verify street names and numbers using official sources
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don’t forget any components of the password format
- Ensure proper capitalization in street names
- Verify the exact postal code
- Double-check for proper hyphenation
- Make sure to use the official street name spelling
Additional Context
The challenge plays into the broader narrative of high-stakes business rivalry and revenge, set against the backdrop of luxury European locations. Monaco, as the solution, perfectly fits the profile given:
- Known for wealth and luxury
- Popular with French business elite
- Coastal location
- Distinctive architecture and urban planning
Success Criteria
You’ll know you’ve found the correct location when:
The location fits the context of the mission briefing
The building matches the intercepted photograph exactly
The address components all align with official records
The generated password successfully unlocks the ZIP file
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.
⚠️ SPOILER: Official Write-up
The Listeners CTF Write-up
This CTF challenge involves locating a future meeting place between two business rivals in order to plant a listening device. The objective is to analyze an intercepted image and determine the exact address of the meeting location, which will be used to generate a password for accessing the contract card.
Available Materials
- An intercepted photograph of the meeting location
- Context that the targets favor luxurious lifestyles along Western and Southern European coastlines
- Information about the meeting taking place at noon in 3 days
Background Story
The challenge is set against the backdrop of corporate espionage and revenge. A wealthy French businessman’s yacht was attacked off the Spanish coast, endangering his wife and daughter. After their rescue, he seeks to gather intelligence on his rivals through a planted listening device, ultimately planning to destroy their businesses.
Solution Path: Geolocation
The primary solving method involves careful analysis of the provided photograph to identify its location in Monaco. Key elements to consider:
- Geographical Context:
- Focus on Western and Southern European coastlines
- Look for areas known for luxury and wealth
- Consider locations popular with French business elites
- Visual Analysis:
- Architecture style
- Street layout
- Building characteristics
- Any visible signage or distinctive features
- Specific Location:
- The location is on Boulevard de Belgique in Monaco
- Building number 32
- Located in the 98000 postal code area
Password Generation
The password must follow this specific format:
country-zipcode-streetname-numberThe correct password format would be:
Monaco-98000-Boulevard-de-Belgique-32Key formatting rules:
- Use dashes between each component
- Include the country name
- Include the full street name with proper capitalization
- Include the building number
- Include the postal code
Tips for Solvers
- Start with the broader geographical context of Western/Southern Europe
- Focus on high-end areas given the targets’ preference for luxury
- Use multiple mapping tools to cross-reference potential locations
- Pay careful attention to architectural styles and building patterns
- Double-check all components of the password format
- Verify street names and numbers using official sources
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don’t forget any components of the password format
- Ensure proper capitalization in street names
- Verify the exact postal code
- Double-check for proper hyphenation
- Make sure to use the official street name spelling
Additional Context
The challenge plays into the broader narrative of high-stakes business rivalry and revenge, set against the backdrop of luxury European locations. Monaco, as the solution, perfectly fits the profile given:
- Known for wealth and luxury
- Popular with French business elite
- Coastal location
- Distinctive architecture and urban planning
Success Criteria
You’ll know you’ve found the correct location when:
The location fits the context of the mission briefing
The building matches the intercepted photograph exactly
The address components all align with official records
The generated password successfully unlocks the ZIP file
Creator(s): Frank Diepmaat