Hack-a-Sat

Hack-a-Sat

Satellite combines many challenging security domains, while Capture the Flag competitions are a practical way to explore these domains hands-on by designing, implementing, and solving realistic security challenges. This seminar combines both and focuses on creating high-quality challenges for a satellite- and space-themed Capture the Flag. Students will learn how to design and implement challenges, document intended solutions, and evaluate the quality and playability of their challenges.

Organization

In this seminar, you will create a high-quality CTF challenge in one of the following categories:

• Space Cryptography
• Mission Control Center
• On Board Computer Software
• Protocols
• RF

The seminar is structured around the process of designing, implementing, presenting, and playing CTF challenges. This includes:

• learning the important features of a good CTF challenge
• understanding the surrounding infrastructure
• developing a challenge with a clear goal, intended solution, and realistic technical setting
• giving update presentations on the progress of your challenge
• playing the final CTF and trying to solve the challenges created by others

Students will work on their own challenge throughout the semester and receive feedback during intermediate presentations.

Challenge Development

Each participant will design and implement a CTF challenge related to satellite or space systems security. The challenge should be technically meaningful, well documented, and suitable for other students to solve during the CTF play session.
The challenge should include the challenge files, deployment instructions, hints where appropriate, and a description of the intended solution.

Presentations

During the semester, each participant will give a presentation on their ideas for challenges. In addition, at the end of the seminar, each student will present their finished challenge.

Playing the CTF

At the end of the seminar, students will participate in a practice CTF and attempt to solve challenges created by other participants.

Important Dates

• Kick-off and introduction meeting: TBA
• Challenge idea presentations: TBA
• CTF play session: TBA
• Final challenge presentation: TBA
• Challenge & Write-Up submission deadline: TBA

Deliverables

• Mid-term presentation about your challenge Idea (20%)
• Final presentation of your challenge (40%)
• Challenge Write-Up & Challenge code (40%)