Programming 10

[xelix]

If you have any questions about the mission, please post them in this thread instead of making multiple threads about it.

[dwmead03]

Topic brought to life!

Alright, so I'm at the very beginning of this mission and I'm stuck. I've got what I believe to be the data from the image, but I don't know what to do next. I notice that it has the same length as a certain hash would have when converted to a B***XX string, but when I tried converting the data I have from B***XX to a hash, it isn't right. So I'm assuming the data is a hash. Am I missing something, or have I just not looked hard enough to find the right type of hash?

Edit: Thought I had found the data, but was incorrect. Now I have found the data and started next part .

-- Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:50 am --

Alright, well now I am stuck on the next part. I have performed the first step and I believe I have got the correct data. It is a 64 character(32-byte) hexadecimal string. I noticed this could be a SHA256 hash, but I've tried numerous ways to brute-force it, including xYxxYYxYYx format, without any luck. Am I correct is assuming this is a SHA256 hash? A push in the right direction would be appreciated.

[f3jk3r]

I found hash 88 characters long. This can't be right. The mission instructs us to brute force hashes we find in each step. I haven't heard for algorithm that creates hashes 88 characters long (except for cold fusion according to google, which seems incorrect btw). Am I on the right track?

[dwmead03]

I found hash 88 characters long. This can't be right. The mission instructs us to brute force hashes we find in each step. I haven't heard for algorithm that creates hashes 88 characters long (except for cold fusion according to google, which seems incorrect btw). Am I on the right track?

There is something you can do with those 88 characters. Also, ensure you have the correct data, at first I was misleaded by what I thought was the data. BTW, I'm at the part just after where you are and still stuck.

[f3jk3r]

There is something you can do with those 88 characters. Also, ensure you have the correct data, at first I was misleaded by what I thought was the data. BTW, I'm at the part just after where you are and still stuck.

EDIT: I erased this part so it doesn't confuse others. Turned out I went completely off the road. Method(s) I was trying here were nonsense.

What makes me wonder is the line in the mission text: "In order to get this data you must brute-force the encrypted hashes you get in each step. To do this within the time limit you must write a smart brute forcing method, good luck."
I must brute-force every hash I get? Sure, I can try, but first I have to find hashing algorithm that outputs 88 characters as a result..

[dwmead03]

I guess I can repeat whole procedure a couple of times, which will in the end give me hash with 22 characters. Then what? Or maybe there is some other thing I can do with what I found? BTW, how can I be sure I have correct data? It is a hash made of hexadecimal numbers with length of 88 characters. I tried with several images and this is what I get every time.

What makes me wonder is the line in the mission text: "In order to get this data you must brute-force the encrypted hashes you get in each step. To do this within the time limit you must write a smart brute forcing method, good luck."
I must brute-force every hash I get? Sure, I can try, but first I have to find hashing algorithm that outputs 88 characters as a result..

Well, it seems like you have the right data, but maybe you don't need to decrypt it just yet. Read the instructions again and google around some more to find some that has 88 characters.

Edit: Actually, I lied. It seems you are really close to the correct data, but you don't have it. 88 is the correct length, but what else could you possibly use for the data?

[acskurucz]

yeah, 88 is the correct length of the hash. but it is just the first part of this mission. you have to figure out, what is that hash. the last chars are very helpful

[f3jk3r]

Yey! I had typo in my code. Again. Anyway, if last to characters shoud be something that would identify this as B***XX encoding, I don't get last two characters as such. Tried LSB method, tried some other approaches, all I get is jiberish. Back to work..

[acskurucz]

Yey! I had typo in my code. Again. Anyway, if last to characters shoud be something that would identify this as B***XX encoding, I don't get last two characters as such. Tried LSB method, tried some other approaches, all I get is jiberish. Back to work..

yeah, it should identify as ****XX, so you messed up something. check what is the x coordinate of the first pixel in a line. i can imagine that as the problem, but i don't know which chars have you got.

[f3jk3r]

yeah, it should identify as ****XX, so you messed up something. check what is the x coordinate of the first pixel in a line. i can imagine that as the problem, but i don't know which chars have you got.

Thanks acskurucz! Shit, didn't even try this way. Ok, I think I'm back on track (now I'm in the same position as dwmead03, with 32-byte hash).

EDIT: Just finished the mission. acskurucz, thanks again.