Write Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) chains to exploit a vulnerable binary.
Pwntools, GDB, ROPgadget
20
File Upload Vulnerability Testing
Web Application Security
Exploit insecure file upload functionality on a website to upload malicious files.
Burp Suite, OWASP Juice Shop, Metasploit
21
Code Injection
Web Application Security
Inject code (e.g., PHP or Python) into a vulnerable application and execute remote commands.
Burp Suite, DVWA, bWAPP
22
Steganography Challenge
Information Hiding
Find and extract hidden information from image, audio, or video files using steganography techniques.
Steghide, Binwalk, StegoSolver
23
Active Directory Hacking
Network Security
Break into and escalate privileges in an Active Directory environment.
BloodHound, PowerView, Mimikatz, CrackMapExec
24
Mobile Application Hacking
Mobile Security
Perform security tests on Android or iOS applications to find vulnerabilities.
APKTool, Frida, MobSF, Drozer
25
DNS Spoofing & Poisoning
Network Exploitation
Carry out DNS spoofing attacks to redirect traffic to a malicious website or server.
Ettercap, DNSChef, dnsspoof
26
Log Analysis & Incident Response
Forensics
Analyze log files to identify signs of an attack and create an incident response report.
Kibana, Splunk, ELK Stack, Wireshark
Earn Achievement and Recognition
Leaderboard
A leaderboard award for hacking challenges typically recognizes the top performers in a hacking competition or challenge series. These awards encourage participants to compete and excel in solving challenges, identifying vulnerabilities, or exploiting systems in a controlled, ethical manner. Leaderboards are often used in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, bug bounty programs, or weekly/monthly cybersecurity challenges.
Category
Description
Leaderboard System
Ranks participants based on points earned by solving challenges, with real-time updates. Speed and accuracy are key.
Points System
Points awarded based on challenge difficulty: Easy (10-50 points), Medium (50-100 points), Hard (100-500 points).
Awards for Top Ranks
Cash prizes, trophies, certificates, internships, scholarships, or exclusive swag for top 3 or top performers.
Special Awards
Categories like Fastest Solver, Best Exploit, and Most Challenges Completed.
Participation Awards
Some competitions offer participation certificates or small rewards for completing a minimum number of challenges.
Rank Criteria
Participants are ranked based on points, number of challenges solved, and completion time as a tiebreaker.
Motivation
Encourages competition and engagement, helping participants improve their skills while aiming for higher rankings.
Competitions with Leaderboards
Capture The Flag (CTF), bug bounty programs (HackerOne, Bugcrowd), cybersecurity hackathons.
Hack of the week
The “Hack of the Week” Challenge is a weekly hacking competition or challenge series designed to help participants enhance their hacking and cybersecurity skills in a structured, time-bound environment. Each week, a new challenge is presented, focusing on different hacking techniques, vulnerabilities, or cybersecurity tasks. Participants are encouraged to solve the challenge within the week to earn points or rewards.
Category
Description
Challenge Frequency
Weekly challenges, each focusing on a new hacking or cybersecurity topic.
Skill Development
Practical skills in web security, cryptography, system exploitation, malware analysis, etc.
Difficulty Levels
Challenges available for beginner, intermediate, and advanced participants.
Time Limit
One week to solve each challenge, encouraging quick problem-solving.
Leaderboard
Tracks participants’ scores, ranking them based on points earned for challenge completion.
Awards & Recognition
Weekly or cumulative awards (e.g., certificates, digital badges, prizes) for top-performing hackers.
Learning Resources
Write-ups or solutions provided post-challenge to help participants learn from mistakes.
Community Engagement
Encourages collaboration and discussions in forums or chat groups to share ideas and solutions.
Challenge Examples
Web app exploitation, password cracking, privilege escalation, network sniffing, etc.
Interactive Hacking Quizzes
Interactive hacking quizzes are digital tools or platforms designed to test and enhance participants’ knowledge of cybersecurity and hacking concepts through engaging, scenario-based questions. These quizzes offer a hands-on learning experience where users are challenged to solve problems or answer questions based on real-world hacking techniques, vulnerabilities, or defense mechanisms.
