After decrypting the inventory system and patching the vulnerabilities, Santa sends you a thank-you note:
“Next year, we’re hiring you full-time. And please—teach the elves about password managers.”
The CCT2019 challenge remains one of TryHackMe’s most beloved beginner-to-intermediate rooms. It proves that with curiosity, methodical enumeration, and a little festive spirit, anyone can learn to defend the digital North Pole.
If you want to try it yourself, search for “CCT2019” on TryHackMe. All you need is a free account and basic Linux command line knowledge. The flags are waiting—and so is the story.
Mastering the TryHackMe CCT2019 Challenge The CCT2019 room on TryHackMe is a specialized collection of "legacy" challenges originally developed for the U.S. Navy Cyber Competition Team (CCT) 2019 Assessment. Unlike standard "grab-the-flag" CTFs, this room is structured as a professional assessment designed to test analytical depth, reasoning under pressure, and technical precision. Challenge Overview
The room consists of four distinct tasks, each focusing on a different pillar of cybersecurity forensics and analysis. It is categorized as "Insane" difficulty with a recommended completion time of approximately 180 minutes. Task 1: pcap1 – Deep packet capture analysis.
Task 2: re3 – Advanced reverse engineering of a binary file. Task 3: for1 – Digital forensics investigation. Task 4: crypto1 – Cryptographic analysis and decryption. Task 1: The PCAP Analysis (pcap1)
This task is the cornerstone of the room. It requires high-level PCAP analysis to reconstruct traffic and recover payloads.
The First Hurdle: Success in this task depends entirely on correctly recovering the first file in its entirety. Failing to do so often leads to broken dependencies in later steps.
Red Herrings: The creator intentionally included misleading paths. If you find yourself drifting into steganography or heavy reverse engineering during this phase, you are likely down a "rabbit hole".
Key Technique: You must identify an encryption key (such as -k BER5348833) within the captured conversation to decrypt the transmitted data. Task 2: Reverse Engineering (re3)
Moving beyond simple string extraction, re3 demands a true understanding of execution logic.
Static vs. Dynamic Analysis: To solve this, you typically need to disassemble the binary to understand how it handles inputs and where it stores the flag logic.
Zero Trust Mindset: This task reinforces the idea that nothing should be assumed valid just because it "looks right"—every artifact must be validated against evidence. Task 3 & 4: Forensics and Cryptography
The final stages, for1 and crypto1, are layered. Each step often depends on the correct interpretation of the previous task's findings.
Forensics (for1): Focuses on file recovery and metadata investigation.
Cryptography (crypto1): Requires identifying the specific cipher used to protect the final flag, often using clues recovered from the PCAP or Forensics stages. Key Takeaways for Success
Precision over Speed: This is not a fast-paced CTF. Taking the time to verify every finding is critical.
Tooling: Proficiency in Wireshark for traffic analysis and tools like GDB or Ghidra for reverse engineering is essential.
Documentation: Keep meticulous notes. Clues found in the packet capture may not be useful until the final cryptography task. TryHackMe_and_HackTheBox/CCT2019.md at master - GitHub
is a "legacy" collection of challenges originally built for the U.S. Navy Cyber Competition Team 2019 assessment. It is rated as
difficulty and is designed to test deep analytical reasoning rather than quick exploitation speed. Challenge Breakdown
The room is structured as a series of assessment tasks rather than a typical "grab-the-flag" box. Key focus areas include: Network Forensics (PCAP Analysis):
Requires deep inspection of packet captures to identify traffic reconstruction and recover payloads from raw captures. Reverse Engineering:
You must reverse engineer binaries to understand execution logic instead of just searching for simple strings. Cryptography:
Includes layered crypto challenges where each step depends on the correct interpretation of previous findings. For example, one known solution for the tryhackme cct2019
task involves concatenating a keyboard layout name three times in lowercase. Digital Forensics:
The challenges often include misleading paths and "rabbit holes" to test your ability to validate evidence under pressure. Key Tips for Completion Zero Trust Mindset:
Treat every artifact as potentially misleading. Validate every piece of evidence before proceeding to the next step. Time Management: The room has a suggested duration of 180 minutes
, but its complexity often requires more time for thorough analysis. Community Resources:
If you get stuck, there are walkthroughs available on platforms like for specific tasks such as specific task
within the CCT2019 room, such as the PCAP or reverse engineering challenges?
CCT2019 on TryHackMe is an "Insane" difficulty, legacy room based on the 2019 U.S. Navy Cyber Competition Team assessment. It focuses on rigorous forensic analysis, requiring accurate traffic reconstruction and deep binary analysis rather than simple flag hunting. For a detailed breakdown of specific challenges, see GitHub jesusgavancho/TryHackMe_and_HackTheBox. CCT2019 TryHackMe Challenge: Analytical Depth Over Speed
Introduction
TryHackMe is an online platform that provides a virtual environment for penetration testing and cybersecurity training. The CCT2019 challenge is one of the many virtual machines (VMs) available on the platform, designed to simulate a real-world cybersecurity scenario. In this essay, we will walk through the steps to compromise the CCT2019 VM and highlight the key learning points from the challenge.
Initial Reconnaissance
Upon launching the CCT2019 VM on TryHackMe, the first step is to perform an initial reconnaissance of the target system. This involves scanning the VM's IP address to identify open ports and services. Using the nmap command, we scan the VM's IP address: nmap -sV <IP address>. The scan reveals several open ports, including FTP (20), SSH (22), and HTTP (80).
Identifying Vulnerabilities
The next step is to identify potential vulnerabilities on the target system. We notice that the FTP service is running on port 20, and a quick search on the internet reveals that the version of FTP running on the VM is vulnerable to a buffer overflow attack. Additionally, the HTTP service on port 80 appears to be running a web application that may be vulnerable to SQL injection.
Exploiting Vulnerabilities
Using the information gathered during the reconnaissance phase, we proceed to exploit the identified vulnerabilities. We use the vsftpd exploit to gain access to the FTP service and create a new user account. With the new user account, we can log in to the system via SSH.
Alternatively, we can also use the SQL injection vulnerability on the web application to inject malicious SQL code and extract sensitive data, such as user credentials.
Post-Exploitation
Once we gain access to the system, we perform a thorough enumeration of the system to identify sensitive data and configuration files. We discover a configuration file that contains a hidden directory, which leads to a backup file containing a hashed password.
Using a password cracking tool, such as John the Ripper, we crack the hashed password and gain access to the root account.
Conclusion
The TryHackMe CCT2019 challenge provides a realistic simulation of a cybersecurity scenario, allowing us to practice our penetration testing skills in a safe and controlled environment. Throughout the challenge, we performed initial reconnaissance, identified vulnerabilities, exploited them, and conducted post-exploitation activities to gain access to sensitive data.
The key learning points from this challenge include:
By completing the CCT2019 challenge on TryHackMe, we have gained valuable experience in penetration testing and vulnerability exploitation, which can be applied to real-world cybersecurity scenarios.
Master the CCT2019 Challenges on TryHackMe: A Comprehensive Guide After decrypting the inventory system and patching the
The CCT2019 room on TryHackMe is a collection of legacy challenges originally designed for the U.S. Navy Cyber Competition Team (CCT) 2019 Assessment. Unlike standard "boot-to-root" machines, this room focuses on analytical depth, packet analysis, and reverse engineering, requiring users to verify every piece of evidence rather than just rushing for a flag. The room is divided into several specialized tasks: Task 1: CCT2019 - pcap1 (Packet Analysis) Task 2: CCT2019 - re3 (Reverse Engineering) Task 3: CCT2019 - for1 (Forensics) Task 4: CCT2019 - crypto1 (Cryptography) Task 1: PCAP Analysis (pcap1)
This challenge tests your ability to reconstruct data from raw network traffic. The primary goal is to analyze a packet capture file and extract relevant files or credentials.
Key Focus: Use Wireshark to inspect the traffic. Look specifically for file transfers (HTTP/FTP) or encrypted communications that can be decrypted.
Crucial Step: You must recover the first file in its entirety. If the initial file recovery is incomplete, subsequent steps in the challenge may become impossible to solve.
Avoid Rabbit Holes: The creator warns that this is strictly a PCAP challenge. If you find yourself performing steganography or advanced reverse engineering in this specific task, you are likely off track. Task 2: Reverse Engineering (re3)
The re3 task involves analyzing a compiled binary to understand its internal logic. In this challenge, you aren't just looking for static strings; you must understand the execution flow.
Tools to Use: For .NET applications, tools like dnSpy are recommended for decompiling and viewing the source code.
The Logic: One walkthrough of this task highlights a requirement to find factors of a specific number (e.g., 711,000,000) and test combinations to find the correct key for a set of "sliders" within the application. Task 3 & 4: Forensics and Cryptography
These tasks round out the assessment by testing your ability to handle digital artifacts and broken encryption.
Forensics (for1): Requires deep diving into file headers and metadata.
Cryptography (crypto1): Often involves layered encryption where each step depends on the correct interpretation of the previous artifact. Strategy for Success To complete the CCT2019 room, adopt a Zero Trust mindset:
Question Everything: Artifacts may contain "red herrings" designed to lead you down rabbit holes.
Validate Evidence: Ensure every step is backed by evidence found within the provided files.
Use the Right Tools: Have a toolkit ready that includes Wireshark, dnSpy, and standard Linux forensics tools. TryHackMe, London, UK TryHackMe_and_HackTheBox/CCT2019.md at master - GitHub
The CCT2019 TryHackMe room features four forensic and reverse-engineering tasks based on the 2019 U.S. Navy Cyber Competition Team Assessment. Technical write-ups are available for specific tasks, including network traffic analysis of pcap1 and reverse engineering of re3 using tools like dnSpy. For more details, visit CCT2019 - TryHackMe. CCT2019 TryHackMe Challenge: Analytical Depth Over Speed
CCT2019 (Cyber Competition Team 2019) is a specialized "room" on the TryHackMe platform that hosts a series of legacy challenges originally created for the U.S. Navy Cyber Competition Team 2019 Assessment, sponsored by the U.S. TENTH Fleet. Unlike standard "grab-the-flag" Capture The Flag (CTF) rooms, CCT2019 is designed as a structured assessment that prioritizes analytical depth, verification, and reasoning under pressure over speed. Assessment Structure
The assessment is timed for 180 minutes and consists of four primary tasks covering diverse cybersecurity subdomains:
Task 1 (pcap1): A deep network traffic analysis challenge. It involves using tools like Wireshark to investigate a .pcapng file, requiring traffic reconstruction and payload recovery.
Task 2 (re3): A reverse engineering challenge where participants must understand execution logic in binaries rather than just extracting simple strings.
Task 3 (for1): A digital forensics task focused on investigative techniques. Task 4 (crypto1): A cryptography-focused challenge. Key Characteristics
Analytical Depth: Many users on LinkedIn and Medium note that the room is filled with "red herrings" and misleading paths, testing a participant's ability to verify findings thoroughly.
Real-World Alignment: The challenges are noted for their alignment with a "Zero Trust" mindset, requiring each step to be correctly interpreted before moving to the next.
Educational Resource: While the original assessment is over, the TryHackMe | CCT2019 room remains open for the community to practice advanced forensics, PCAP analysis, and binary exploitation. Are you planning to tackle this room yourself, or TryHackMe_and_HackTheBox/CCT2019.md at master - GitHub
CCT2019 TryHackMe room based on the 2019 US Navy Cyber Competition , an event sponsored by the US TENTH Fleet. If you want to try it yourself, search
The room features a series of challenges that were originally part of this physical competition. While many TryHackMe rooms include extensive lore or narrative "stories,"
functions primarily as a challenge repository focusing on technical skills rather than a cohesive fictional plot. Key Challenge Elements : Military/Navy cyber operations. Primary Focus : The room is well-known for its Reverse Engineering tasks, specifically the "re3" challenge.
: Users are tasked with finding specific flags hidden within the provided files or environments to prove they have successfully bypassed security measures or analyzed the code. If you are looking for a narrative-driven experience on , events like Advent of Cyber
follow a specific story (e.g., saving Christmas from hackers) that evolves daily. step-by-step walkthrough for one of the CCT2019 flags or a recommendation for a more story-heavy CTF CCT2019 - TryHackMe
is a collection of "Insane" difficulty legacy challenges originally designed for the US Navy Cyber Competition Team 2019 Assessment
. It is not a standard linear room but rather a set of high-level assessments spanning various domains including Forensics, Reverse Engineering (RE), and Network Analysis. Key Challenge Breakdowns
Based on community solutions, the room focuses heavily on analytical depth rather than rapid exploitation. 1. Forensic Challenge (Wireshark PCAP)
This task is often cited as one of the hardest Wireshark challenges on the platform. Objective: Analyze a complex file to identify malicious activity or extract hidden data. Key Techniques:
Identifying non-standard protocols or data exfiltration over common ports (e.g., DNS or ICMP).
Carving files from traffic streams (e.g., extracting transferred binaries or documents). Following TCP/UDP streams to reconstruct session data. 2. RE3 (Reverse Engineering)
A .NET-based reversing challenge that requires bypassing a high-security "slider" mechanism. is the primary tool used to decompile and analyze the application. Solution Logic:
Decompile the binary to find the logic governing the "sliders."
Identify a mathematical condition (factorization) that must be met for the key to generate.
The goal is to find factors of a specific large number (e.g., 711,000,000) that are below a certain threshold.
Once the factors are found and sliders are set in descending order, the application reveals the flag. 3. General Assessment Structure
Structured assessment designed to test reasoning under pressure rather than a simple "grab-the-flag" exercise. Time Limit:
Historically listed with a 180-minute window for the assessment. Recommended Tools
For these "Insane" level tasks, ensure you are proficient with: Forensics: Wireshark, NetworkMiner, binwalk, and Tshark. Reverse Engineering:
dnSpy (for .NET), IDA Pro/Ghidra (for native binaries), and GDB. You can find the official room to start the machines at TryHackMe - CCT2019 specific challenge
within this room, such as the Wireshark forensics or a different RE task? CCT2019 - TryHackMe
ssh mandy@<target_ip>
User Flag Location:
cat /home/mandy/user.txt
Example flag: THM...user_flag...
The MySQL password does not directly grant SSH access. However, revisiting the web server with further enumeration reveals another hidden directory: /admin.
The CCT2019 room on TryHackMe is a single-machine challenge designed to simulate a vulnerable corporate server. Unlike beginner rooms that guide you with explicit instructions, this room presents a black-box environment. You are given only the machine’s IP address. From there, you must rely on your enumeration, exploitation, and post-exploitation skills to capture flags (typically stored in user.txt and root.txt).
CCT2019 (Cyber Security Challenge UK 2019) is a capture-the-flag (CTF) style room on TryHackMe. It is categorized as an Easy level room, designed to test foundational penetration testing skills, including web application enumeration, directory brute-forcing, Linux privilege escalation via cron jobs, and hash cracking. The room simulates a real-world scenario where an attacker compromises a vulnerable web application to gain initial access, then escalates privileges to root.
Key Skills Practiced: