Cryptography challenges
Recover a plaintext or a key from something that was supposed to protect it. In practice: identify the scheme, find the parameter the author got wrong, exploit it.
2,793 in the index. The 200 below are ranked by how many independent published solutions exist - which is the right order for learning, not for difficulty. A challenge with nine writeups gives you nine explanations of the same technique to compare; a harder one nobody documented gives you none.
Java Corporation
noxCTF 2018 201832 writeupsCR3: What is this encryption?
AlexCTF 201716 writeupsCR1 Ultracoded
AlexCTF 201714 writeups-.-
TAMUctf 19 201912 writeupsRevolutional Secure Angou
TokyoWesterns CTF 4th 2018 201812 writeupsCR4: Poor RSA
AlexCTF 201712 writeupsVigenere
SECCON 2016 Online CTF 201612 writeupsbase646464
redpwnCTF 2020 202011 writeupsAlgebra
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2018 201811 writeupsC8: captcha
Square CTF 2018 201810 writeupscryptoquizz
Insomni'hack teaser 2017 201710 writeupsRSA?
IceCTF 2016 201610 writeupsmodus_operandi
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2020 20209 writeupsTotem
b01lers CTF bootcamp 20209 writeupsCR2: Many time secrets
AlexCTF 20179 writeupsCrypto 1
HackIM 2016 20169 writeupsCrypto 2
HackIM 2016 20169 writeupsN1TP
H@cktivityCon 2021 CTF 20218 writeupsalien-transmissions-v2
redpwnCTF 2020 20208 writeupsauthy
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2020 20208 writeupschunk norris
Google Capture The Flag 2020 20208 writeupsitsy-bitsy
redpwnCTF 2020 20208 writeupsLet Her Eat Cake!
DawgCTF 2020 20208 writeupsprimimity
redpwnCTF 2020 20208 writeupsTitanic
TJCTF 2020 20208 writeupsWacko Images
ångstromCTF 2020 20208 writeupsAlphabet
FireShell CTF 2019 20198 writeupsFault Box
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2019 20198 writeupsMy Simple Cipher
Tokyo Westerns CTF 3rd 2017 20178 writeupsVC
VolgaCTF 2017 Quals 20178 writeupsSalad
RC3 CTF 2016 20168 writeupsnext-level
Nullcon Goa HackIM 2025 CTF 20257 writeupsExclusive Cipher
ångstromCTF 2021 20217 writeupsNintendo 64
Cyber Apocalypse 2021 20217 writeupsRSA - 1
DeconstruCT.F 2021 20217 writeupsRSA - 2
DeconstruCT.F 2021 20217 writeupsRSA - 3
DeconstruCT.F 2021 20217 writeups12-shades-of-redpwn
redpwnCTF 2020 20207 writeups4k-rsa
redpwnCTF 2020 20207 writeupsKeysar
ångstromCTF 2020 20207 writeupsNoname
VolgaCTF 2020 Qualifier 20207 writeupsone time bad
ångstromCTF 2020 20207 writeupspseudo-key
redpwnCTF 2020 20207 writeupsRainbow Vomit
Houseplant CTF 2020 20207 writeupsReasonably Strong Algorithm
ångstromCTF 2020 20207 writeupsTwinning
NahamCon CTF 20207 writeupsBlind
VolgaCTF 2019 Qualifier 20197 writeupsJociper
WPICTF 2019 20197 writeupsSuper Secure System
HSCTF 6 20197 writeupsC3: shredded
Square CTF 2018 20187 writeupsDiversity
h4ckc0n 2018 20187 writeupsGarfeld
IceCTF 2018 20187 writeupsmacsh
PlaidCTF 2018 20187 writeupsSecurity home cameras
Kaspersky Industrial CTF Quals 2017 20177 writeupsSherlock
BITSCTF 2017 20177 writeupsCrypto 50 - Crypto-Pirat
Internetwache CTF 2016 20167 writeupsCrypto 60 - Oh Bob!
Internetwache CTF 2016 20167 writeupsCrypto 80 - Procrastination
Internetwache CTF 2016 20167 writeupsRotated!
IceCTF 2016 20167 writeupsThe Best RSA
Hack The Vote 2016 20167 writeupsTOPKEK
Hack The Vote 2016 20167 writeupsBodu
ASIS CTF Finals 2015 20157 writeupsThe Encoder
KnightCTF 2022 20226 writeupsfibinary
corCTF 2021 20216 writeupsPhase Stream 2
Cyber Apocalypse 2021 20216 writeupsPhaseStream 1
Cyber Apocalypse 2021 20216 writeupsResult
CyberSecurityRumble CTF 20216 writeupsSubstitution
ångstromCTF 2021 20216 writeupsXMAS Spirit
Cyber Santa is Coming to Town 20216 writeupsAndroids Encryption
Pwn2Win CTF 2020 20206 writeupsASCII Sentence
Pragyan CTF 2020 20206 writeupsBeginner's Crypto
TSG CTF 2020 20206 writeupsBroken Yolks
Houseplant CTF 2020 20206 writeupsMeet me there
Byte Bandits CTF 2020 20206 writeupsPost-Homework Death
Houseplant CTF 2020 20206 writeupspyBonHash
Midnight Sun CTF 2020 Quals 20206 writeupsRandom ECB
UTCTF 2020 20206 writeupsRaspberry
NahamCon CTF 20206 writeups:)
TAMUctf 19 20196 writeups[basic]crypto
UTCTF 2019 20196 writeupsbrillouin
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2019 20196 writeupsOnce upon a time
Harekaze CTF 2019 20196 writeupsreal-baby-rsa
TokyoWesterns CTF 5th 2019 20196 writeupsReally Secure Algorithm
HSCTF 6 20196 writeupsRSAaaay
TAMUctf 19 20196 writeupsSanta's Signature
OverTheWire Advent Bonanza 2019 20196 writeupsShiny
RITSEC CTF 2019 20196 writeupsbabycrypto
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2018 20186 writeupscpushop
RCTF 2018 20186 writeupsmixed cipher
TokyoWesterns CTF 4th 2018 20186 writeupsNonsense
VolgaCTF 2018 Quals 20186 writeupsRule86
Insomni'hack teaser 2018 20186 writeupsscs7
TokyoWesterns CTF 4th 2018 20186 writeupsQubic Rube
SECCON 2017 Online CTF 20176 writeupsAlien Message
IceCTF 2016 20166 writeupsCats
RC3 CTF 2016 20166 writeupsCrypto 90 - Bank
Internetwache CTF 2016 20166 writeupsdes ofb
Boston Key Party CTF 2016 20166 writeupsl33tcrypt
IceCTF 2016 20166 writeupsRail Fence Cipher
Sharif University CTF 2016 20166 writeupsSPQR
ångstromCTF 2016 20166 writeupsTwin Primes
Tokyo Westerns/MMA CTF 2nd 2016 20166 writeupsVermatrix Supreme
Hack The Vote 2016 20166 writeupsVerticode
sCTF 2016 Q1 20166 writeupswhiter0se
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2015 20156 writeupscoinflip
Nullcon Goa HackIM 2025 CTF 20255 writeupskleinvieh
Nullcon Goa HackIM 2025 CTF 20255 writeupskleinvieh_2
Nullcon Goa HackIM 2025 CTF 20255 writeupsmany caesars
Nullcon Goa HackIM 2025 CTF 20255 writeupsregistration
Nullcon Goa HackIM 2025 CTF 20255 writeupswinter
DiceCTF 2024 Quals 20245 writeupsez-x0r
CrewCTF 2022 20225 writeupsPasswd
KnightCTF 2022 20225 writeups4096
corCTF 2021 20215 writeupsA Prime Hash Candidate
San Diego CTF 2021 20215 writeupsAlgoric-shift
S.H.E.L.L. CTF 20215 writeupsbaby
redpwnCTF 2021 20215 writeupsBreak Me!
DownUnderCTF 2021 (Online) 20215 writeupsCommon Mistake
Cyber Santa is Coming to Town 20215 writeupscookin the ramen
DawgCTF 2021 20215 writeupsEASY-RSA
S.H.E.L.L. CTF 20215 writeupsfactorize
0x41414141 CTF 20215 writeupsFollow the Currents
ångstromCTF 2021 20215 writeupsgipfel
hxp CTF 2021 20215 writeupsGotta Decrypt em All
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2021 20215 writeupsh4XOR
HeroCTF v3 20215 writeupshaxxor
S.H.E.L.L. CTF 20215 writeupsJust Take Your Time
DCTF 2021 20215 writeupsKeysar v2
ångstromCTF 2021 20215 writeupsLorem Ipsum
RITSEC CTF 2021 20215 writeupsMeet Me Halfway
Cyber Santa is Coming to Town 20215 writeupsminigen
RaRCTF 2021 20215 writeupsPythia
Google Capture The Flag 2021 20215 writeupsSmall P
UTCTF 2021 20215 writeupsSoulcrabber
Cyber Apocalypse 2021 20215 writeupsSubsi
S.H.E.L.L. CTF 20215 writeupsThe Conspiracy
DeconstruCT.F 2021 20215 writeupsThe Obligatory RSA Challenge
DawgCTF 2021 20215 writeupsdirty laundry
zer0pts CTF 2020 20205 writeupsExtra Careful Bank
Byte Bandits CTF 2020 20205 writeups*growls at the chicken*
riceteacatpanda 20205 writeups11
Houseplant CTF 2020 20205 writeupsbabyrsa
DownUnderCTF 2020 20205 writeupsBabyRSA
NeverLAN CTF 2020 20205 writeupsBeware the Ides of March
CyberYoddha CTF 2020 20205 writeupsBit Flip 1
Dragon CTF 2020 20205 writeupsCircles
TJCTF 2020 20205 writeupsCode On
riceteacatpanda 20205 writeupscoooppersmith
DEF CON CTF Qualifier 2020 20205 writeupsdifib
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2020 20205 writeupsHome Base
CyberYoddha CTF 2020 20205 writeupsHomecooked
NahamCon CTF 20205 writeupsHOOOOOOOOOOMEEEEEE RUNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!
riceteacatpanda 20205 writeupsInvitation
SarCTF by Saratov State University 20205 writeupslittle RSA
csictf 2020 20205 writeupsOmni Crypto
Pwn2Win CTF 2020 20205 writeupsOoo-la-la
NahamCon CTF 20205 writeupsPolyRSA
InCTF 2020 20205 writeupsPretty Ridiculous
AUCTF 2020 20205 writeupsRockPaperScissors
nullcon HackIM 2020 20205 writeupsShifter Salad
Affinity CTF Lite (Junior/Beginner) 20205 writeupsSign me up
AUCTF 2020 20205 writeupsSizzle
Houseplant CTF 2020 20205 writeupsThat's a Lot of Stuff . . .
riceteacatpanda 20205 writeupsA Lost Cause
HSCTF 6 20195 writeupsbyte_me
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2019 20195 writeupsClassy Cipher
ångstromCTF 2019 20195 writeupsEXORcism
Pragyan CTF 2019 20195 writeupsHalf and Half
ångstromCTF 2019 20195 writeupspre-legend
RITSEC CTF 2019 20195 writeupsrandom
RITSEC CTF 2019 20195 writeupsReally Secure Algorithm
ångstromCTF 2019 20195 writeupsReally Secure Algorithm Again
Inferno CTF 2019 20195 writeupsReverse Search Algorithm
HSCTF 6 20195 writeupsAccess Denied?
Codefest CTF 2018 20185 writeupsAES-128-TSB
Teaser Dragon CTF 2018 20185 writeupsCitroHash
RITSEC CTF 2018 20185 writeupsflatcrypto
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2018 20185 writeupsHidden Key
EasyCTF IV 20185 writeupsINTRO TO RSA
ångstromCTF 2018 20185 writeupslooser
Securinets CTF Quals 2018 20185 writeupsPerfect Secrecy
Google Capture The Flag 2018 (Quals) 20185 writeupsThe worst RSA Joke
Securinets CTF Quals 2018 20185 writeupsWorkshopHelper
SunshineCTF 2018 20185 writeupsAnother Xor
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2017 20175 writeupsBabyCrypt
CSAW CTF Qualification Round 2017 20175 writeupsBabyDLP
Tokyo Westerns CTF 3rd 2017 20175 writeupsBad Restaurant
Takoma Park CTF 20175 writeupsBeginner's luck
BITSCTF 2017 20175 writeupsBreaking Bad Key Exchange
nullcon HackIM 20175 writeupsCR5: Bring weakness
AlexCTF 20175 writeupsRSA-buffet
Boston Key Party CTF 2017 20175 writeupsStack Overflow
SHA2017 CTF 20175 writeupsVigenere3d
SECCON 2017 Online CTF 20175 writeupsBring the noise
Insomni'hack teaser 2016 20165 writeupsCode 70 - A numbers game II
Internetwache CTF 2016 20165 writeupsCrypto 3
HackIM 2016 20165 writeupsCrypto 4
HackIM 2016 20165 writeupsCrypto 5
HackIM 2016 20165 writeupsHot Sun?
The 318br, DESEC, and SucuriHC Capture The Flag (3DSCTF) 20165 writeups
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