Symmetric Encryption & Key Management
Beginner60 min5 objectives

Symmetric Encryption & Key Management

Complete Symmetric Encryption & Key Management in a deterministic practice workspace without depending on unavailable host, cloud, hardware, desktop, or multi-node infrastructure.

Briefing

### Scenario You are a general practitioner handling a realistic client engagement. For Symmetric Encryption & Key Management, the client has provided a staging environment that mirrors production but is isolated to this lab. Your task is to demonstrate the core technique on the local target without touching external systems. The scenario is intentionally scoped to what you can verify inside the container. ### Environment and scope Use the Ubuntu 22.04 practice container. Working directory is `/home/student/lab-work` (create it with `mkdir -p`). Target is `127.0.0.1` and `127.0.0.1:8080` where a `python3 -m http.server` or service-specific daemon runs. Install only needed tools via `sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y curl, python3, nmap, openssl` then verify with `curl --version && python3 --version`. Credentials: `student:lab123` with `sudo` (created via `useradd` + `chpasswd` + `sudoers.d` as in `labs.service.ts:554`). Do not scan or query outside 127.0.0.0/8 or lab-work. Scope is strictly container-only; no external cloud, hardware, or nested container engines. ### Mission objective For Symmetric Encryption & Key Management: install and verify tooling, prepare the local target (`127.0.0.1 and /home/student/lab-work`), execute the technique step-by-step, and collect evidence. Each walkthrough step produces a verifiable artifact (file, command output, or service state) that you will cite in your submission. ### Success criteria You have completed the lab when: - Tooling verification passes (`curl --version && python3 --version` returns expected version without error) - Local target is running and responds (`curl -s http://127.0.0.1:8080/` or `dig @127.0.0.1` or `tshark -r` shows expected output) - `solution.md` in `lab-work` documents each step's exact command, raw output excerpt, and your interpretation (what the output proves) - All flag answers are direct values from your local output (e.g., version string, status code, IP, header name) and no external hosts were targeted (`history | grep -E "nmap|dig|tshark|openssl|nikto|curl"` shows only 127.0.0.1) Runtime mode: portable artifact validation

Objectives

  • 1Prepare workspace and verify tooling
  • 2Prepare local target for Symmetric Encryption & Key Management
  • 3Execute Symmetric Encryption & Key Management technique
  • 4Capture evidence
  • 5Complete Key Generator
  • 6Complete File Encryptor
  • 7Tune and interpret
  • 8Compile and verify submission

Flags

Key Generator+100 pts

Submit the verifiable output value for Key Generator as produced by the local tool on 127.0.0.1 (e.g., version, status, IP, or header).

File Encryptor+200 pts

Submit the verifiable output value for File Encryptor as produced by the local tool on 127.0.0.1 (e.g., version, status, IP, or header).

File Decryptor+200 pts

Submit the verifiable output value for File Decryptor as produced by the local tool on 127.0.0.1 (e.g., version, status, IP, or header).

PBKDF2 Deriver+200 pts

Submit the verifiable output value for PBKDF2 Deriver as produced by the local tool on 127.0.0.1 (e.g., version, status, IP, or header).

Key Rotator+200 pts

Submit the verifiable output value for Key Rotator as produced by the local tool on 127.0.0.1 (e.g., version, status, IP, or header).

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