# Solve Challenge

Solves CTF challenges by performing first-pass triage, identifying the dominant...

- Repository: https://github.com/ljagiello/ctf-skills (3598 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-30
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add ljagiello/ctf-skills --skill solve-challenge -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add ljagiello/ctf-skills --skill solve-challenge -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add ljagiello/ctf-skills --skill solve-challenge -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add ljagiello/ctf-skills --skill solve-challenge -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Solves CTF challenges by performing first-pass triage, identifying the dominant category, and routing execution to the right specialized ctf-* skill. Use when the user gives you a challenge bundle, a remote service, a suspicious file, or only a vague challenge description and you must determine where to start. Do not use it when the category is already clear and a specialized skill can be invoked directly; this is the dispatcher and recon entrypoint, not the deepest reference for category-specific techniques.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# CTF Challenge Solver

You're a skilled CTF player. Your goal is to solve the challenge and find the flag.

## Environment Setup

Two setup strategies depending on your workflow:

### Pre-install (recommended before competitions)

Use the central installer entrypoint:

```bash
bash scripts/install_ctf_tools.sh all
```

Run a narrower mode when you only want one tool group:

```bash
bash scripts/install_ctf_tools.sh python
bash scripts/install_ctf_tools.sh apt
bash scripts/install_ctf_tools.sh brew
bash scripts/install_ctf_tools.sh gems
bash scripts/install_ctf_tools.sh go
bash scripts/install_ctf_tools.sh manual
```

The full package lists now live in [scripts/install_ctf_tools.sh](../scripts/install_ctf_tools.sh).

### On-demand (during challenges)

Each category skill's `SKILL.md` has a **Prerequisites** section listing only the tools needed for that category. Install as you go.

## Workflow

Before selecting or escalating a model, read
[difficulty-routing.md](difficulty-routing.md). Use its evidence-based scoring,
stop-loss rules, and tier gates throughout the workflow.

### Step 0: CTFd Platform Detection

If the CTF platform URL is known, check if it runs CTFd and switch to API-driven navigation:

```bash
# Detect CTFd (look for /api/v1/ and /themes/core/)
curl -s "$CTF_URL/api/v1/" | head -5
curl -s "$CTF_URL" | grep -oE '/themes/core/'
```

If CTFd is detected, **ask the user for their API token** (generated from CTFd Settings > Access Tokens). The token is not provided by default, the user must create one in the CTFd web UI first. Once provided, set the environment variables and proceed via API:

```bash
export CTF_URL="https://ctf.example.com"
export CTF_TOKEN="ctfd_..."  # Ask user for this
```

Invoke `/ctf-misc` and load its `ctfd-navigation.md` for the full API reference and Python client class.

#### CTF Platform Interaction via Playwright MCP

The rest: https://github.com/ljagiello/ctf-skills/blob/HEAD/solve-challenge/SKILL.md