CTF Write-Up Template
Writing a clear and well-structured CTF write-up is one of the best ways to improve your skills and contribute to the cybersecurity community. For newcomers, the process can feel a bit unclear at first—what should you document, how detailed should it be, and how do others typically format their solutions? This guide breaks down a simple, consistent structure you can follow for any challenge. It helps you capture your thought process, document the tools and steps you used, and present your solution in a way that’s helpful both for yourself later on and for others learning from your work.
Template Structure
- Challenge Overview
- Challenge Name
- Category: (Web, Crypto, Forensics, Reverse Engineering, etc.)
- Difficulty or Initial Points or Points earned
- Description
- Provided Files / URL
- Goal: Describe the objective of the challenge and what you need to obtain (usually the flag).
- Initial Analysis: Explain your first steps
- What you examined first
- Any assumptions or hypotheses
- Tools used for reconnaissance
- Solution Path: Provide a detailed, step-by-step explanation of how you solved the challenge:
- Commands, scripts, or code snippets
- Screenshots (optional)
- Dead ends or mistakes you made along the way
- Flag Capture: Show the final step that produced the flag.
- Important: Do not share flags publicly if the CTF rules prohibit it or the event is still running.
- Flag:
flag{example_flag_here}
- Conclusion: Summarize what you learned from the challenge and any tips for others attempting it.