Level 1 → 2

Level Goal

The password for the next level is stored in a file called - located in the home directory.

Write-Up

1. Verify the file's presence in the home directory:

ls

This confirms the existence of a file named -.

1. Display the content of the file:

cat ./-

Note: Use ./ to prefix the filename because cat interprets - as a synonym for the standard input (stdin) when used alone.

1. The revealed password is: 263JGJPfgU6LtdEvgfWU1XP5yac29mFx

2. Access the next level using the obtained password:

ssh [e-mail] -p 2220

Enter the password when prompted.

Lessons Learned

• Special characters in filenames can affect how commands interpret them

• The dash (-) is often used to represent stdin/stdout in Unix systems

• Using ./ before a filename tells the system to treat it as a file path

• Understanding how commands interpret arguments is crucial for handling unusual filenames

-- Othmane