+++
author = "Maik de Kruif"
title = "Holiday Hack Orientation"
subtitle = "Prologue - SANS Holiday Hack Challenge 2024"
date = 2024-11-21T13:46:55+01:00
description = "In the Holiday Hack Orientation, we meet Jingle Ringford, who introduces us to the 2024 SANS Holiday Hack Challenge. Our first task is simple; enter the correct answer in the “First Terminal” to unlock the gold medal and begin the adventure!"
cover = "img/writeups/holiday-hack-challenge/2024/prologue/orientation/cover.png"
tags = [
    "Holiday Hack Challenge",
    "ctf",
    "hacking",
    "writeup",
]
categories = [
    "ctf",
    "writeups",
    "hacking",
]
+++

## Link

If you want to play the challenge yourself, you can find it here:

<https://2024.holidayhackchallenge.com/>

## Story line

Let's start off by talking to the elf:

> Welcome to the Geese Islands and the 2023 SANS Holiday Hack Challenge!
>
> I'm Jingle Ringford, one of Santa's many elves.
>
> ...
>
> Just kidding! It's actually the 2024 SANS Holiday Hack Challenge!
>
> And although we're on Frosty's Beach on Christmas Island, we'll soon be on our way > back to the North Pole.
>
> I thought it best to wait here for people that heard we're on the Geese Islands but > may not know we're leaving.
>
> I haven't seen Santa since we started packing up, but he always asks me to give a > quick orientation to newcomers, so I'm continuing the tradition.
>
> Before you head out any further onto the island, you need to accomplish two simple > tasks.
>
> But first, here's a parting gift. I packed this snowball made of the magical, > never-melting snow of Christmas Island. A little souvenir to take with you when we > leave for the North Pole.
>
> Click on the snowball on your avatar. That's where you will see your Objectives, > Hints, resource links, and Conversations for the Holiday Hack Challenge.
>
> Now, click on the Cranberry Pi Terminal and follow the on-screen instructions.

## Solving

Okay, I doubt we'll need a long writeup here, the HHC starts off easy.

Next the elf there is a "First Terminal", let's open it. At the top we can see a simple instruction; "Enter the answer here".

{{< figure src="/img/writeups/holiday-hack-challenge/2024/prologue/orientation/terminal.png" title="First Terminal" >}}

Let's follow the instruction and enter the text in the top console. And that's it! We got the gold medal!