Test your cyber skills: Join CAFCYBERCOM’s Capture the Flag challenge

October 7, 2025 - Defence Stories

Estimated read time – 2:15

The Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command (CAFCYBERCOM) will host a Capture the Flag (CTF) Cyber Skills challenge from October 22 to 23 during Communications and Electronics (C&E) Branch Week, using the globally recognized Hack The Box (HTB) platform. This hands-on event is designed to push participants’ cyber skills to the limit while fostering collaboration, innovation, and operational readiness across the CAF cyber community.

Open exclusively to serving CAF Regular and Reserve Force members, as well as civilian Department of National Defence (DND) employees, the competition provides a secure, realistic environment where participants test their technical abilities against puzzles and simulated cyber threats. Participants must register with their @forces.gc.ca or @ecn.forces.gc.ca email address but can maintain anonymity by using personal “handles” (usernames). Email addresses will remain visible only to CAFCYBERCOM event administrators.

What is a CTF challenge?

In a Capture the Flag competition, individuals solve cyber challenges to uncover hidden “flags”. These flags are earned by exploiting vulnerabilities, reversing binaries, analyzing cryptography, or investigating digital forensics artifacts. Success requires both offensive and defensive skills, reflecting the complexity of modern cyber operations.

CTF challenges vary in difficulty—some are designed for beginners to learn the basics, while others demand advanced technical expertise and real-world experience.

Hack The Box combines puzzle-style challenges with full “boxes” — virtual machines that simulate real-world systems. To complete a box, participants must discover, exploit, and escalate privileges to seize user and administrator-level flags. This mirrors the process of a real intrusion: reconnaissance, exploitation, and eventual system takeover.

Why it matters?

Cyber defence is a critical mission space for the CAF. Events like this CTF directly support force development by sharpening technical expertise and reinforcing the mindset needed for real-world operations. Participants learn to methodically enumerate systems, build hypotheses, and document findings — skills that transfer directly to operational problem-solving.

The event also strengthens CAF cyber readiness. By simulating adversarial tactics, participants gain firsthand experience in recognizing vulnerabilities and practicing response measures. Beyond technical skills, the competition builds teamwork, communication, and resilience under pressure. Importantly, the challenge provides CAFCYBERCOM with a unique opportunity to scout cyber athletes within the CAF — individuals who demonstrate exceptional skill, adaptability, and leadership in the cyber domain.

Skills and tools

Competitors will encounter challenges spanning network exploitation, web application testing, reverse engineering, and cryptography. Common tools include Nmap, Burp Suite, gobuster, Ghidra, and custom scripting. More than a test of knowledge, the challenge emphasizes persistence, creativity, and structured problem-solving.

Join the challenge

CAFCYBERCOM’s CTF Cyber Skills challenge is more than a competition — it is an opportunity to enhance your tradecraft, represent your unit, and contribute to the future of CAF cyber operations. For CAFCYBERCOM, it is also a chance to identify and cultivate the next generation of CAF cyber talent.

Registration for the CAFCYBERCOM’s Capture the Flag Cyber Skills challenge is now open. Be sure to create a Hack The Box account using your @forces.gc.ca or @ecn.forces.gc.ca email to register for this event.