Reverse Engineering: VM Bytecode Analysis

Analyze custom virtual machine bytecode to extract hidden credentials

Medium • 250 Points • CVSS 6.2
1
Bytecode Basics
2
String Decoding
3
Pattern Recognition
4
Flag Extraction
Stage 1: Bytecode Analysis

📜 Bytecode Program

0x0000: 01: PUSH 0x41 ('A')
0x0001: 01: PUSH 0x42 ('B')
0x0002: 03: ADD
0x0003: 12: PRINT
0x0004: 14: HALT
Bytecode Decoder Tool

Challenge Information

🎯 Objective: Analyze custom VM bytecode to extract the hidden flag.

🏆 Target Flag: CTF{VM_BYTECODE_REV_2024}

⏱️ Time Estimate: 20-30 minutes

🔧 Skills Required: Assembly understanding, hex analysis, pattern recognition

VM Instruction Set

Opcode Instruction Description
0x01 PUSH Push value onto stack
0x02 POP Pop value from stack
0x03 ADD Add top two stack values
0x04 SUB Subtract top two stack values
0x05 MUL Multiply top two stack values
0x06 DIV Divide top two stack values
0x07 XOR XOR top two stack values
0x08 AND AND top two stack values
0x09 OR OR top two stack values
0x0A CMP Compare top two stack values
0x0B JMP Unconditional jump
0x0C JE Jump if equal
0x0D JNE Jump if not equal
0x0E LOAD Load from memory
0x0F STORE Store to memory
0x10 CALL Call subroutine
0x11 RET Return from subroutine
0x12 PRINT Print top of stack
0x13 READ Read input
0x14 HALT Stop execution

Learning Objectives

  • Understand custom virtual machine architectures
  • Learn bytecode analysis and disassembly techniques
  • Practice reverse engineering without source code
  • Recognize cryptographic patterns in bytecode
  • Develop systematic analysis methodologies