ZeroDay CTF 2026 - Overview
ZeroDay CTF 2026 - Overview
Day Zero: Stepping into the Arena
This is where it all begins. As an 18-year-old, first-year university student, I recently participated in my very first Capture The Flag (CTF) competition. The event, titled Zero-Day, was organized by the SLIIT campus in Sri Lanka.
The Team: sudo rm -rf
I went into this challenge as part of a team we called sudo rm -rf (a nod to our Exploit-Syndicate roots). While the name suggests “deleting everything,” our goal was the opposite—to build our knowledge from the ground up.
The “Overwhelming” Reality
I’ll be honest: it was a bit overwhelming at first.
- The Atmosphere: Being surrounded by talented peers and complex challenges was a massive jump from theory. I felt like we were just a small fish in a big pond.
- The Pressure: With the clock ticking and servers sometimes going down, staying calm was the biggest challenge. Sometimes I felt like my mind was blank and I was just staring at the screen without knowing what to do. But we kept pushing forward, learning as we went.
Key Takeaways
- Persistence is Key: Even when you don’t find the flag immediately, every “failed” attempt is a lesson learned.
- Tools are Only Half the Battle: Tools like Burp Suite are great, but the mindset of how to use them is what matters most.
- Community Matters: Competing at SLIIT showed me the vibrant tech scene here in Sri Lanka, and I’m excited to grow within it.
The Unexpected Ascent
When I entered the Zero-Day CTF at SLIIT as an 18-year-old first-year student, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I felt overwhelmed and felt like we didn’t have much to offer compared to the experts. But we stood our ground, competed with the best of the best, and the results surprised everyone.
The Sudo rm -rf Achievement
Our team, sudo rm -rf, pushed through the challenges and secured a spot in the top 20—specifically around the 16th or 17th rank. While only the top 15 teams were originally selected for the Final Round, we were given the opportunity to advance.
Official update from the Zero-Day CTF admin confirming our advancement to the Final Round.
The Final Round Challenge
We were selected for the Final Round, but the journey wasn’t without its hurdles:
- Communication Issues: Due to some coordination gaps with the organizers, we didn’t get the information in time.
- Lack of Preparation: Because of the late notice, we had almost no time to prepare for the final stage.
- The Outcome: While we didn’t make it to the finals this time, the experience was invaluable.
Reflections on My First CTF
I am incredibly happy with our performance. Moving from a complete beginner to a finalist in a prestigious competition at SLIIT proves that the “Zero-Day” mindset is about growth, not just winning.
“We stood our ground and competed with the best. We will be back stronger next time.”
What’s Next?
This event has solidified my interest in red teaming and cybersecurity. I’ve learned that technical skill is important, but adaptability and persistence are what get you to the finals. And the most important thing is experience. It’s so much fun when my mind goes crazy trying to solve a challenge.
This is just the beginning of my journey. Stay tuned as I post the technical write-ups for the specific challenges we tackled!