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OverTheWire is a platform that teaches Linux and security concepts through wargames — terminal-based challenges where you find passwords to unlock the next level. No GUI, no hints, just you and a shell.
Each wargame targets a different skill level and topic, building from basic command-line navigation all the way up to binary exploitation and reverse engineering.
Each wargame has its own folder containing an index and one file per level. Every walkthrough follows the same structure: connection details, commands introduced, a step-by-step solution with explanations, and key takeaways.
Try the level yourself before opening the walkthrough. The struggle is where the learning happens.
Passwords are never published here, per OverTheWire's rules. The walkthroughs explain how to find the password — not what it is.
| Wargame | Difficulty | Topic | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandit | Beginner | Linux fundamentals, SSH, shell basics | 🟢 Completed (Levels 0–34) |
| Natas | Beginner | Web security, PHP, SQL injection | 🟠 In Progress (levels 0-27) |
| Leviathan | Beginner | Basic exploitation, SUID binaries | 🔴 Coming Soon |
| Krypton | Beginner → Intermediate | Cryptography and ciphers | 🔴 Coming Soon |
| Narnia | Intermediate | C binary exploitation, memory corruption | 🔴 Coming Soon |
| Behemoth | Intermediate | Binary exploitation, shellcode | 🔴 Coming Soon |
| Utumno | Intermediate | Advanced binary exploitation | 🔴 Coming Soon |
| Maze | Intermediate | Reverse engineering | 🔴 Coming Soon |
| Vortex | Advanced | Shellcoding, format strings | 🔴 Coming Soon |
| Manpage | Advanced | Linux internals | 🔴 Coming Soon |
| Drifter | Advanced | Heap exploitation | 🔴 Coming Soon |
| Formula | Advanced | Advanced exploitation | 🔴 Coming Soon |
overthewire/
│
├── README.md ← You are here
│
└── Bandit/
├── bandit-README.md ← Bandit index and level table
└── Walkthroughs/
├── how-to-connect-to-the-server.md
├── bandit-level-0-level-1.md
└── ...
New wargames will each get their own top-level folder following the same layout.
A terminal with SSH. That's it for most wargames.
| OS | Setup |
|---|---|
| Linux / macOS | SSH is built in — open a terminal and go |
| Windows | Windows Terminal + OpenSSH, or use WSL |
Later wargames (Narnia, Behemoth, Vortex) involve binary exploitation and will require additional tools like gdb and Python. Those are covered in their respective walkthroughs.
| Resource | What it's for |
|---|---|
| explainshell.com | Break down any shell command flag by flag |
| tldr.sh | Practical, example-driven man pages |
| The Linux Command Line (free) | Best beginner book for the terminal |
| OverTheWire official site | Game descriptions and hints |