Decrypting Top Secret Document

Introduction

In this challenge, you'll apply your knowledge of OpenSSL to decrypt sensitive information. Imagine you're a cybersecurity specialist who has intercepted an encrypted file. Your mission is to decrypt this file using the encryption details provided. This challenge will test your understanding of symmetric decryption using OpenSSL and reinforce the importance of proper key management.

Skills Graph

Decrypt a Classified Document

In this step, you'll decrypt a pre-existing encrypted file using OpenSSL.

Tasks

• Use OpenSSL to decrypt the pre-existing classified.enc file in the ~/project directory into decrypted.txt.
• Verify that the decryption was successful by comparing decrypted.txt with the provided checksum.

Requirements

• All operations must be performed in the ~/project directory.
• Use the AES-256-CBC decryption algorithm with PBKDF2.
• The decryption password is: S3cur3P@ssw0rd!.
• Store the decrypted file as decrypted.txt.
• Use appropriate OpenSSL commands for decryption.

Example

After completing the challenge, your terminal output might look similar to this:

cat ~/project/decrypted.txt

Sample decrypted text.

Summary

In this challenge, you applied your knowledge of OpenSSL to perform a practical decryption task. You decrypted a pre-existing encrypted file using OpenSSL with a strong algorithm and then verified its integrity. This exercise reinforced the importance of proper key management and the use of strong encryption methods to protect sensitive information.

The challenge simulated a real-world scenario where secure handling of confidential data is crucial. By completing this task, you've demonstrated your ability to use OpenSSL for basic cryptographic operations, a valuable skill in many cybersecurity roles.

Remember, while decryption is a powerful tool for accessing protected data, it's just one part of a comprehensive security strategy. As you continue your cybersecurity journey, you'll encounter many more techniques and best practices for safeguarding and accessing secure information.