Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We are going to solve the Nintendo HireMe.cpp challenge with some "basic" math. I call it basic because linear algebra is taught pretty early in school. But I know it is not so easy to figure out that it can be used here. Also, the trick with GF(2) is math that you would only learn at university. But if you watched my videos, you would have known it from the software_update video writeup ;)
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Learn hacking on Hextree: hextree.io
Watch this video and more on Hextree: app.hextree.io/courses/yt-cryptography/cracking-with-z3-theorem-prover
Join the Hextree Discord: discord.gg/xgQpCQCpvy
Watch part 1 - Introduction: youtube.com/watch?v=6sHSDoJ5a1s
software_update challenge writeup: youtube.com/watch?v=EOlddNofKxo
HireMe.c: nerd.nintendo.com/files/HireMe
My Solution Notebook: gist.github.com/LiveOverflow/683181b72b4123fdb325956d6f038e72
SageMath and Jupyter Notebook: sagemath.org
z3: github.com/Z3Prover/z3
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
00:26 - What Made It Click?!
01:13 - Alternative Mathematical Representation
02:04 - Recognizing Linear Algebra
03:00 - Matrices Math
04:15 - Using SageMath
04:40 - Galois Field GF(2)
06:06 - Creating and Solving the System of Equations
08:23 - Tackling the XOR Bruteforce Part
09:40 - Start of Walkthrough: Inverting s-box
10:17 - inp_to_out() and Recursive solve_round()
11:10 - Generate Internal Input[] Candidates with z3
12:45 - Kicking off the Solving Algorithm
13:41 - Cliffhanger: SageMath + Jupyter Notebook
14:02 - Finding a Solution!!!!!
14:22 - Conclusion
15:22 - Outro
SUPPORT
Per video: patreon.com/join/liveoverflow
Per month: youtube.com/channel/UClcE-kVhqyiHCcjYwcpfj9w/join
Buy my handwriting font (ad): shop.liveoverflow.com
WATCH, FOLLOW & READ
Second channel: youtube.com/LiveUnderflow
Twitch: twitch.tv/LiveOverflow
Twitter: twitter.com/LiveOverflow
Instagram: instagram.com/LiveOverflow
TikTok: tiktok.com/@liveoverflow_
LiveOverflow blog: liveoverflow.com
Hextree blog (ad): hextree.io/blog
#CTF #Cryptography #LiveOverflow
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We are going to solve the Nintendo HireMe.cpp challenge with some "basic" math. I call it basic because linear algebra is taught pretty early in school. But I know it is not so easy to figure out that it can be used here. Also, the trick with GF(2) is math that you would only learn at university. But if you watched my videos, you would have known it from the software_update video writeup ;)
LEARN ON HEXTREE (ad)
Learn hacking on Hextree: hextree.io
Watch this video and more on Hextree: app.hextree.io/courses/yt-cryptography/cracking-with-z3-theorem-prover
Join the Hextree Discord: discord.gg/xgQpCQCpvy
Watch part 1 - Introduction: youtube.com/watch?v=6sHSDoJ5a1s
software_update challenge writeup: youtube.com/watch?v=EOlddNofKxo
HireMe.c: nerd.nintendo.com/files/HireMe
My Solution Notebook: gist.github.com/LiveOverflow/683181b72b4123fdb325956d6f038e72
SageMath and Jupyter Notebook: sagemath.org
z3: github.com/Z3Prover/z3
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
00:26 - What Made It Click?!
01:13 - Alternative Mathematical Representation
02:04 - Recognizing Linear Algebra
03:00 - Matrices Math
04:15 - Using SageMath
04:40 - Galois Field GF(2)
06:06 - Creating and Solving the System of Equations
08:23 - Tackling the XOR Bruteforce Part
09:40 - Start of Walkthrough: Inverting s-box
10:17 - inp_to_out() and Recursive solve_round()
11:10 - Generate Internal Input[] Candidates with z3
12:45 - Kicking off the Solving Algorithm
13:41 - Cliffhanger: SageMath + Jupyter Notebook
14:02 - Finding a Solution!!!!!
14:22 - Conclusion
15:22 - Outro
SUPPORT
Per video: patreon.com/join/liveoverflow
Per month: youtube.com/channel/UClcE-kVhqyiHCcjYwcpfj9w/join
Buy my handwriting font (ad): shop.liveoverflow.com
WATCH, FOLLOW & READ
Second channel: youtube.com/LiveUnderflow
Twitch: twitch.tv/LiveOverflow
Twitter: twitter.com/LiveOverflow
Instagram: instagram.com/LiveOverflow
TikTok: tiktok.com/@liveoverflow_
LiveOverflow blog: liveoverflow.com
Hextree blog (ad): hextree.io/blog
#CTF #Cryptography #LiveOverflow
(ad) LiveOverflow YouTube channel is supported by advertisement and product placement.
