s4.out

Platform: CUSTOM | Category: Reversing | Type: Challenge | Difficulty: Easy | OS: N/A | **Author: XESXOR Techniques: address_offset_calculation, character_by_character_validation, static_disassembly

Summary

Walkthrough of the CUSTOM Reversing s4.out. A 32-bit ELF executable compiled from C++. Classic serial number validation crackme where the goal is to find the correct serial that passes all validation checks.

Description

Language: C. Download binary: s4.out (ELF 32-bit) or s4.exe (PE32). Flag is the correct serial number.

A 32-bit ELF executable compiled from C++. Classic serial number validation crackme where the goal is to find the correct serial that passes all validation checks.

Analysis

1. File reconnaissance:

   • file s4.out shows: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, Intel 80386, dynamically linked, not stripped
   • strings s4.out reveals:
     • "Enter serial number:"
     • "Serial number is correct!"
     • "Error! Serial number is wrong!"
   • Key symbols from nm: main at 0x080484eb, _Z5Checkv (Check()) at 0x08048546 ‍​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‍

2. main() function analysis:

   • Prints "Enter serial number: "
   • Reads up to 11 bytes via fgets() into a global buffer at 0x804a048
   • Calls Check() function
   • If Check() returns true → prints "Serial number is correct!"
   • If Check() returns false → prints "Error! Serial number is wrong!"

3. Check() function disassembly: The validation function performs character-by-character comparison in scrambled order:

 c read-only • copy allowed Copy
bool Check() {
    if (strlen(Buf) <= 5) return false;
    
    if (Buf[3] != 'a') return false;  // 0x61
    if (Buf[1] != '1') return false;  // 0x31
    if (Buf[5] != 'B') return false;  // 0x42
    if (Buf[0] != 'c') return false;  // 0x63
    if (Buf[2] != '4') return false;  // 0x34
    if (Buf[4] != 'e') return false;  // 0x65
    
    return true;
}

‍​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‍

1. Validation logic:
   • Length must be > 5 (at least 6 characters)
   • Six character comparisons with early-exit on mismatch:
     • Buf[0] == 'c' (0x63)
     • Buf[1] == '1' (0x31)
     • Buf[2] == '4' (0x34)
     • Buf[3] == 'a' (0x61)
     • Buf[4] == 'e' (0x65)
     • Buf[5] == 'B' (0x42)

Solution

Reconstructing the serial by mapping each character to its position:

 python read-only • copy allowed Copy
#!/usr/bin/env python3
# Reconstruct serial from Check() comparisons

checks = {
    0: 'c',  # 0x63
    1: '1',  # 0x31
    2: '4',  # 0x34
    3: 'a',  # 0x61
    4: 'e',  # 0x65
    5: 'B',  # 0x42
}
‍​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‍

serial = ''.join(checks[i] for i in range(6))
print(f"Serial: {serial}")
# Output: REDACTED

Verification:

$ echo "REDACTED" | ./s4.out
Enter serial number: Serial number is correct!

‍​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‍

Key Takeaways / Lessons

• Mastering address_offset_calculation, character_by_character_validation, static_disassembly was key to this challenge.
• Always check for common misconfigurations and verify assumptions.

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Crafted by XESXOR Research • 2026-03-25 • CUSTOM • s4.out • Difficulty: Easy