Flag: HQX{24c0ce09e0e044fa1f45a1439d1d48f0}

Approach (Step by Step)

  1. After extracting the zip file I got a .png file. I knew it was a steganography challenge, and even after reading the description it confirmed it was a steganography challenge.
  2. Hence I proceeded with strings, exiftool, and various commands, but the line ‘just you, the pixels and a whisper of something more.’ gave a hint about LSB. I had two methods to use: using stegolsb or an online stegolsb decoder. I used both and got the same result from both.

Online Decoder:

Online LSB Decoder

Stegolsb Tool:

┌──(himanshu@Kaaammui)-[~/Desktop/tcs/layers]-(13-12-2025 10:41:23)
└─$ /home/himanshu/ctf/bin/python ~/.local/bin/stegolsb extract image_4F8aD5D762.png
10:41:50 [INFO] Hidden data:

HQX{24c0ce09e0e044fa1f45a1439d1d48f0}ÿþI$¶Ûm¶Ûmm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Û
m¶Ûmm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶ÛI$I$I$I$m¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Û¶Ûm¶ÛmI$I$I$I$$IÛ
m¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶Ûm¶$I$I$I$I$I$I

Flag with time:

Flag with time