tutorial · bandit

Bandit Level 6 → 7

Search the server by owner, group, and byte size while controlling error noise.

By

banditfindpermissionsstderr
Marks this level complete in your browser.

Goal

Find a 33-byte file on the server owned by user bandit7 and group bandit6.

Why this matters

System-wide searches require precise metadata predicates and deliberate handling of expected permission errors.

Progressive hints

  1. Hint 1

    The search root must cover the server, not only the home directory.

  2. Hint 2

    Owner, group, and size are separate find predicates.

  3. Hint 3

    Permission-denied text is stderr, not a failed match.

Method

Run only the lines that match the evidence you observe.

find / -type f -user bandit7 -group bandit6 -size 33c 2>/dev/null
file <path-from-find>
cat <path-from-find>

Expected non-secret observation

After expected access errors are suppressed, one matching file path remains.

Explanation

The metadata predicates narrow the filesystem; 2>/dev/null redirects only diagnostic output.

Troubleshooting

  • Check that group is bandit6 and owner is bandit7.
  • Remove the redirection temporarily if you need to diagnose a malformed command.

Safety and cleanup

  • Use only the OverTheWire game host and your own local practice directory.
  • Do not paste a level password into this site, screenshots, notes, or submissions. Baitaphish never asks for credentials.
  • Treat commands as learning prompts: inspect paths and flags before running them.

Completion and next step

Use the recovered credential only in the official Level 7 login. Then mark this transition complete and continue.