> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://linuxhandbook.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Command Conqueror
- URL: https://linuxhandbook.com/ctf/command-conqueror/
- Published: 2026-09-30T11:41:25.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-30T11:41:25.000Z
- Description: Ten Linux command line puzzles, from hidden files to SUID privilege escalation. Free, no account needed, runs in Docker on your computer.
- Author: Yash Kiran Patil
- Tags: CTF, #group-ctf-games, #docs-col

Command Conqueror is a capture-the-flag game with 10 levels of Linux command line puzzles. It starts with hidden files and ends with a privilege escalation.

Each level drops you into a small Linux system ruled by **Lord Tuxi**, who leaves you a riddle and hides a flag. Use real commands to find the flag, submit it and climb the leaderboard.

It's free, and you don't need an account to play. Although, you can link it with your Linux Handbook member account and have your progress saved across time and systems.

## Quick start

You need Linux or macOS with Docker running, and Python 3.7 or newer. On Windows, use WSL 2.

Download the game and run it:

```bash
curl -fsSLO https://ctf.linuxhandbook.com/play.py
python3 play.py

```

Pick a handle, then choose **Command Conqueror** from the menu. Type `play` to enter the first level and start with:

```bash
cat hint.txt

```

When you find a flag (it looks like `LHB{...}`), copy it, type `exit` and submit it:

```
submit LHB{...}

```

If Docker complains about permissions, run `sudo python3 play.py` instead. For the full setup, the commands and the FAQ, see the [main CTF page](https://linuxhandbook.com/ctf/).

## The levels

Here's what each level tests, without giving anything away.

| Level | Points | Skills                               |
| ----- | ------ | ------------------------------------ |
| 1     | 100    | Hidden files                         |
| 2     | 150    | Searching the filesystem             |
| 3     | 200    | Awkward file names                   |
| 4     | 250    | Archives                             |
| 5     | 300    | Cron and encrypted archives          |
| 6     | 350    | Processes and local network services |
| 7     | 400    | Process environments                 |
| 8     | 450    | Log filtering and text processing    |
| 9     | 500    | Hard links and inodes                |
| 10    | 600    | SUID and privilege escalation        |

That's 3,300 points in total. You solve the levels in order, and each one gives its points once.

The first few are friendly if you've used a terminal before. By level 8, you'll be chaining `grep`, `awk` and friends together. Level 10 starts you as an ordinary user and asks you to think like an attacker.

## Leaderboard

**–**players

**–**flags captured

**–**finished every level

Players who cleared each level

| #                    | Handle | Levels | Score |
| -------------------- | ------ | ------ | ----- |
| Loading leaderboard… |        |        |       |

Show top 100 

The leaderboard updates live. Players with the same score are ranked by who got there first. A ✓ next to a handle means it's linked to a Linux Handbook account.

## Tips

Read the hint more than once. Lord Tuxi likes wordplay, so read the verses closely, not just the words.

Look beyond the folder you start in. Many flags are elsewhere on the system, or held by something that's running.

If you break a level, type `restart` to get a fresh copy. It doesn't cost you anything.

## Brush up on the skills

Stuck on a level? Rather than looking for a walkthrough, read up on the skill it tests. These tutorials cover everything you need.

- [hidden files](https://linuxhandbook.com/ls-show-hidden-files/) and `ls -a`
- [find command](https://linuxhandbook.com/find-command-examples/)
- [quoting and special characters](https://linuxhandbook.com/filename-spaces-linux/) in file names
- tar and unzip
- [cron jobs](https://linuxhandbook.com/crontab/), `base64`
- `ps`, `netstat`/`ss`, `curl` with headers
- `/proc` and process environment
- `grep`, `awk`, `tr`
- [hard links](https://linuxhandbook.com/hard-link/) and [inodes](https://linuxhandbook.com/inode-linux/)
- [SUID permissions](https://linuxhandbook.com/suid-sgid-sticky-bit/)

🐛

Found a bug in a level? [Open an issue on GitHub](https://github.com/linuxhandbook/ctf/issues?ref=linuxhandbook.com).

## Play fair

The flags are inside the Docker images on your computer, so you could dig them out instead of solving the puzzles. Please don't. You'd skip exactly the part that teaches you something.

And please don't post flags or full solutions. Share how you approached a level instead.