Recap of our first GFA Flag Attack on Dec 5-6, 2023 in Paris

Main organizers from right to left: Olivia Pahl (GFA), Rodrigue Germany (Inria/PTCC), Étienne Binet-Moussy (Airbus DS Cybersecurity), Yannick Deroche (Airbus DS)

The GFA Flag Attack 2023 – The French-German Capture the Flag (CTF) event, held on December 5-6 at Campus Cyber in La Défense, Paris, proved to be a resounding success. Organized by the German-French Academy for the Industry of the Future (GFA), Airbus Defense & Space, Programme de Transfert au Campus Cyber, and Inria, the event brought together 17 students from Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT) Schools in France and 19 students from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany.

Group Photo with participants and organizers

CTF challenges and infrastructure were thoughtfully provided by Airbus, contributing to the overall success of the event. The level of enthusiasm among the participants exceeded expectations, with students displaying exceptional motivation and interest. Notably, their high skill set in both the presented challenges and hacking, in general, left a lasting impression on the organizing committee.

presentation on stage

Keynote “CyberSecDome” by Marc-Oliver Pahl (IMT Atlantique) & Sébastien Peynet (Airbus)

The event commenced with a welcoming address from Olivia Pahl (GFA), Rodrigue Germany (Inria/PTCC), and Yannick Deroche (Airbus). Engaging keynotes followed, covering topics such as “Challenges and opportunities at Airbus Defense & Space” (Yannick Deroche Airbus), “CyberSecDome” (Marc-Oliver Pahl (IMT Atlantique) and Sébastien Peynet (Airbus)), “Automation with business as an active decentralized measure of protection” (Nicolas Loriot (Airbus Defense and Space Cybersecurity)), and “Quantum-resistant security for ordinary networks” (Benjamin Smith (Inria). The students actively interacted with the speakers, demonstrating a keen interest in the subjects discussed.

Following a nourishing lunch, where students actively networked with their peers, the Cyber Range platform and the challenge itself were introduced by Étienne Binet-Moussy (Airbus Defense and Space Cybersecurity). The pre-divided Franco-German teams showcased their exceptional problem-solving skills and were even presented with additional bonus challenges.
CyberLab at Campus Cyber

Visit of the CyberLab with Jonah Marrs (Campus Cyber)

The first day concluded with a Pizza Party, fostering a platform for students to share their experiences. Some mixed French-German teams utilized their free time in the evening to explore Paris guided by local French students.

The second day featured a visit to the CyberLab FabLab at Campus Cyber, where students were introduced to the hardware and capabilities of the lab by Jonah Marrs, manager of the CyberLab.

Afterwards, Yannick Deroche showcased videos illustrating the work of Airbus Defense and Space, leading to engaging discussions. The event concluded with the coronation of the winning teams.

Participants left the event satisfied, already inquiring about future editions. The success of the GFA Flag Attack 2023 reinforces the importance of collaborative learning and international engagement in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity, while also nurturing educational ties between France and Germany!