CyberChef LAB

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CyberChef


CyberChef or The Cyber Swiss Army Knife is a powerful web application created by GCHQ for performing complex data operations through a simple, modular interface.

CyberChef allows you to:

  • Drag and drop operations (like “Base64 Decode”, “XOR”, “Extract URLs”) into a recipe.

  • Instantly see results as you manipulate data.

  • Automate common tasks used in malware analysis, threat hunting, OSINT, or forensics.



CyberChef bridges the gap between coding and manual analysis. It’s used for:

PurposeExamples
Decoding / Encoding    Base64, Hex, ASCII, URL, HTML, ROT13
Encryption / Decryption    AES, DES, Blowfish, XOR, RC4
File Analysis    Identify file types, extract metadata, view binary data
Hashing    MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512
Compression    GZIP, ZIP, BZIP2
Forensics    Timestamp conversion, byte-level analysis
Steganography    Reveal hidden messages in text or files
Web & Network Analysis    Extract URLs, IPs, user-agents, and cookies
CTFs / Reverse Engineering    Decode obfuscated payloads and reveal hidden logic

Interface Overview

CyberChef is divided into three panels:

SectionDescription
Left Panel    Contains all available operations (filters, encoders, decoders, crypto, forensics, etc.)
Middle Panel    The “Recipe” area, where you drag and chain operations
Right Panel    Displays output in real time as your recipe executes

Demo


To access and practice alongside, click here. 


We can use several type of encoders for different purposes, we can also demonstrate how a DES algorithm requires a key + iv to encrypt and decrypt. 


The DES key use 8 bytes length.


You can change the value type of the key and iv to UTF8 standard to keep it short and simple. While decrypting you have to put the same key and initialization vector IV to be able to decrypt the ciphertext.

We can also showcase the RSA pairs and process.

Generate the keys: 




then we can use the public key to encrypt a message and the private key to decrypt it. 


You can also check the date of a unix timestamp.


Another common use case is forensic investigation. Suppose an analyst finds a hexadecimal string in a memory dump; by applying “From Hex” followed by “Extract URLs,” and it can instantly uncover embedded web links or command-and-control (C2) domains. In short, it turns data decoding and transformation into a visual, intuitive process that saves time while enhancing accuracy. It stands as a must-have companion for anyone working in cybersecurity, blending simplicity with powerful analytical capability.


And much more, you're free to discover it and play around with it.

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