Using Athena OS on Parrot CTFs: Cloud Attack VM and Offline Practice

Parrot CTFs is a platform offering hands-on cybersecurity labs and challenges. A key feature is the Athena OS – a custom Linux distro built for ethical hacking – which you can use either in the cloud (via the Parrot CTFs platform) or locally on your own machine. In this tutorial-style guide, we’ll walk through:

• Using Athena OS in the cloud on Parrot CTFs (launching the VM, connecting via OpenVPN, and accessing challenges).
• Downloading and running Athena OS locally for offline CTF practice (where to get the ISO and how to install it in VirtualBox/VMware).
• Exploring Parrot CTFs for new content and challenges (how to find and stay updated on the latest labs).

Let’s dive in!

Athena OS in the Cloud on Parrot CTFs

Parrot CTFs provides an in-browser Attack VM powered by Athena OS. This cloud VM comes pre-loaded with hacking tools and is already configured to access Parrot CTFs challenge networks – so you can start hacking without setting up anything on your PC. Here’s how to use it:

Launching the Athena OS Cloud VM

1. Log into Parrot CTFs – After creating an account and logging in, navigate to your dashboard or the labs page. You should see a section for the Athena OS Hacking VM (like in the screenshot above).
2. Start the VM – Click the “Launch VM” button. The platform will begin provisioning your personal cloud VM instance. This can take a few minutes (typically ~5-10 minutes for the VM to be ready). A countdown or status indicator will usually show the progress.
3. Open the VM Desktop – Once the VM is ready, a button like “Open Desktop” will appear. Click it to launch the Athena OS desktop in your web browser. This opens a remote desktop session (noVNC or similar) to your cloud VM.
4. Log in (if required) – The Athena OS VM might log you in automatically. If prompted for credentials, the default username/password is often athena:athena or athena:opsecboys$. Now you should see a Linux desktop environment ready for use.

Using the Cloud VM: Athena OS is a lightweight pentesting OS (similar to Parrot or Kali) with tons of tools pre-installed. You can open a terminal or use the menu to find tools (there’s usually a search bar for quickly launching programs). For example, you can launch Nmap, Burp Suite, Metasploit, Wireshark, and many more – all preloaded. The benefit here is you don’t need a powerful computer or to install anything; all hacking is done through this cloud VM which is already connected to the CTF network.

When you’re finished with the session, you can shut down or stop the VM from the dashboard (there’s typically a “Stop Instance” or “Shutdown” button). Stopping it when not in use will free up resources and allow you to relaunch a fresh instance next time.

Connecting via OpenVPN (Parrot CTFs VPN Access)

If you prefer to use your own machine and tools (or want to run Athena OS locally), Parrot CTFs allows access to challenges via an OpenVPN connection. This is similar to platforms like HackTheBox or TryHackMe, where you connect your PC to a VPN to reach the target machines. Here’s how to set it up:

• Download the VPN Config: On the Parrot CTFs dashboard (see the “OpenVPN Access Details” section in the screenshot), click “Download Config” to get your personal .ovpn file. There may be different configs for different labs (e.g. one for the free Release Arena network and another for Professional Labs if you have VIP access). Make sure to get the appropriate config file.
• Install OpenVPN: If you’re on Kali, Parrot OS, Athena OS, or any Debian-based Linux, you can install the OpenVPN client via apt. For example: bashCopyEditsudo apt update && sudo apt install openvpn On Windows or macOS, download the official OpenVPN client from the OpenVPN website and install it (Windows users can also use the GUI OpenVPN Connect app).
• Connect to VPN: Once you have the .ovpn file, use it to connect. On Linux, run the following in a terminal: bashCopyEditsudo openvpn --config <Your_ParrotCTF_Config>.ovpn Replace <Your_ParrotCTF_Config>.ovpn with the path/filename of the config file you downloaded (for example, parrot_release_arena.ovpn). You’ll see OpenVPN initialize and eventually show “Initialization Sequence Completed”, meaning you are connected. On Windows, you can import the .ovpn file into your OpenVPN client and connect via the GUI.
• Verify Connection: Once connected, your machine will have a VPN IP (the Parrot dashboard will show “Status: Connected” and an IP address). You can verify by checking your network interfaces (e.g., ifconfig or ip addr on Linux should show a tun0 interface with an IP from Parrot CTFs network).

Using the VPN: With the VPN active, your local machine is now virtually inside the Parrot CTFs network. You can use your own tools or OS to attack the CTF challenge machines. This is handy if you have a custom setup or prefer using your host OS or another VM (like Kali) instead of the in-browser Athena VM. Keep in mind, the Athena OS cloud VM already has this connection built-in – if you use the cloud VM, you don’t need a separate VPN, it’s handled for you. But if you go the DIY route, the OpenVPN method is the way to access targets.

Accessing CTF Challenges

Whether you use the cloud VM or your own setup with VPN, the next step is to actually start a challenge lab and get hacking:

• Choose a Lab/Machine: In the Parrot CTFs interface, browse the available challenges or labs. For beginners and free users, the Release Arena is a great start – it usually features one free rotating machine at a time. VIP users can access Professional Labs (a library of machines) or other specialized labs like Red Team Forest (Active Directory scenarios) and Blue Team Lagoon (defensive/SOC challenges). Click on a lab or machine you want to play.
• Start the Machine: For a chosen challenge, you may need to click a “Start” or “Spawn” button to deploy the target machine. After a few moments, the target will be live. The interface will display important info like the target’s IP address, a brief description, and possibly the objectives/flags to find.
• Connect to the Target: If you are using the Athena OS cloud VM, you can directly ping or scan the target IP from the VM’s terminal (since the VM is on the same network). If you are on your own machine via VPN, use your local tools to reach the IP. For example, run an Nmap scan: bashCopyEditnmap -sV -Pn <Target_IP> to discover open ports and services on the target. You should get results if the VPN is connected and the target is up. From here, proceed with your hacking methodology (enumeration, find vulnerabilities, exploit, etc.).
• Follow the Challenge Prompts: Many Parrot CTFs challenges come with a set of questions or flags to submit as you progress (e.g., “user” and “root” flags for hacking boxes). These will typically be indicated on the challenge page. As you compromise the machine, locate the flag files (often in home directories or on the desktop of the target system) and submit them to earn points or marks for completion.
• Stopping the Lab: When you’re done, make sure to stop or terminate the lab machine from the platform (especially for timed or limited resources scenarios). Also disconnect your OpenVPN session if you’re finished by pressing Ctrl+C in the terminal running OpenVPN (or using the GUI to disconnect). The Athena OS cloud VM should also be stopped via its dashboard if you launched one, to avoid leaving it running.

Tip: If you encounter any connectivity issues, double-check that your VPN is connected (or your cloud VM is running). The Parrot CTFs help pages have troubleshooting info for VPN issues. Common fixes include regenerating a fresh VPN config or ensuring no firewall on your end is blocking the VPN.

Downloading and Running Athena OS Locally (Offline Practice)

One of the advantages of Athena OS is that you can use it outside the Parrot CTFs platform as well. Athena OS is an open-source pentesting distro (based on Arch Linux/BlackArch and also offering a NixOS-based flavor) that you can install on your own PC or in a virtual machine. This is great for offline CTF practice or personal learning, using the same tools environment as on Parrot CTFs.

Where to Get Athena OS

The Athena OS project provides several download options on its official website (athenaos.org):

• ISO Image: A bootable installer ISO (x86_64) that allows you to install Athena OS on real hardware or in a VM. The single ISO lets you choose between the Arch-based or NixOS-based installation during setup.
• Pre-built VM Images: Ready-to-run virtual machine images for VMware and VirtualBox (.ova files). These come with Athena OS pre-installed, so you can import them directly without going through an OS install.
• Docker Image: A container version of Athena OS, if you prefer to run it in Docker or Podman.
• WSL Image: An Athena OS image for Windows Subsystem for Linux, allowing you to use Athena OS on Windows 10/11 without a full VM.

For most users wanting to practice CTFs offline, the ISO or the pre-built VMware/VirtualBox images are the most relevant. You can download the ISO or VM images from the official site’s Download section or from the project’s GitHub/SourceForge releases. (If using SourceForge or GitHub, look for the latest athena-rolling-x86_64.iso for the ISO, or .ova files for the VM images.)

Installing Athena OS in VirtualBox or VMware

Once you have the Athena OS ISO or the VM image, follow these steps to get it running:

A) Using the Pre-built VM Image (Quick Start):

This is the fastest way if you have a virtualization tool:

• Import the OVA: Both VirtualBox and VMware can import .ova files. In VirtualBox, go to File -> Import Appliance, then select the downloaded athena-x86_64-virtualbox.ova file. In VMware Workstation/Fusion, use File -> Open and select the athena-x86_64-vmware.ova file. This will create a new VM with all settings pre-configured.
• Review and Adjust Settings: After import, you may want to adjust VM settings (e.g., increase RAM or CPU cores if you have the resources, network adapter type, etc.). By default, the VM image should be configured with reasonable defaults (usually 2 GB RAM and 2 CPU cores, for instance).
• Start the VM: Boot up the imported Athena OS VM. It should take you straight into the Athena OS login or desktop since the OS is already installed in the image. Use the default credentials if prompted (username athena, password athena). Then, you can personalize or update the system as needed.

B) Installing from ISO (Custom Install):

If you prefer to install using the ISO (or want to dual-boot or fully install on hardware):

• Create a New VM: In VirtualBox/VMware, create a new virtual machine. Choose Linux as the type and Arch Linux (64-bit) (or simply “Other Linux 64-bit”) as the OS version. Allocate resources – we recommend at least 2 GB of RAM, 2 CPU cores, and a 20+ GB disk for a comfortable experience (Athena OS itself is lightweight, but if you install many tools or download CTF VMs inside it, you’ll want space).
• Attach the ISO: Point the VM’s CD/DVD drive to the Athena OS ISO file you downloaded. In VirtualBox this is under Settings -> Storage (add the ISO to the optical drive); in VMware, you can set the CD drive to use the ISO file.
• Boot and Install: Start the VM, and it should boot from the Athena OS ISO. You’ll enter the installer environment. The Athena OS installer will likely present options to install either the Arch-based or Nix-based variant. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the OS onto the virtual disk. This might involve partitioning (the installer may auto-partition for you), selecting packages, and setting up a username/password. If it’s a text-based installer (since Arch-based), you might have to go through a menu or script – but since Athena is designed for ease, it likely has a guided setup.
• Complete Installation: Once the installer finishes, you’ll reboot the VM and remove the ISO from the virtual drive. The VM should boot into your newly installed Athena OS system. Log in with the credentials you set during installation (or the defaults if the installer created the athena user by default).

After installation, you now have a full Athena OS system running locally. It includes the same huge array of tools (over 2800+ tools via Arch’s BlackArch repo and Nix packages!). You can update it regularly to get the latest tools. It’s essentially your personal hacking lab environment, similar to Kali or Parrot OS but with the unique Athena OS touch.

Using Athena OS Locally: You can practice on offline vulnerable VMs (like those from VulnHub) by running them in a network with your Athena VM. Or use Athena OS to connect to external CTF platforms (it works great with HackTheBox, TryHackMe, etc., via OpenVPN as well). This way, Athena OS becomes your go-to attack platform both on Parrot CTFs (cloud) and off the platform.

Exploring Parrot CTFs for New Content and Challenges

Parrot CTFs is a dynamic platform – new challenges and labs are added regularly, especially in certain sections. To make the most of it, you’ll want to know how to find the latest content and navigate the site’s offerings. Here are some tips:

• Release Arena (New Free Labs): If you’re using a free or trial account, the Release Arena is where a lot of new content appears. Typically, the platform rotates a new machine in the Release Arena every few days (around 3-4 days per machine). This means there’s almost always a fresh challenge to tackle for free. The Release Arena machine can be from various categories (web exploits, reverse engineering, Active Directory, etc.), so it keeps you on your toes. To use it, ensure you’re connected to the Release Arena VPN (download the config from the dashboard as mentioned earlier). Then start the Release Arena lab from the site – you’ll get the target IP and can begin hacking. Since it’s a live scenario, you might even be racing other players to complete it first! It’s a fun way to stay sharp with the newest challenges.
• Professional Labs (VIP content): With a VIP subscription, Parrot CTFs unlocks a whole library of machines and labs across different skill levels and topics. These Professional Labs are accessible via the Professional Labs VPN and often allow you to practice at your own pace. You can browse through categories like web, network, cryptography, etc., choose a machine, and launch it. The interface will show if a machine is owned (rooted) or not, allowing you to track your progress. New machines are periodically added here as well, and older ones remain available for practice.
• Red Team Forest & Blue Team Lagoon: Parrot CTFs isn’t just about single-machine CTFs. Red Team Forest offers a more complex lab (often Active Directory environments or multi-step network scenarios) which is great for practicing pivoting, privilege escalation in enterprise networks, and red-team tactics. Blue Team Lagoon focuses on defensive challenges, where you might analyze logs, PCAPs, or forensic images to answer questions – perfect for those inclined towards SOC analysis or DFIR. Keep an eye on these sections for specialized labs. They might not update as frequently as the main machine pools, but they provide in-depth training.
• Parrot CTFs Academy and Cheatsheets: Aside from CTF labs, the platform has an Academy with courses and a collection of cheat sheets and walkthroughs (as seen in their blog). If you’re looking to learn a new skill or need a hint, these resources are worth exploring. For example, if you encounter a Wireshark challenge, they have a Wireshark cheat sheet; or if web hacking is new to you, the Academy might have a “Web Hacking 101” module. This content can supplement your hands-on practice.
• Staying Updated: To find out when new challenges or features drop, keep an eye on Parrot CTFs’ announcements. They have an official blog and are active on social media (Twitter/X, Threads, etc.) where they announce new “Release Arena” machines or big updates. For instance, if a new Arena lab “Middleman” is live, they’ll post about the theme of that challenge. Following these channels or subscribing to their newsletter (if available) ensures you won’t miss out on fresh content. Additionally, the Parrot CTFs community (forums or Discord, if they have one) is a great place to discover what others are working on and to get hints (within the rules) or help if you’re stuck.

When exploring the platform, don’t be afraid to click around the interface. The dashboard usually has a sidebar or menu listing all sections (Arena, Labs, Academy, etc.). Use the search or categories filter if you’re looking for a particular type of challenge. The platform is designed to be user-friendly for learners and pros alike, so everything is organized logically.

Conclusion

Athena OS combined with Parrot CTFs provides a powerful environment for cybersecurity enthusiasts to practice and hone their skills. In the cloud, Athena OS offers a one-click, no-setup attack VM accessible from anywhere – perfect for jumping straight into CTF challenges on Parrot CTFs. Meanwhile, having Athena OS on your local machine gives you an offline playground and a consistent toolkit to use across different platforms.

By following the steps above, you can easily launch the cloud-based Athena VM, connect to Parrot CTF labs via VPN, and start conquering challenges. And for extra practice, install Athena OS on your own PC or VM to replicate the experience anytime, even without an internet connection. Finally, keep exploring Parrot CTFs for new content – the platform regularly updates its labs and there’s always something fresh to learn (whether it’s the latest vulnerability or a new defensive analysis challenge).

Happy hacking and learning! With Athena OS at your disposal and Parrot CTFs’ wealth of labs, you’re well-equipped to level up your ethical hacking skills. Good luck on your CTF adventures!