Level 2 → Level 3

Completed

📋 Level Information

Host: bandit.labs.overthewire.org

Port: 2220

Username: bandit2

Password: [From Level 1]

The password for the next level is stored in a file called spaces in this filename located in the home directory.

Challenge: The filename contains spaces, which need special handling in the command line.

Use the password you obtained from Level 1 to log in:

ssh bandit2@bandit.labs.overthewire.org -p 2220

Check what files are available:

ls

You should see a file named spaces in this filename

The easiest way to handle spaces in filenames is to enclose the entire filename in quotes:

cat "spaces in this filename"

Alternatively, you can escape each space with a backslash:

cat spaces\ in\ this\ filename

You can also use tab completion to automatically escape the spaces:

cat sp[Tab]

Pressing Tab after typing "sp" will automatically complete and escape the filename.

Whichever method you use, the command will output the password for Level 3.

aBZ0W5EmUfAf7kHTQeOwd8bauFJ2lAiG

This level teaches you how to handle filenames with special characters (spaces) in Linux.

In Linux command line, spaces are used to separate different arguments
When you type cat spaces in this filename, the system interprets it as four separate arguments
It tries to read four different files: spaces, in, this, and filename

Quotes: Wrapping the filename in quotes tells the shell to treat everything inside as a single argument
Escaping: Using backslash before each space tells the shell to treat the space as part of the filename
Tab Completion: Letting the shell automatically handle the escaping for you

Using quotes is generally the safest and most readable method
Tab completion is the fastest method once you're familiar with it
You can also use single quotes: cat 'spaces in this filename'
To see how tab completion works, type cat sp and then press Tab multiple times