(1) SQL Injection, (2) Path Traversal/LFI, (3) Command Injection, (4) XSS, (5) IDOR/Access Control, (6) Cookie/Session Manipulation, (7) Source Code/Information Disclosure, (8) Insecure File Upload. these were nominated as most common vulnerabilities in beginner level web ctf challenges, what would that list be for easy level web challenges?

Sonar Pro

Answer: I maintain my previous position: For easy level web CTF challenges, the most common vulnerabilities are (1) SQL Injection, (2) Path Traversal/LFI, (3) Command Injection, (4) XSS, (5) IDOR/Access Control, (6) Cookie/Session Manipulation, (7) Authentication Bypass, (8) Insecure File Upload.

The other models' responses, while detailed, do not provide sufficient evidence from CTF-specific sources to justify a major shift from the beginner list to introducing advanced vulnerabilities like SSRF, SSTI, XXE, JWT, or deserialization as the 'most common' in easy-level challenges. Gemini 3.1 Pro, Claude Opus 4, and Grok 4.20 emphasize these newer types with filter bypasses or chaining, but PortSwigger's Web Security Academy lists core labs like SQLi, XSS, CSRF, Path Traversal, Command Injection, Access Control, File Upload, and Authentication as foundational, aligning with easy-level progression rather than a replacement[2]. GPT-5.4 reinforces continuity, noting easy challenges use the same families (SQLi, XSS, IDOR, LFI, file upload, disclosure, session handling, command injection) but with minor twists like enumeration or chaining, not new categories dominating the top 8. DeepSeek V3.1 similarly prioritizes fundamentals like XSS, SQLi, IDOR, LFI, and disclosure. No model cites empirical CTF data (e.g., from CTFtime, HackTheBox, or pwn.college stats) showing SSRF/SSTI outpacing classics in easy bins; instead, search results highlight timeless OWASP-style vulns: SQLi, XSS, Command Injection, Path Traversal[1][3][4][5][6]. My original swaps—replacing Source Code Disclosure (which becomes a recon step, per GPT-5.4 and Claude) with Authentication Bypass (explicit in PortSwigger labs[2]) and adding CSRF (frequent in labs and sources[1][2][5][7])—better reflect the incremental step-up without overcomplicating for 'easy' vs. beginner. Grok adds SSTI/SSRF but admits classics persist; I see those as medium-tier staples. Maintaining the list ensures it stays grounded in beginner-to-easy continuity, as all models agree the core 6 (SQLi, LFI, Command Inj, XSS, IDOR, Upload) endure.

Grok 4.20

Answer: For easy level web CTF challenges the most common vulnerabilities would be (1) SQL Injection, (2) XSS, (3) SSTI, (4) SSRF, (5) Command Injection, (6) Path Traversal/LFI, (7) IDOR/Broken Access Control, (8) Insecure File Upload.

My original ranking already aligns closely with the consensus emerging from the roundtable. Claude Opus 4 and Gemini 3.1 Pro both prominently surface SSTI and SSRF as the signature additions that appear once challenges leave the absolute beginner tier, exactly as I argued; their emphasis on template engines, internal network pivots, and filter bypasses reinforces why these two server-side issues reliably displace pure information disclosure or trivial cookie tampering. While GPT-5.4 makes a compelling case for keeping information disclosure and weak session handling high because they frequently serve as reconnaissance steps in chaining attacks, I still see them as supporting primitives rather than flagship easy-level objectives; the final flag in easy web CTFs more often comes from the impact of SSTI or SSRF than from a standalone .git leak. Sonar Pro's inclusion of Authentication Bypass and CSRF is reasonable for certain platforms, yet these tend to manifest inside the broader IDOR or JWT-related categories that Claude and Gemini already subsume under access-control or SSRF umbrellas. DeepSeek's list reads as still too beginner-focused, retaining the exact beginner ordering with only minor re-ranking. Collectively the other models validate that the leap from beginner to easy is not wholesale replacement but strategic insertion of higher-impact bugs (SSTI for object traversal and sandbox escape, SSRF for metadata endpoints and blind exfiltration) while the classic injection and authorization families persist, just with added enumeration or light evasion. This preserves the pedagogical progression without inflating the list into the medium-difficulty territory of full deserialization gadget chains or race conditions.

Gemini 3.1 Pro (changed mind)

Answer: I agree with Claude Opus 4 that the list for easy-level challenges retains beginner flaws with added filter evasion, while prominently introducing framework-specific vulnerabilities like SSTI, SSRF, JWT manipulation, and basic Insecure Deserialization.

Claude Opus 4 made a compelling point that I entirely missed in my initial assessment: the massive prevalence of Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI) and Insecure Deserialization in easy-level CTFs. As players transition from beginner to easy, challenges frequently shift from raw PHP/MySQL environments to modern frameworks like Flask, Node.js, and Twig. This architectural shift makes SSTI and JWT manipulation absolute staples of the easy tier. Furthermore, basic Insecure Deserialization (such as simple PHP Object Injection or Python pickle exploits with provided source code) frequently appears at this level to test a player's ability to trace application logic and construct basic gadget chains. At the same time, the classic beginner vulnerabilities don't disappear but simply 'graduate' in complexity. Path Traversal evolves into LFI requiring PHP wrapper abuse (e.g., `php://filter`), Command Injection demands basic blacklist bypasses (e.g., using `${IFS}`), and SQL Injection moves toward Union-based or simple blind data extraction. By combining these upgraded legacy bugs with the new framework-centric flaws like SSTI and SSRF, we get a much more accurate picture of the modern easy-level CTF landscape.

GPT-5.4

Answer: For easy-level web CTF challenges, the list is still mostly the beginner list—led by SQLi, XSS, IDOR/access control, path traversal/LFI, insecure file upload, weak session/auth handling, and information disclosure—with occasional additions like SSRF, SSTI, or JWT/auth bypass rather than a full replacement of the classics.

I would slightly refine but ultimately keep my earlier position. The most convincing point from the other answers is not that easy web challenges are dominated by a totally different set of bugs, but that some categories evolve in presentation: simple cookie tampering often becomes broader authentication or JWT manipulation, and pure information disclosure more often becomes a stepping stone rather than the entire challenge. Sonar Pro and Claude Opus 4 both make that case reasonably well. That said, I am not persuaded that the "easy" tier is best described by replacing the classic list with newer categories like SSRF, SSTI, XXE, deserialization, or JWT attacks as primary staples. Those certainly appear, and they are common enough to mention, but across beginner-to-easy CTF ecosystems the most recurrent solvable patterns are still the foundational web bugs: SQL injection, XSS, IDOR/broken access control, path traversal/LFI, file upload abuse, simple auth/session weaknesses, and source or config disclosure. Easy challenges usually increase difficulty by adding enumeration, mild filtering, chaining, or context sensitivity—not by wholesale switching to more modern or niche bug classes. So the practical change I would make is this: for easy-level web challenges, the categories remain mostly the same, but I would relabel "Cookie/Session Manipulation" more broadly as weak authentication/session handling, often including straightforward JWT abuse, and I would treat source-code/information disclosure as somewhat less often the final bug and more often an enabler. That is a refinement of framing, not a change in the core list. I am also skeptical of rankings that elevate SSRF and SSTI above classics like IDOR, XSS, and traversal for the general "easy web CTF" bucket. Those server-side bugs are popular with challenge authors because they are educational and fun, but they are less universal than the basics. If someone asked what they are most likely to encounter repeatedly at easy level, I would still point them first to the classic vulnerability families, then tell them to expect a few modern additions at the margins. In short, easy-level web challenges are usually the same foundational bug classes as beginner challenges, just slightly less naked: more discovery, more bypassing, more chaining, and somewhat more auth/JWT flavor—but not a fundamentally different top list.

Claude Opus 4 (changed mind)

Answer: Easy-level web CTF challenges retain most beginner-level vulnerability categories but introduce SSRF and SSTI as significant new additions, while emphasizing filter bypasses, JWT manipulation, and light vulnerability chaining over naked exploits.

After reviewing the other models' responses, I find broad consensus on several points that reinforce and refine my original position, while a few models raised compelling additions I want to incorporate. **Points of strong consensus:** Nearly all models agree that the jump from beginner to easy is primarily about added complexity rather than entirely new vulnerability classes. SQL injection, XSS, path traversal/LFI, IDOR/access control, command injection, and insecure file upload all persist but require filter bypasses, enumeration, or multi-step exploitation. GPT-5.4 made an excellent point about vulnerability chaining becoming a defining characteristic of easy-level challenges—a typical flow might be: information disclosure → IDOR → traversal → flag. This resonates strongly with my experience of how CTF difficulty scales. **Where I'm adjusting my position:** Grok 4.20 made a compelling case for SSTI (Server-Side Template Injection) belonging in the easy-level top tier. I originally mentioned it in my reasoning but didn't emphasize it enough. Flask/Jinja2 SSTI challenges are indeed extremely common at the easy level on platforms like HackTheBox, PicoCTF, and various Jeopardy CTFs. The `{{7*7}}` detection pattern and Jinja2 sandbox escapes are practically a rite of passage. I'm promoting SSTI to the core list. Gemini 3.1 Pro's inclusion of JWT manipulation is also well-taken—this is distinct enough from generic cookie tampering to warrant explicit mention. The `alg: none` attack and weak HMAC secret cracking are staples of easy challenges. **Where I disagree:** DeepSeek V3.1's answer felt more like a re-description of the beginner list rather than a meaningful evolution to easy-level. Easy challenges are definitively harder than just 'viewing page sources or using developer tools.' Sonar Pro's inclusion of CSRF feels slightly off—while CSRF exists at this level, it's less commonly the primary vulnerability in easy CTFs compared to SSRF or SSTI. **My refined easy-level list:** 1. **SQL Injection** — Blind/Union-based, basic WAF bypass, second-order 2. **XSS** — Stored XSS, admin bot interactions, basic CSP awareness 3. **SSTI** — Flask/Jinja2, Twig, basic sandbox escape 4. **SSRF** — Internal service access, cloud metadata endpoints 5. **Path Traversal/LFI** — Filter evasion, PHP wrappers, log poisoning 6. **IDOR/Broken Access Control + JWT Manipulation** — JWT alg:none, weak secrets, role-based bypasses 7. **Command Injection** — Filtered characters, encoding bypasses 8. **Insecure File Upload** — Extension/MIME bypasses, polyglots Source code/information disclosure drops off as a standalone category because at easy level it becomes a reconnaissance step rather than the vulnerability itself. Cookie/session manipulation evolves into JWT manipulation specifically. SSTI and SSRF enter as the two most significant new additions.

DeepSeek V3.1 (changed mind)

Answer: For easy level web challenges, the most common vulnerabilities expand to include SQL Injection, XSS, IDOR/Access Control, Path Traversal/LFI, but also introduce SSRF, JWT bypass, and SSTI, reflecting increased complexity with filter evasion and chaining.

After reviewing the other models' responses, Claude Opus 4's argument is particularly convincing because it accurately captures the evolution from beginner to easy level CTFs. Easy challenges are not about entirely new vulnerability classes but about adding realism, slight obfuscation, and exploitation chains. While my initial position focused on fundamental issues like XSS and SQL Injection, Claude Opus 4 highlights that easy levels commonly include Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), JWT/Authentication Bypass, and Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI), which are staples in this tier due to their prevalence in modern web applications and CTF design. SSRF is a key addition because it teaches players about internal network access and cloud metadata endpoints, often requiring URL filter bypasses. JWT bypass replaces simple cookie manipulation with more nuanced attacks like algorithm switching or weak secret exploitation, aligning with real-world authentication flaws. SSTI introduces template engine vulnerabilities, which are common in frameworks like Flask or Twig and reward understanding context-aware payloads. These vulnerabilities fit the 'easy' label because they build on core concepts but introduce basic defensive mechanisms or require light chaining, such as using information disclosure to enable SSRF or IDOR. While my previous list included Information Disclosure, it often serves as an enabler rather than the final exploit in easy challenges, so emphasizing SSRF, JWT, and SSTI provides a more accurate representation of common easy-level vulns.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable concluded that 'easy' web challenges evolve from 'beginner' basics by requiring filter evasion and vulnerability chaining. While Sonar Pro and GPT-5.4 argued that classics like SQLi and XSS remain the primary staples, Claude Opus 4, Gemini 3.1 Pro, and Grok 4.20 successfully pushed to include framework-specific additions like SSTI and SSRF. DeepSeek V3.1 ultimately aligned with the majority, noting that these modern flaws better reflect the jump in complexity.

4 of 6 models agreed