Core NetWars V12 Is Here: AI, Automation, and Hidden Agendas

The future is connected, and it's vulnerable.

Welcome to Core NetWars Version 12, where participants are dropped into the heart of a sprawling technology empire fueled by innovation, automation, and artificial intelligence.

What began as a company known for simple brick toys has transformed into something far more ambitious. Through gaming platforms, streaming services, entertainment ventures, and aggressive AI adoption, BLOCCORP has grown into a global media powerhouse.

But beneath the polished brand lies a growing web of insecurity.

As participants investigate vulnerable AI systems, compromised infrastructure, rogue IoT devices, industrial control systems, and suspicious automation, they'll uncover the consequences of innovation moving faster than security. Every challenge reveals another risky decision. Every discovery exposes another vulnerability.

The question is: can you uncover BLOCCORP's hidden agenda before its pursuit of AI-powered dominance creates real-world consequences?

What Is Core NetWars?

Core NetWars is a hands-on cyber range featuring multifaceted, real-world scenarios that challenge participants to think like today's cybersecurity professionals. Through interactive technical challenges and immersive storylines, players apply skills across multiple cybersecurity disciplines while solving realistic problems inspired by modern threats.

Every year, Core NetWars is reimagined from the ground up with an all-new storyline, fresh challenges, and content that reflects the latest technologies, attack techniques, and security priorities. Whether you're building foundational skills or sharpening advanced capabilities, Core NetWars delivers practical experience you can apply immediately in the real world.

What's New in Core NetWars Version 12?

Core NetWars V12 is the most comprehensive version yet, introducing expanded AI-focused content alongside challenges spanning offensive security, defense, cloud, IoT, and incident response. Designed to reflect the realities security practitioners face today, V12 delivers hands-on experience with some of the most relevant cybersecurity topics in the industry.

Participants will encounter challenges involving:

• AI system analysis and exploitation
• Prompt injection and model manipulation
• System prompt extraction and embeddings analysis
• Malware reverse engineering with Ghidra
• Binary exploitation fundamentals
• MFA security assessment and bypass
• Alert and PCAP correlation for incident response
• Secure code and Git repository analysis
• Web application and GraphQL security
• IoT security, smart systems, CoAP, and MQTT technologies

Building on last year's introduction of AI security concepts, V12 dives deeper into AI systems and their underlying components, giving participants practical experience with the security challenges organizations face as AI adoption accelerates.

Why Core NetWars?

Core NetWars V12 is more than a collection of challenges. It's a realistic cyber range experience designed to test how participants think, investigate, adapt, and solve problems under pressure.

Skill Assessment

Evaluate technical proficiency across multiple cybersecurity domains while strengthening critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Team Readiness

Practice collaboration and coordinated response in a safe, competitive environment that mirrors real-world security operations.

Exposure to Emerging Threats

Gain hands-on experience with AI security, modern web technologies, IoT ecosystems, malware analysis, and incident response techniques that are shaping today's threat landscape.

Community and Competition

Join cybersecurity professionals from around the world to exchange ideas, discover new approaches, and test your skills against peers in a fun and engaging environment.

And for those seeking the ultimate challenge, Core NetWars V12 remains the only range that qualifies participants for the annual Core NetWars Tournament of Champions.

When and Where Can You Play?

Core NetWars V12 launches on July 16 at SANSFIRE, where participants will get the first opportunity to experience the newest evolution of SANS's flagship cyber range.

Following its debut, Core NetWars V12 will be offered at SANS training events worldwide and available for private team tournaments. Whether you're competing against peers at a live event or challenging your organization's defenders in a private run, V12 delivers an immersive cyber range experience designed to sharpen skills, build confidence, and prepare participants for real-world challenges.

The cyber range is browser-based and accessible through Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, making it easy to jump into the action from virtually anywhere.

Ready to Investigate BLOCCORP?

Whether you're looking to sharpen your cybersecurity skills, assess your team's readiness, or gain experience with emerging AI and cyber threats, Core NetWars V12 delivers an immersive and challenging experience unlike any other.

Learn More

• View the NetWars Tournament Schedule
• Learn More About SANS Cyber Ranges
• Speak with a SANS Advisor