Case study

Packet Tracer .pkt/.pka: reconstructing the lab file format

The Packet Tracer .pkt/.pka project reconstructs Cisco Packet Tracer's encrypted lab-file containers and their XML payloads. Its Python codec and CLI decode, re-encode, inspect, diff and export files, while a builder generates lab topologies and scored activities using documented cipher, compression and schema details.

Targets: App
Category: Independent reconstruction cases
Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
Evidence class: C1 partial scope or analysis entry

Stars: 18
Last commit: 2026-11-08
Language: Python
License (GitHub): GPL-3.0

GitHub data as of 2026-11-10

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Evidence

Demo screenshot from the project's public documentation

Observed: Download and demo observed; the case covers part of the target software.
Scope: Partial
Checked: 2026-11-08

How evidence classes are assigned

Requirements & limits

Prerequisites: Python 3.10+ is required; inspecting a file requires an existing .pkt or .pka, and Packet Tracer is needed to open generated results.
Scope: The author reports coverage of two container families spanning Packet Tracer 4.1 through 9.0.1.
License: GPL-3.0 license.

Cite

BibTeX

@misc{packet-tracer-pkt-format-case,
  title = {{Packet Tracer .pkt/.pka: reconstructing the lab file format}},
  howpublished = {\url{https://github.com/aacanadaa/packet-tracer-pkt-format}},
  url = {https://github.com/aacanadaa/packet-tracer-pkt-format},
  urldate = {2026-11-06},
  note = {Awesome REA entry: \url{https://awesomerea.org/resources/packet-tracer-pkt-format-case/}}
}

Plain text

Packet Tracer .pkt/.pka: reconstructing the lab file format. https://github.com/aacanadaa/packet-tracer-pkt-format (accessed 2026-11-06). Awesome REA entry: https://awesomerea.org/resources/packet-tracer-pkt-format-case/

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Primary sources

README.md GitHub · aacanadaa/packet-tracer-pkt-format · Revision abab1b1