I’m a Cybersecurity Graduate Student at George Mason University, currently based in Fairfax, VA, with a deep interest in offensive security, digital forensics, and cyber threat research. I thrive on breaking down complex systems, analyzing vulnerabilities, and building secure solutions that make an impact.

• 🔐 Specializing in Penetration Testing, Reverse Engineering, Digital Forensics, Cloud Security, and Memory Forensics
• 🧠 Selected Finalist in the INCS-COE C2C CTF 2025, showcasing strengths in cryptography, binary exploitation, steganography, and forensics
• 🔍 Hands-on experience with tools like IDA Pro, Burp Suite, Wireshark, Metasploit, Volatility, Autopsy, and CyberChef
• 🛠️ Conducted extensive analysis of hard disk and SD card images, including IAT reconstruction, encrypted file recovery, and timeline analysis
• 📡 Proficient in network packet inspection, Auditd/syslog logging, IP & MAC spoofing, and TLS vulnerability testing
• 🎯 Strong in scripting and automation with Python, Bash, and PowerShell for forensic workflows and offensive security tasks
• 🧑‍🏫 Serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) for:
  • CYSE 230: Computer Networking Fundamentals
  • CYSE 445/450: Offensive Security & Pentesting Labs
  • CYSE 470: Human Factors and Cyber Security Engineering.

🚀 I'm passionate about contributing to CTFs, collaborating on security research, and exploring new challenges in the world of ethical hacking and cybersecurity.

Programming Languages:

Cybersecurity Tools:

Cloud & Platforms:

Operating Systems:

Developer & Research Tools:

• Research Assistant @ Mason Living Innovation Lab, George Mason University (Summer 2025 – Present)
  Conducting embedded hardware security research focused on Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and industrial automation environments.
  Performed fault-injection experiments using ChipSHOUTER EMFI and Rigol oscilloscopes, collected and analyzed timing and power signals, calibrated lab equipment, and developed Python scripts to systematically record, organize, and analyze experimental results.

• Graduate Teaching Assistant @ George Mason University (Aug 2024 – Dec 2025)
  Assisting in CYSE 230 (Computer Networking) and CYSE 445/450 (Offensive Security & Penetration Testing Labs).
  Responsibilities include grading labs, guiding students through tool usage (Wireshark, Autopsy, IDA Pro), and leading hands-on demonstrations.

• Penetration Testing Intern (Summer 2023)
  Conducted internal and external network penetration testing, web application security assessments, and authored technical vulnerability reports.
  Tools used: Nmap, Burp Suite, SQLMap, Metasploit, Gobuster, Nikto.

• CTF Competitor – INCS-COE C2C CTF Finalist (2025)
  Selected for the national finals of the Capture the Flag competition based on strong performance in binary exploitation, steganography, forensics, and reverse engineering.

• 🧠 INCS-COE C2C CTF 2025 – Finalist
  Selected for the national round, demonstrating strengths in binary exploitation, forensics, and steganography.

• 🔍 Graduate Teaching Assistant – George Mason University
  Guided 50+ students in labs for penetration testing and secure networking, with hands-on exposure to Burp Suite, Zeek, Metasploit, and SSL/TLS.

• 🧪 Malware Reverse Engineering Project
  Analyzed ms16iexec.exe malware using IDA Pro, Hex Editor, and Process Monitor — identified 15+ vulnerabilities and registry/API abuse.

• 🛠️ Web Application Penetration Testing Internship – HackersForYou
  Discovered and reported critical vulnerabilities, built automated security testing scripts in Python, and contributed to internal frameworks.

• 🔐 Encryption & Decryption Project on Dockerized Angular App
  Deployed secure CI/CD pipeline on AWS; implemented AES/RSA-based encryption for web app data protection with 99.9% uptime.

• ✅ Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate – Coursera
• ✅ eJPT – Junior Penetration Tester – INE Security
• ✅ ICCA – Certified Cloud Associate – INE Security
• ✅ Offensive Hacking Unfolded – Beginner’s Edition – comproavi
• ✅ Cyber Threat Intelligence 101 – arcX

• 🔍 Hard-Drive Forensics Report – Full forensic analysis of Seagate Barracuda HDD (FTK, Autopsy, UltraDock)
• 🐛 MS16iexec Malware Analysis – Reverse engineering of Windows PE malware with IDA Pro, YARA, and ProcMon
• 🛡️ Basic Pentesting 1 Walkthrough – Vulnhub boot2root machine walkthrough with privilege escalation
• 💻 Metasploitable-2 Walkthrough – Complete exploitation notes across multiple vulnerable services

• 🧱 TryHackMe Profile – Solved rooms on privilege escalation, forensics, stego, and more
  

• 📧 Email: sanjaykumarsamala2001@gmail.com
• 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sanjay-kumar-samala
• 📍 Location: Fairfax, VA, USA