This web-based challenge, `git-refs`, involved using Git commands to access a remote repository and ultimately find a flag hidden in system files. The initial approach focused on exploiting the lack of authentication and analyzing network requests, but this led to a dead end. A change in approach was then taken, where the team used Git configuration options to discover a command that opened an editor, allowing them to modify a configuration file and ultimately find the flag. Throughout the challenge, the importance of input sanitization and understanding Git commands was highlighted.