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GPEN · Question #251

You want to retrieve password files (stored in the Web server's index directory) from various Web sites. Which of the following tools can you use to accomplish the task?

The correct answer is D. Google. Google hacking (using advanced search operators/dorks) can locate sensitive files such as password files indexed in web server directories that are inadvertently exposed to the internet.

Penetration Testing Foundations & Reconnaissance

Question

You want to retrieve password files (stored in the Web server's index directory) from various Web sites. Which of the following tools can you use to accomplish the task?

Options

  • ASam spade
  • BNmap
  • CWhois
  • DGoogle

How the community answered

(30 responses)
  • A
    10% (3)
  • B
    7% (2)
  • C
    3% (1)
  • D
    80% (24)

Why each option

Google hacking (using advanced search operators/dorks) can locate sensitive files such as password files indexed in web server directories that are inadvertently exposed to the internet.

ASam spade

Sam Spade is a network query tool for DNS lookups, traceroutes, and WHOIS queries - it cannot search web server directory contents for specific file types.

BNmap

Nmap is a network port scanner and service enumeration tool; it does not index or retrieve files stored in web server directories.

CWhois

Whois is a protocol for querying domain registration information and does not provide any capability to locate or retrieve files from web servers.

DGoogleCorrect

Google supports advanced search operators such as 'intitle:', 'inurl:', 'filetype:', and 'site:' that can be combined to locate specific files indexed from web servers, including password files stored in publicly accessible directories. This technique, known as Google hacking or Google dorking, leverages Google's web index to find misconfigured servers exposing sensitive data without direct network scanning. It is a recognized passive reconnaissance method documented by OWASP and covered in ethical hacking curricula.

Concept tested: Google hacking for exposed sensitive files

Source: https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/Google_Hacking

Topics

#Google hacking#OSINT#web reconnaissance#password files

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