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Hunting for .git Exposed Directories: A Lucrative Bug Bounty Opportunity

In the world of bug bounty hunting, sometimes the simplest discoveries can lead to significant rewards. Recently, a security researcher stumbled upon an exposed .git directory on a website and earned a whopping $20,000 bounty. This discovery highlights an often overlooked but potentially critical vulnerability that you, as a bug bounty hunter, should be aware of.

Why are exposed .git directories dangerous?

The .git directory contains version control information for a project. If exposed, it can reveal sensitive information such as:

  • Source code
  • Configuration files
  • Credentials or API keys
  • Internal server structures

This information can be a goldmine for attackers, potentially leading to more severe vulnerabilities or direct system compromise.

How to hunt for exposed .git directories

To capitalize on this opportunity, you can use the following command for mass hunting of exposed .git directories:

cat domains.txt | grep "SUCCESS" | gf urls | httpx-toolkit -sc -server -cl -path "/.git/" -mc 200 -location -ms "Index of" -probe< /code>

Let's break down this command:

  1. cat domains.txt: Read a list of domains from a file
  2. grep "SUCCESS": Filter for successful results
  3. gf urls: Extract URLs using gf tool
  4. httpx-toolkit: A powerful HTTP toolkit for probing
  5. -sc -server -cl: Show status code, server, and content length
  6. -path "/.git/": Check for the .git directory
  7. -mc 200: Match only HTTP 200 responses
  8. -location: Follow redirects
  9. -ms "Index of": Match string "Index of" in the response
  10. -probe: Perform probing

Responsible disclosure and ethical considerations

While this method can be effective, it's crucial to remember the importance of ethical hacking and responsible disclosure. Always ensure you have permission to test the target systems and report any findings through proper channels.

Conclusion

Exposed .git directories represent a significant security risk and a potentially lucrative opportunity for bug bounty hunters. By incorporating this technique into your toolkit, you might just land your next big bounty. Happy hunting, and remember to always hack responsibly!