Question

Viewing a sites files and directories

Asked by: skabzalot

I am wondering if it is possible to browse through a websites entire structure, similar to an ls(dir) command?  I am making a website and want to know if it is possible for someone to see a folder or file that I do not link to, but put in the sites folder.  Example, if the site is www.mysite.com, and the folder is www.mysite.com/myfolder,  I am wondering if I don't link to this folder, can someone browse my sites structure and see it?  I have the same question with files, if I have www.mysite.com/hidden.html, is it possible to find this file (and any others that are not linked to)?  If there is a way, what is it?  Thank you.

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Asked On
2003-12-04 at 00:14:02ID20816108
Tags

directory

,

similar

Topic

Miscellaneous Security

Participating Experts
6
Points
250
Comments
13

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Answers

 

by: skabzalotPosted on 2003-12-04 at 00:24:01ID: 9872969

note:  www.mysite.com is not actually my site, just an example.

 

by: MaBPosted on 2003-12-04 at 01:33:33ID: 9873181

In IIS you would have to right click <default web site> choose properties and home directory. There you have a checkbox called Directory Browsing. With that checked visitors will be able to browse your directory.

 

by: chicagoanPosted on 2003-12-04 at 05:33:38ID: 9874279

In IIS and Apache browsing is a feature that can be turned on or off.
If it is turned off, generally one specifies a default document that will be served up when only the directory is specified in the URL, otherwise a 404 error is generated.
Nothing stops a person from fishing for documents unless you place them in an area that requires .htaccess or OS authentication.

 

by: TooKoolKrisPosted on 2003-12-04 at 06:12:24ID: 9874527

How to Enable Directory Browsing on Virtual Directories
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;239053

Creating a Directory Browsing Page Using ASP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;224364

WWW and FTP Virtual Directories Are Not Displayed in Directory Listings
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;247376

HOW TO: Configure Web Server Permissions for Web Content in IIS
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313075

 

by: skabzalotPosted on 2003-12-04 at 12:11:28ID: 9877145

so if I turn browsing off, then is there a way to do it?  A program or something?

 

by: chicagoanPosted on 2003-12-04 at 12:52:14ID: 9877537

There are website 'cloning' applications that start at the homepage and follow all the links.
These utilities aren't much good these days as as java and asp mask a lot of the site, they worked when sites were mostly a collection of static pages.
i.e http://www.bluesquirrel.com/products/grabasite/index.html?ASCID=1161

and one could script a brute force atttack,

but there is no http command that will over-ride the web server setup and enumetate the directories, short of a newly discovered vulnerability.

 

by: Joseph_MoorePosted on 2003-12-04 at 18:19:30ID: 9879398

I know of one program called IntelliTamper that can do this. It does more then just "spider" a site - follow each link on each page to the next page. It can acutally search through a site and find other files that are NOT linked off any existing page. I have tested this, and I just don't understand how it does it!
I used it on a friend's website once to find his resume that he didn't realize was up in his webspace!

http://www.intellitamper.com/

 

by: chicagoanPosted on 2003-12-04 at 18:58:27ID: 9879596

"Discover hidden files and folders with a words dictionary search"
A more focused attack than brute force, but the same idea.

 

by: jeaneyPosted on 2003-12-20 at 05:37:58ID: 9978000

Just make sure there's an index.html in each directory.
This would ensure that they see a webpage rather than a directory listing.

You could maybe put a redirect into it to bring the attacker to your home page.

 

by: ewallPosted on 2004-03-03 at 15:14:34ID: 10509552

You can help lockdown your site from prying eyes with the following:

* Using the "IndexIgnore *" directive in your .htaccess file (if your webserver is Apache or its copycats) - see http://httpd.apache.org/docs-2.0/mod/mod_autoindex.html#indexignore

* Using a robots.txt file - see http://www.robotstxt.org/

~ewall

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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