Question

Hack Access Restricted Folders

Asked by: bprof2007

Hi,

I have a page for testing purposes its a regular form built in php, name, email, city, state and zip code are the fields that are required by the user. After submitting the form the data input will be sent via email and printed out to the user. Every field is checked for injection.

This page is inside a folder that is Restricted through .htaccess.

What happened is that someone hacked the site not the main site, but specifically this restricted folder and left an index page saying the site security is weak and easy to hack bla bla...?

My question is how could he/they get to this restricted folder? Nothing in the form could give them access so what could led to this? And one more thing I purchased the site few months ago, and I didn't publish it yet cause I didn't finish working on it yet? So I wonder how did they find it?

Could someone help me answering my questions?

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Asked On
2007-02-25 at 15:24:00ID22412447
Tags

restricted

,

access

,

hack

,

folder

Topics

Networking Security Vulnerabilities

,

Apache Web Server

,

Miscellaneous Security

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: giltjrPosted on 2007-02-25 at 15:46:55ID: 18606564

You are assuming that they hacked it through HTTP.  The .htaccess is only used by Apache.  They could have broken in using ftp, ssh, or telnet.

What is group id and user id on the index file?

 

by: NopiusPosted on 2007-02-25 at 17:11:42ID: 18606800

Hi bprof2007. It's not necessary your fault.
Some web hosters have common aliases like /cgi-bin with obsolete software inside.
Also, as giltjr said apache is not the only way to break security.
You may perform vulnerability scanning of your host with Nessus (http://www.nessus.org/) , SAINT (http://www.saintcorporation.com/products/vulnerability_scan/saint/saint_scanner.html) or any other appropriate tool. Most 'hacekrs' going that way before trying to break security.
Also you may have weak or default ftp/php administration login/password or, even worse, 'hacker' may have access to your home computer and steal all your logins/passwords. Windows have multiple vulnerabilities for last 1-1.5 years, that allow remote user to gain access to your PC.

 

by: NopiusPosted on 2007-02-25 at 17:13:55ID: 18606808

Hi bprof2007. It's not necessary your fault.
Some web hosters have common aliases like /cgi-bin with obsolete software inside.
Also, as giltjr said apache is not the only way to break security.
You may perform vulnerability scanning of your host with Nessus (http://www.nessus.org/) , SAINT (http://www.saintcorporation.com/products/vulnerability_scan/saint/saint_scanner.html) or any other appropriate tool. Most 'hacekrs' going that way before trying to break security.
Also you may have weak or default ftp/php administration login/password or, even worse, 'hacker' may have access to your home computer and steal all your logins/passwords. Windows have multiple vulnerabilities for last 1-1.5 years, that allow remote user to gain access to your PC.

 

by: NopiusPosted on 2007-02-25 at 17:14:28ID: 18606811

oops, sorry for double post

 

by: bprof2007Posted on 2007-02-26 at 15:09:34ID: 18613442

Thanks for responding

>>What is group id and user id on the index file?
I really can't tell, because I'm using cpanel and does show who is the owner of that file. But I uploaded it with the my account which has a full access to the site. The file permissions were 644.


>>>You may perform vulnerability scanning of your host with Nessus (http://www.nessus.org/) , SAINT (http://www.saintcorporation.com/products/vulnerability_scan/saint/saint_scanner.html) or any other appropriate tool.

I'm not allowed to do that with the hosting company.

>>>Also you may have weak or default ftp/php administration login/password or
My password was pretty strong one (12 alphanumeric + symbols)

>>>even worse, 'hacker' may have access to your home computer and steal all your logins/passwords.
I access this site from work behind a well configured firewall, and I don't save any password on my machine.

I don't use my home machine for work purposes.

>>>Windows have multiple vulnerabilities for last 1-1.5 years, that allow remote user to gain access to your PC.

I don't know who is that possible if I'm doing the updates and patches on a daily bases, and work behind well configured firewall, and don't go to any website what so ever, unless it is a well know website and use calling id as a website identifier.

 

by: NopiusPosted on 2007-02-26 at 16:47:21ID: 18613925

Then most probably your hosting provider doesn't perform enough security measures to prevent attack to your website. You may ask their support (also ask it for the owner of that file).
One possible way to break your system is from neighbor webhost (when hosting provider is not secure enough). It's possible if, for example every web host is owned by the same user 'nobody' and no separate uids for every web site owner. Ask support is it true about your web site.

 

by: giltjrPosted on 2007-02-26 at 19:03:57ID: 18614436

Based on your comments it is your service provider's security that is most likely the issue.

As it is their machine that was compromised, you need to have them look at what happended.

I have seen to many "share server" hosting enviroments that are not propely setup and all everybody's ids have access to all directories on the whole system, not just "yours."

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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