File Upload
Study Note: File Uploads in Web Development
Targeting Safe File Types for Uploads:
Images: Exploit image processing vulnerabilities or hide malicious code in image metadata.
Documents: Embed malicious macros or scripts in .pdf, .docx, .xlsx, .pptx files, especially if macro scanning is weak.
Audio/Video: Insert malicious code into media files, exploiting vulnerabilities in media players.
Text Files: Manipulate .csv, .json, .xml files to include harmful scripts or malformed data that can trigger vulnerabilities.
Bypassing Security Measures:
MIME Type and File Extension Validation: Use file type and extension spoofing to bypass filters.
Content Scanning: Upload files with obfuscated or encrypted malicious code to evade antivirus detection.
Size Limitations: Compress or split malicious files to fit size limitations.
Secure Storage: Exploit directory traversal vulnerabilities to access or execute files stored outside the web directory.
Database Tracking: Manipulate or erase database records to avoid detection and tracking.
Exploiting High-Risk File Types for Uploads:
Executable and Script Files: Upload .exe, .bat, .jar, .php, .js, .asp, .py files to execute code on the server or client.
Macro-Enabled Documents: Create documents with harmful macros to compromise systems.
Archives: Package a mix of risky file types in .zip, .rar, .tar files to bypass simple file type checks.
Web Files: Embed XSS vectors in .html, .svg, .xml files.
System and Configuration Files: Upload .dll, .sys, .htaccess files to alter system configurations.
Circumventing Mitigation Strategies:
Rigorous Validation: Identify and exploit weaknesses in server-side validation logic.
Antivirus Scanning: Utilize zero-day exploits or rapidly evolving malware to avoid detection.
User Awareness: Phish users to upload malicious files themselves.
Access Control and Isolation: Identify and exploit vulnerabilities in access control mechanisms or isolation strategies.
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