NTFY Web Interface Exposure Scanner
This scanner detects the use of NTFY Web Interface Exposure in digital assets. It identifies systems where the NTFY web interface is publicly exposed, allowing unauthorized publish or subscribe access. Such exposure may lead to unintended message leaks or unauthorized messaging activities.
Short Info
Level
Medium
Single Scan
Single Scan
Can be used by
Asset Owner
Estimated Time
10 seconds
Time Interval
12 days 2 hours
Scan only one
URL
Toolbox
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NTFY is a simple HTTP-based pub/sub messaging platform used by developers and system administrators to send push notifications to devices or endpoints. It’s often deployed in self-hosted environments or integrated into automation pipelines for real-time event notifications. The software is lightweight and easy to set up, making it ideal for personal and small team usage. It supports publishing and subscribing to topics via RESTful APIs and has a web interface for manual interaction. NTFY is popular among privacy-conscious users who prefer to control their messaging infrastructure. The web interface provides direct access to core functionalities such as sending and receiving messages.
This scanner identifies the exposure of the NTFY web interface that allows unauthorized users to publish or subscribe to topics without authentication. Exposure occurs when administrators leave the web interface accessible without proper access controls. This type of misconfiguration may go unnoticed, especially in development environments or poorly segmented networks. Attackers can use this interface to inject messages or monitor topics, disrupting communication integrity. The scanner pinpoints whether the `/settings` page of the web interface is accessible and contains specific identifying information. Such exposure could be a result of misconfigured firewall rules or lack of authentication implementation.
The scanner performs an HTTP GET request to the `/settings` endpoint and checks if the returned page includes the `
ntfy web
` tag and returns an HTTP status 200. These indicators confirm that the NTFY web interface is accessible publicly without restrictions. This endpoint is part of the management interface, and public access to it typically means the server is not secured adequately. Unauthorized access to this interface means attackers can subscribe to sensitive topics or flood systems with unsolicited messages. The detection logic combines both body content and HTTP status validation to ensure accuracy. This technical verification confirms exposure regardless of the port used, as long as HTTP access is available.
If successfully exploited, this exposure could lead to unauthorized publication of messages, causing misinformation or spam. Attackers may also subscribe to confidential topics, gaining access to sensitive internal system alerts or notifications. Over time, this could lead to privacy violations or give attackers insights into internal processes. Abuse of the messaging system might also trigger denial of service or disrupt legitimate communications. Unchecked, this exposure can escalate into further breaches by revealing behavioral patterns or authentication tokens shared via messages. Therefore, it poses both operational and security risks.
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