S4E

Shellscripts Exposure Scanner

This scanner detects the use of Public shellscripts File Disclosure in digital assets. It identifies exposed bash scripts that may reveal sensitive information and identify security vulnerabilities.

Short Info


Level

Low

Single Scan

Single Scan

Can be used by

Asset Owner

Estimated Time

10 seconds

Time Interval

19 days 20 hours

Scan only one

URL

Toolbox

-

In various computing environments, shell scripts are used by system administrators and developers for task automation, system configurations, backups, and application deployment. They are often employed to automate sequences of commands in Unix-like operating systems. These scripts can contain a wide variety of tasks including setting up environments, managing server processes, or even transferring files between systems. The scripting expertise simplifies complex or repetitive tasks, enhancing efficiency and reducing human error. Shell scripts may include configuration details, credentials, or other sensitive information. Thus, improper handling or exposure of shell scripts can pose significant security risks.

The vulnerability detected by this scanner concerns the unintended exposure of shell scripts, which can potentially disclose sensitive information or system configurations. Bash scripts, if exposed, might reveal the internal workings or sensitive variables used in applications or systems. This kind of exposure is categorized as a File Disclosure vulnerability. Attackers could exploit unprotected or poorly protected shell scripts to gain insights into system configurations, service parameters, or even credentials, which could be leveraged for further attacks. It is essential to manage exposure levels and restrict access to such scripts to mitigate these risks.

Technical details of this vulnerability focus on the accessibility of shell scripts over the web. Endpoints such as "/.build.sh", "/.jenkins.sh", and similar paths indicate script exposure if accessible. The matchers in the scanner template check for both content type indicators, such as "text/x-sh" or "application/x-sh," and presence of shell interpreters like "/bin/sh" or "/bin/bash" in the body of the response. Access to these scripts typically indicates a significant misconfiguration, allowing potential attackers access to sensitive scripts due to loose permissions or unintentional inclusion in web-accessible directories.

If malicious actors exploit this vulnerability, they could observe the scripts to extract sensitive information or understand the server architecture better to exploit further vulnerabilities. Some scripts could directly expose access credentials, API keys, or internal URLs that are invaluable for planning targeted attacks. Additionally, exposed scripts could themselves be manipulated or executed if not correctly protected, leading to unauthorized actions on the server or application environments.

REFERENCES

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