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Tool Spotlight: dirsearch 🚀🔎

An in-depth look at dirsearch, a powerful open-source tool for uncovering hidden directories and files on web servers.

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By zer0f8th
3 min read
Tool Spotlight: dirsearch 🚀🔎

Tool Spotlight: dirsearch 🚀🔎

If you’re a penetration tester, bug bounty hunter, or just someone fascinated by how the web works behind the scenes, dirsearch is a tool worth knowing. This open-source project helps you uncover hidden files and directories on web servers, revealing potential security issues or interesting endpoints to explore.

In this Tool Spotlight, we’ll cover what dirsearch is, why it’s useful, and how to get started using it.

What is dirsearch?

dirsearch is a command-line tool built in Python that performs directory scanning against websites and web servers. By systematically going through a list of potential paths (often from a wordlist), it identifies directories, files, or endpoints that might otherwise remain hidden.

Common use cases include:

  • Penetration testing: Finding hidden admin panels, test pages, or backup files that might reveal vulnerabilities.
  • Bug bounty hunting: Discovering lesser-known endpoints on large web applications can lead to new bug bounty submissions.
  • Website analysis: If you suspect your site (or any site) has leftover files or directories, dirsearch can help you confirm.

Why Use dirsearch?

  1. Fast and Efficient: With threaded scanning and multiple request methods, dirsearch can quickly probe numerous endpoints.
  2. Highly Customizable: From custom wordlists to extension-based scanning, you can tailor dirsearch to fit any target or scenario.
  3. Open Source: Its code is openly available on GitHub, making it easy to review, contribute, and modify.
  4. Active Community: A popular choice among security professionals, dirsearch enjoys continuous updates and community support.

Key Features

  • Multithreading for quicker results.
  • Support for multiple protocols (HTTP, HTTPS).
  • Recursive scanning to dig deeper into subdirectories.
  • Automatic logging and reporting.
  • Proxy integration (e.g., for anonymity or capturing requests in Burp Suite).
  • Flexible HTTP method usage (GET, POST, HEAD, etc.).

Getting Started

Installation

Requirement: python 3.9 or higher

Choose one of these installation options:

  • Install with git: git clone https://github.com/maurosoria/dirsearch.git --depth 1 (RECOMMENDED)
  • Install with ZIP file: Download here
  • Install with Docker: docker build -t "dirsearch:v0.4.3" . (more information can be found here)
  • Install with PyPi: pip3 install dirsearch or pip install dirsearch
  • Install with Kali Linux: sudo apt-get install dirsearch (deprecated)

That’s it! You’re all set.

Basic Usage

The most straightforward way to run dirsearch is by specifying the target URL and a wordlist:

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python3 dirsearch.py -u https://example.com -e php,asp,txt -w /path/to/your/wordlist.txt

Here’s what each flag does:

  • -u: The target URL (e.g., https://example.com).
  • -e: File extensions to look for (comma-separated).
  • -w: Path to the wordlist that dirsearch will iterate through.

More Examples

  1. Multithreading

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     python3 dirsearch.py -u https://example.com -w /path/to/wordlist.txt -t 50
    • -t specifies the number of threads. A higher thread count can speed up scans but also increase the load on the target server.

  2. Proxy Integration

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     python3 dirsearch.py -u https://example.com -w /path/to/wordlist.txt --proxy http://127.0.0.1:8080
    • Use this option if you want to intercept requests in a tool like Burp Suite.

  3. Ignoring Status Codes

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     python3 dirsearch.py -u https://example.com -w /path/to/wordlist.txt --exclude-status=404,403
    • You can filter out certain HTTP responses to reduce noise.

  4. Recursive Scanning

    1

     python3 dirsearch.py -u https://example.com -w /path/to/wordlist.txt --recursive
    • When dirsearch finds a directory, it will keep scanning within that directory.

Best Practices and Tips

  1. Use Relevant Wordlists: There are plenty of publicly available wordlists (e.g., SecLists) containing common endpoints and filenames.
  2. Start Small, Then Go Big: Before launching large scans, start with a smaller wordlist to identify potential leads. This can save time and reduce server load.
  3. Monitor Rate-Limits: Some servers will block you if they detect too many requests. Adjust threading and be mindful of your scanning behavior.
  4. Stay Ethical: Always have proper authorization before scanning a domain. Abiding by rules and respecting privacy are essential in cybersecurity.

Conclusion

dirsearch is a powerful asset in the arsenal of any security researcher or developer aiming to discover hidden web assets. Its speed, flexibility, and open-source nature make it a go-to tool for reconnaissance and vulnerability assessments. By harnessing well-chosen wordlists, using proxy integrations, and tuning your scan settings, you’ll be well on your way to unearthing the secrets concealed within web servers.

Visit the GitHub Repository to dive deeper, contribute, or get the latest updates. Happy scanning!

Do you have any favorite dirsearch tips or success stories? Let us know in the comments!

Tools, WebSecurity
dirsearch scanning
This post is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by the author.