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Gobuster: Brute-Forcing Directories Like a Pro

Gobuster is a powerful tool designed for web application penetration testing, specifically for directory and file brute-forcing.

Key Takeaways

  • Gobuster is a directory brute-forcing tool used for finding hidden web resources…
  • Setting up Gobuster involves installing the tool, specifying the target URL…
  • Choosing the right wordlist is crucial for maximizing discovery…

Setting Up Gobuster for Directory Brute-Forcing

To get started with Gobuster, the first step is to ensure that you have Go installed…

go install github.com/OJ/gobuster/v3@latest

After installation, verify Gobuster with:

gobuster -h

To scan a target URL:

gobuster dir -u http://example.com -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txt

Choosing the Right Wordlist for Gobuster

Selecting an appropriate wordlist is crucial…

Tips for Efficiently Using Gobuster

Adjusting Threads for Faster Scans

gobuster dir -u http://example.com -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txt -t 100

Filtering HTTP Status Codes

gobuster dir -u http://example.com -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txt -s "200,301"

Understanding Gobuster Output and Results

/example (Status: 200) [Size: 1234]
/admin (Status: 403) [Size: 789]
/backup (Status: 301) [Size: 0] -> http://example.com/backup/

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not using a targeted wordlist
  • Setting too many threads
  • Ignoring HTTP status codes

Advanced Techniques

Recursive Scanning

gobuster dir -u http://example.com -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txt -r

Fuzzing for Extensions

gobuster dir -u http://example.com -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txt -x php,html,txt

Alternatives to Gobuster

  • DirBuster – Java-based GUI tool
  • Wfuzz – Web fuzzing tool
  • FFuf – Fast fuzzing tool

By mastering Gobuster and integrating it into your pentesting workflow, you can uncover hidden directories, locate sensitive files, and improve overall security assessments efficiently.


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