“.DS_Store” – The Accidental Treasure Map Devs Keep Handing Hackers

So, you’ve got a Mac? Great. You've got .DS_Store files hanging around your system, because apparently macOS thought it was a good idea to save your icon positions and window sizes for all eternity. Because, you know, that's crucial information. The best part? When you expose these useless little files to the internet, they’ll spill all sorts of deliciously sensitive data about your directory structure. But don’t worry, I’m here to teach you how to exploit it like the pro hacker you clearly aspire to be. Spoiler alert: it’s almost too easy.

Ah yes, the .DS_Store file. MacOS’s idea of "keeping track of things" while you pretend to be productive. It stores completely vital information like:

Icon positions: As if you wouldn’t know where your icons go without it.

Window settings: Heaven forbid your folders aren’t organized the way macOS thinks they should be.

Folder attributes: Because who doesn’t need the system to remember how their file explorer looks, right?

In a world where we have real problems, this little file is about as important as a paperclip. But—drumroll—when it’s exposed on a public server, it can leak everything. You know, like directory structures, file names, paths, and all those little nuggets of joy that will make your life (and your victim’s) a whole lot easier. I’m sure you’re already thinking: "Where do I sign up?"

If you’ve ever wondered how easily you can compromise a server without breaking a sweat, just expose a .DS_Store file. Here’s why they’re a hacker’s best friend:

Leaking directory structures: It’s like handing over the blueprints of your server. We’re talking about hidden files, directories you didn’t even know existed, and sometimes—brace yourself—absolute paths. Makes pentesting way too easy.

Exposing sensitive files: Got some backup files lying around? Or maybe your .env file with database credentials? Congrats. They’re now public. How thoughtful of you.

Fueling other attacks: You know what’s fun? Taking that directory structure and launching LFI (Local File Inclusion), Path Traversal, or even brute-forcing hidden resources. You wouldn’t believe how fast things escalate when you have all that intel.

I’m sure you’re asking, “How could anyone be this careless?” Well, turns out a lot of people. Here’s how these files end up making your hacking job so easy:

Developer oversight: Developers forget to clean up. They deploy .DS_Store files in production. Classic.

Server misconfigurations: Web servers have no idea they should block these files. And like a moth to a flame, it’s available to anyone with a browser. Oops.

Version control fails: Developers forget to add .DS_Store to .gitignore, and boom. Welcome to the public domain.

Now that you’ve found your target, let’s talk about how to exploit these files. It’s not even hard. Let me walk you through it, step by step, in a way that’s so simple, even your grandma could do it.

1. Recon: Finding Exposed .DS_Store Files

First, let’s find the .DS_Store file. I know, it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. But don’t worry, you’ve got tools.

Manual Check

Just append /.DS_Store to the URL like you’ve got nothing to lose:

http://target.com/.DS_Store

If you get a download prompt or see any content, congratulations. You just found your golden ticket.

Automated Scanning

Don’t feel like doing it manually? Fine, automate it. Use Gobuster or Dirsearch. Here’s a simple Gobuster command:

Now go grab a coffee while it does all the hard work. Enjoy.

2. Extracting Information from .DS_Store

Once you find the file, let’s see what kind of secrets it’s hiding. You’ll need a tool like python-dsstore or dsstore to do the heavy lifting. Don’t worry, it’s not complicated.

Using python-dsstore

Install it:
pip install python-dsstore

Extract the golden nuggets:
python3 -m dsstore <path_to_DS_Store_file>

Boom. You just got the file and directory names. If you’re lucky, maybe even absolute paths. This is the part where you realize that navigating this system is about to be way too easy.

3. Exploiting the Leaked Data

Alright, now the fun part. Using the data you’ve extracted, it’s time to start exploiting. There are several ways to go about it, but let’s start with the classics.

Local File Inclusion (LFI): Now that you know the directory structure, it’s time to mess with the system. Use those paths to include sensitive files like /etc/passwd, or better yet, the config.php with all the goodies.

Example:

http://target.com/index.php?page=../../../../etc/passwd

Download Sensitive Files: Found a /backups folder? Or maybe a .env with database credentials? Time to download it straight into your lap:

http://target.com/backups/database.sql

Brute Force Hidden Resources: That path you found? It's not just for decoration. Try brute-forcing directories using that intel. You’d be surprised what’s hiding in those empty-looking directories.

Here’s where the magic really happens. Let me tell you about a couple of times I’ve turned a .DS_Store file into hacker gold:

Scenario 1: Exposed Backup Directory

I was pentesting a corporate network when I stumbled across a .DS_Store file. Oh, what’s this? A /backups directory listed in the file. Inside it? A nice juicy database.sql file. You know, the kind with every employee’s credentials. Game over. Easy.

Scenario 2: Hidden Configuration Files

Another engagement. Another .DS_Store file. This time, it revealed paths to hidden configuration files. Score! One .env file later, and I was logged into their database, escalating my privileges with ease. Told you it was easy.

Here’s your toolbelt for this exploit. These will make your life so much simpler:

Gobuster/Dirsearch: When you’re too lazy to do manual checks.

python-dsstore: For obviously parsing .DS_Store files.

GitHub: https://github.com/gehaxelt/Python-dsstore

dsstore: Another great tool for the lazy hacker.

GitHub: https://github.com/lijiejie/ds_store_exp

For the few of you who are trying to avoid being owned:

Exclude .DS_Store from Deployment: Add it to your .gitignore. That’s step one.

Configure Servers to Block .DS_Store: You can block .DS_Store files at the server level. Go ahead, make it harder for me.

Clean Up After Yourself: Don’t leave .DS_Store files lying around in production. You’re not a hoarder.

And there you have it. You’ve just learned how to exploit .DS_Store files in a way that would make anyone with half a brain jealous. Happy hunting, genius. You’ve got this.