Google Dork Mastery Part 1 : Finding Hidden Critical Files with Google Dorks Like a Pro

“Bug bounty hunters often rely on a mix of tools to discover vulnerabilities, but one of the most underrated and powerful techniques is Google Dorking. With the right queries, you can unearth hidden files and sensitive information, which could lead you directly to vulnerabilities. The best part? You can do this using nothing more than Google search.”

In this article, we’ll focus on using Google Dorks specifically to find critical files on a target’s domain. These files — such as PHP scripts, JavaScript files, and JSON configurations — can offer a wealth of information for bug bounty hunters.

Google Dorks are advanced search queries that let you find specific types of information indexed by Google. By using these queries, you can uncover sensitive data or hidden files on a target website. One of the most essential dorks is the site: operator, which restricts your search to a specific domain.

For example:

This limits Google’s search results to only show content from target.com. Pair this with other search parameters, and you can find critical files or misconfigurations that developers may have accidentally left exposed.

The inurl operator is used to search for specific strings in the URL of a webpage. It’s particularly useful when you're looking for certain types of files or directories that might be misconfigured or publicly accessible.

For example:

Explanation:

The beauty of inurl is that it helps you narrow down your search to URLs that contain a certain structure or keyword, which can lead you to exposed files.

PHP files are often the backbone of dynamic websites, but if they’re exposed to the public, they could contain source code, configuration details, or even credentials.

Dork Example:

Explanation:

Why it’s critical: Exposed PHP files can reveal source code or hardcoded credentials, offering a direct path to a vulnerability.

JavaScript files can expose a web application’s internal workings, including API endpoints, user flows, and sometimes even sensitive data like API keys or tokens.

Dork Example:

Explanation:

Why it’s critical: JavaScript files can reveal the structure of the client-side logic, API endpoints, and potentially insecure code practices. In some cases, you might find hardcoded credentials or tokens, which could lead to privilege escalation.

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) files are often used for configuration, API responses, or storing structured data. Exposing these files to the public can leak critical information.

Dork Example:

Explanation:

Why it’s critical: JSON files can reveal API endpoints, configurations, or user data. Since APIs are often vulnerable to exploits, finding an exposed JSON file could lead you directly to a potential entry point for further testing.

Backup files can be particularly dangerous if left exposed. Developers often create backups of sensitive configuration files during the development process, and if those backups are not secured, they can be accessed through Google search.

Dork Example:

Explanation:

Why it’s critical: Backup files (.bak) may contain older versions of sensitive configuration files, which could reveal hardcoded credentials, database connection strings, or outdated vulnerabilities.

By combining multiple Google Dork operators, you can refine your searches even further and find exactly what you’re looking for. Here are some advanced combinations:

Example 1:

Explanation:

Why it works: Admin directories are common locations for login portals, and searching for passwords within these files can expose improperly secured credentials.

Example 2:

Explanation:

Why it works: JSON files often include keys or tokens that are critical for accessing protected parts of the application. Finding an exposed API key could allow you to interact with the application in unintended ways.

“Google Dorks can be one of the most effective, underutilized tools in a bug hunter’s arsenal. By carefully crafting your queries, you can unearth critical files like PHP scripts, JavaScript, JSON configurations, and backups that may have been unintentionally exposed.”

In this article, we focused on how to use Google Dorks to find these critical files. In the next part of this series, we’ll explore how to identify exposed admin panels, login portals, and misconfigured directories.

Follow me for Part 2 & 3, where we’ll dive deeper into uncovering exposed admin panels and login portals using Google Dorks.

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