The Definitive Guide to GitHub Recon: Lessons from Analyzing 100+ Reports

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Introduction

After analyzing over 100 reports on GitHub reconnaissance and information leakage, I’ve created this comprehensive guide for mastering GitHub recon. This resource will help you discover sensitive information, optimize your dorking skills, and utilize the best tools and references available online.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this step-by-step guide:

Essential GitHub dorking keywords and patterns.Recommended YouTube videos for effective dorking.A curated list of 14 insightful Medium articles.

Let’s dive in!

Phase 1: Essential GitHub Dorking Keywords

To start, here’s a curated list of impactful dorking keywords to use when searching GitHub repositories. Use these individually or combine them for more effective results:

Keywords List

api_key“api keys”authorization_bearer:oauthauthauthenticationclient_secretapi_token:“api token”client_iduser_passworduser_passpasscodesecretpassword hashOTPuser authJenkinsauthoriztionpwdftpdotfilesJDBCkey-keyssend_key-keyssend,key-keystokenuserlogin-singinpasskey-passkeyspassSecretAccessKeyapp_AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEYAWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEYcredentialsconfigsecurity_credentialsconnectionstringssh2_auth_passwordDB_PASSWORDpasswdrootadminlogtrashFTP_PORTFTP_PASSWORDDB_DATABASE=DB_HOST=DB_PORT=DB_PW=DB_USER=numberprivateLdapSecret_key=User_secret=admin_passwd=target.com “ftp_password”

Most hunters got bug using these dorks. I remove the duplicates and merge them all together.

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Advanced Patterns

Use these advanced patterns for targeted reconnaissance:

Multi-File Dorking

(path:.xml OR path:.json OR path:.properties OR path:.sql OR path:.txt OR path:.log OR path:.tmp OR path:.backup OR path:.bak OR path:.enc OR path:.yml OR path:.yaml OR path:.toml OR path:.ini OR path:.config OR path:.conf OR path:.cfg OR path:.env OR path:.envrc OR path:.prod OR path:.secret OR path:.private OR path:*.key) AND (access_key OR secret_key OR access_token OR api_key OR apikey OR api_secret OR apiSecret OR app_secret OR application_key OR app_key OR appkey OR auth_token OR authsecret) AND ((Facebook OR meta))

2. Focused Password Searches

/:password=[A-Za-z0–9-_]+/ NOT example NOT guest NOT localhost NOT fake NOT 1234 NOT xxx NOT 127.0.0.1 NOT test “reducted.com”

3. Effective .env File Scanning

path:*.env ( NOT homestead NOT root NOT example NOT gmail NOT sample NOT localhost NOT marutise ) password “reducted.com”

Phase 2: YouTube Videos for Efficient Dorking

Learn how to apply these dorking techniques with the help of these insightful video guides:

GitHub Recon Essentials By Godfather Orwa.Advanced GitHub Dorking Techniques By Defronix Academy.

Step 3: 14 Must-Read Medium Articles

Deepen your understanding with these detailed case studies and articles, which highlight real-world applications of GitHub recon:

“When Exposed API Keys Spill the Sensitive Data”“Sensitive Data Exposure Through GitHub: A Deep Dive”“How I Got Into Nokia HOF in 5 Mins”“First Bug in Bugcrowd Using GitHub Dork”“Recon to Optimizing RCE Results”HackTricks on GitHub-Leaked Secrets“The Power of GitHub Recon”“Information Disclosure Leads to FTP Server Takeover”“How I Get Bounty for Discovering Information Disclosure via GitHub”“How GitHub Recon Helped Me Find SSRF Vulnerabilities”“Internal Domain Admin Credentials Leaked in GitHub”“GitHub Dork for Sensitive Information”“GitHub Recon for Sensitive Information”“Your Full Map to GitHub Recon and Leaks Exposure”

Special Acknowledgments

This guide would not have been possible without the inspiration and insights provided by:

godfather Orwa for his comprehensive GitHub recon methodology.Tamim Hasan, Pawan Rawat, and others for their actionable writing.

This definitive guide provides all the tools and knowledge you need to excel in GitHub recon. By using the strategies, patterns, videos, and articles outlined here, you’re equipped to uncover hidden gems and navigate repositories like a pro.

If you found this guide helpful, please upvote and share it with your network! Let’s explore, learn, and succeed together in the world of recon. 🚀

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