Labs / Corporate Directory Hunt

Challenge
Released 18 Sep 2025

🕵️ Can you uncover the hidden administrative secrets?

This professional corporate website looks completely legitimate with all the standard business pages and functionality you'd expect. 🏢 But experienced security researchers know that many organizations hide administrative panels in obscure directories, thinking that security through obscurity will protect them. 🔍 Master the art of directory discovery and see what secrets this corporate site is really hiding! 🎯

Flags

Points

Challenge

Solution Available

Pro Exclusive

Start Lab Environment

~1-2 min setup

AWS dedicated

Private instance

Industry standard

Challenge

🔍 Corporate Directory Hunt - Complete Solution

Objective: Discover the hidden administrative directory on the TechCorp Solutions website and retrieve the flag.

🔍 Step 1: Explore the Website

Navigate to http:// to access the TechCorp Solutions website. Take time to explore all the visible pages and functionality:

Home Page: Professional corporate landing page with services overview
Services: Detailed information about technology consulting services
About: Company information and statistics
Contact: Contact form and company details
Careers: Job listings and application information
Resources: Whitepapers, case studies, and newsletter signup

Notice that all pages are fully functional with working forms, navigation, and professional design. This appears to be a legitimate corporate website with no obvious security issues.

🔍 Step 2: Analyze the Website Structure

Examine the website's structure and look for clues about potential hidden directories:

# Check robots.txt (if it exists)
curl http:///robots.txt

# Examine HTML source code for comments or hidden links
curl -s http:// | grep -i admin

# Look at the website's navigation and file structure
# Notice standard pages: index.html, careers.html, resources.html

🔍 Step 3: Directory Enumeration with Common Tools

Use directory enumeration tools to discover hidden directories. Several approaches can be effective:

# Using dirb with common wordlist
dirb http:/// /usr/share/dirb/wordlists/common.txt

# Using gobuster for directory discovery
gobuster dir -u http:/// -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirbuster/directory-list-2.3-medium.txt

# Using ffuf for fast directory fuzzing
ffuf -u http:///FUZZ -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txt

🔍 Step 4: Discover the Hidden Directory

Through systematic enumeration, you will discover that the /webadmin/ directory exists and is accessible:

http:///webadmin/

This directory is not linked from anywhere on the main website and represents a classic example of security through obscurity.

🔍 Step 5: Retrieve the Flag

Navigate to the discovered directory:

http:///webadmin/

You will be presented with the TechCorp Administrative Panel, which displays:

A professional admin interface design
System status information
Current access timestamp
Directory path confirmation
Administrative access level indicator

The administrative panel displays the flag prominently in a dedicated container. The flag is clearly labeled and formatted for easy identification:

FLAG: [FLAG_VALUE_DISPLAYED_HERE]

🔍 Step 6: Document the Security Issue

The challenge demonstrates a critical security vulnerability where:

Administrative interfaces are hidden but not properly secured
No authentication is required to access sensitive areas
Security through obscurity is used as the primary defense
Sensitive information (security tokens) is exposed without authorization

📚 Key Learning Points

Directory Enumeration: Understanding systematic approaches to discovering hidden web directories
Common Admin Paths: Knowledge of typical administrative directory naming conventions
Security Through Obscurity: Why hiding directories without proper access controls is insufficient
Reconnaissance Methodology: Systematic approach to web application security assessment
Tool Usage: Practical experience with directory enumeration tools like dirb, gobuster, and ffuf

🛡️ Security Implications

Proper Authentication: Administrative interfaces must require strong authentication
Access Controls: Implement role-based access controls for sensitive areas
Security Headers: Use security headers to prevent unauthorized access
Regular Security Testing: Conduct regular directory enumeration as part of security assessments
Defense in Depth: Never rely solely on obscurity for security

Real-World Application: This challenge represents a common vulnerability found in many web applications where developers assume that hidden directories will remain undiscovered. Professional penetration testers routinely perform directory enumeration as part of their assessment methodology, and this technique often reveals critical security exposures in production systems.