Github Dorking: A Beginner’s Guide to Finding Secrets in Repositories

Perfect for bug bounty hunters and cybersecurity beginners, elevate your GitHub exploration skills with my comprehensive guide on GitHub Dorking.

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Following up on my last article, “Google Dorking: A Beginner’s Guide to Finding Vulnerabilities,” I dive deeper into the art of uncovering hidden gems within GitHub’s vast repositories.

See the last article if you are interested at:

GitHub Dorking, an extension of the techniques discussed previously, has become an indispensable tool in my cybersecurity toolkit, especially for bug bounty hunting.

What is GitHub Dorking?

GitHub Dorking is the practice of using advanced search queries to find hidden treasures within GitHub repositories.

It’s a focused approach, distinct from Google Dorking, as it scours the specific landscape of GitHub.

This technique has become a staple in my cybersecurity toolkit, offering a way to pinpoint potential vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and sensitive data that could be exploited.

Why GitHub Dorking is Crucial for Bug Bounty Hunters

For someone like me, who thrives on the thrill of the hunt in bug bounty programs, GitHub Dorking is invaluable. It has empowered me to discover overlooked vulnerabilities and contribute to the security of open-source projects.

Through this article, I’ll share insights into how GitHub Dorking can lead to successful vulnerability disclosures and, potentially, rewarding bug bounties.

Real-World Impact

Imagine stumbling upon a repository with hard-coded API keys or discovering a misconfigured file that exposes sensitive data. Such findings are not just theoretical; they are real opportunities that GitHub Dorking has unveiled for me.

Practical Examples of GitHub Dorking

Below are 10 practical examples of GitHub Dorking queries. These examples are designed to demonstrate how specific search parameters can be used to uncover potentially sensitive information, misconfigurations, or vulnerabilities within GitHub repositories.

Each query serves a different purpose, from finding secret keys to discovering configuration files that should not be publicly available.

Note that usually you need to scroll to find interesting stuffs ! (many non harmful template also present)

• Find AWS Access Keys: path:**/.env AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID - Searches for .env files containing AWS access key IDs, potentially exposing AWS services access.

• Hard-Coded DB Passwords: DB_PASSWORD= - Finds DB files where passwords may be hard-coded, risking application security.

• Locate SQL Database Dump Files: path:*.sql "CREATE TABLE" AND "INSERT INTO" - Locates SQL dump files with sensitive database structure and data.

• Uncover Exposed API Keys: path:**/.properties api_key - Unveils .properties files with API keys, risking unauthorized API access.
• Search for Configuration Files Exposing Secrets: path:**/docker-compose.yml MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD - Detects Docker compose files that expose MySQL root passwords.

• Find Private Cryptographic Keys: path:*.pem private - Searches for PEM files containing private cryptographic keys, compromising encryption.

• Detect Hard-Coded JWT Secrets in JavaScript Files: language:javascript jwt_secret OR jwt_key - Reveals JavaScript files with hard-coded JWT secrets, risking token forgery.

• Reveal .git Directories Exposed on Web Servers: path:**/.git/* - Finds exposed .git directories on web servers, allowing potential repository cloning.

• Identify Exposed SSH Keys: path:*.pub "ssh-rsa" - Identifies public SSH keys, which can lead to targeted server attacks.

• Discover Files Containing Passphrases: passphrase * path:**/.json - Discovers JSON files containing passphrases, potentially unlocking encrypted data or access.

Don’t forget that commit, issues and so on can also contains interesting information !

Here is a good repository that have good dorks:

Here is another repository to automatize dorking:

Legal and Ethical Considerations

It’s crucial to navigate GitHub Dorking with a strong ethical compass. While the thrill of discovery is enticing, respecting privacy and legal boundaries is paramount. I always ensure to report my findings responsibly, adhering to the principles of responsible disclosure.

Protecting Your Repositories from Dorks

As much as I enjoy the hunt, I also take measures to protect my repositories from being easily dorked. Here are a few tips:

• Review your public repositories: Regularly audit your repositories for sensitive information.
• Use .gitignore: Ensure that files containing sensitive information are added to .gitignore.
• Implement repository scanning tools: Tools like GitGuardian can automatically scan your repositories for secrets or sensitive information.

Conclusion

Embarking on the journey of GitHub Dorking has been an enlightening aspect of my bug bounty hunting adventure. It’s a testament to the power of curiosity and ethical hacking. Whether you’re new to the scene or a seasoned hunter, GitHub Dorking can enrich your skillset and potentially lead to rewarding discoveries.

Remember, the cybersecurity landscape is always evolving, and so should we. Continuous learning, ethical hacking, and responsible disclosure are the cornerstones of success in this field.

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