Gobuster Cheat Sheet: Unleash the Power of Directory and DNS Bruteforcing
Gobuster is a versatile tool used for directory and DNS brute-forcing, enabling cybersecurity professionals to discover hidden directories, files, and subdomains on web servers. From uncovering sensitive information to identifying potential vulnerabilities, this cheat sheet provides a comprehensive guide to Gobuster commands and techniques for effective reconnaissance.
1. Basic Directory Bruteforcing:
- Bruteforce Directories (Wordlist):
gobuster dir -u <target_url> -w <wordlist>
- Specify Extensions (e.g., PHP, HTML):
gobuster dir -u <target_url> -w <wordlist> -x <extensions>
2. Advanced Directory Bruteforcing:
- Set Concurrent Threads:
gobuster dir -u <target_url> -w <wordlist> -t <threads>
- Customize User-Agent Header:
gobuster dir -u <target_url> -w <wordlist> -a <user_agent>
3. DNS Bruteforcing:
- Bruteforce Subdomains (Wordlist):
gobuster dns -d <domain> -w <wordlist>
- Set DNS Server:
gobuster dns -d <domain> -w <wordlist> -s <dns_server>
4. Output and Reporting:
- Save Results to File (Text):
gobuster dir -u <target_url> -w <wordlist> -o <output_file.txt>
- Save Results to File (JSON):
gobuster dir -u <target_url> -w <wordlist> -o <output_file.json>
5. Miscellaneous Options:
- Include Status Codes (e.g., 403, 404):
gobuster dir -u <target_url> -w <wordlist> -s <status_codes>
- Filter Out Responses with Length:
gobuster dir -u <target_url> -w <wordlist> -l <length>
6. Gobuster Best Practices:
- Use Targeted Wordlists: Select wordlists tailored to the target domain or application to increase the likelihood of discovery.
- Adjust Threading: Balance speed and resource consumption by adjusting the number of concurrent threads based on network conditions and system resources.
- Review Results Carefully: Validate discovered directories and subdomains manually to avoid false positives and ensure accuracy.
- Respect Target Limits: Avoid aggressive scanning that may trigger rate limiting or cause disruption to the target system or network.
7. Online Resources:
- Official Documentation: Refer to the official Gobuster documentation for detailed usage instructions, options, and examples.
- Community Forums: Engage with the cybersecurity community to share experiences, tips, and best practices for directory and DNS brute-forcing.
With this Gobuster cheat sheet at your disposal, you’ll be equipped to conduct thorough directory and DNS brute-forcing for penetration testing, cybersecurity assessments, and web application security testing. Happy hunting!