How to help secure your organization by using Google Dorks

What are Google dorks?

Google dorks are search queries that employ sophisticated search operators to locate particular online data that may not be readily available through standard search searches. With the use of these search operators, users can look for particular file kinds, website directories, usernames, and other data that may be pertinent to security.

The benefits of Google dorks are:

Finding hidden information that may be useful in security or research context and enhancing research and analysis effectiveness and accuracy.

Who can use Google dorks?

Google Dorks can be used by anyone, but it’s crucial to utilize them in an ethical and responsible manner. It’s crucial to be aware of the potential hazards and restrictions associated with employing Google dorks because some of them might be unlawful or violate the terms of service of specific websites.

When to use Google dorks?

There are several uses for Google Dorks, including:

Cybersecurity: detecting potential security flaws in servers and web applications.

Competitive intelligence: gathering information about competitors’ websites, products, and marketing strategies.

Finding publically accessible material on a specific subject or niche is known as content
discovery.

Finding patterns and trends in online behavior and content through research.

How to use Google dorks?

You just need to type a search term into the Google search box using advanced search operators to use Google Dorks. You may use the search term “site:example.com filetype:pdf” to find a particular file type on a website, for instance. All PDF files on the website “example.com” would be returned by this. You can modify your search queries in a variety of ways by using various advanced search operators.

Advantages of using Google dorks include:

• Can help identify potential security vulnerabilities in web applications and servers.
• Can be used for competitive intelligence and content discovery.
• Can automate the process of searching for specific types of information.

Disadvantages:

• May be illegal or violate the terms of service of certain websites.
• Can produce false positives or inaccurate results.
• May require technical knowledge and expertise to use effectively.

How can I use Google dorks to protect my organization?

Google Dorks are specialized search queries that might assist you in finding particular information on the internet that may not be readily available using more conventional search techniques. The protection of your company from potential security risks is one of the many uses for these search queries. So you can find compromising information before Hackers do so.

Here are 40 ways you can use Google dorks to help protect your organization:

Find sensitive information leaks: Use dorks to search for sensitive information such as passwords, usernames, or confidential documents that may have been inadvertently published online. For example, you can use the following dork to search for password files:

“filetype:txt intext:password“

Identify vulnerabilities in your web applications: Google dorks can help you identify vulnerabilities in your web applications by searching for specific web pages or files that are commonly used by hackers to exploit vulnerabilities. For example, you can use the following dork to search for vulnerable web applications:

“inurl:admin.php“

Monitor for security threats: Use dorks to monitor for potential security threats by searching for specific keywords that are often associated with malicious activity. For example, you can use the following dork to search for websites that have been compromised by malware:

“intitle:malware site:example.com“

Check for exposed network devices: Use dorks to search for exposed network devices such as routers, cameras, or printers. For example, you can use the following dork to search for exposed cameras:

“inurl:/view.shtml“

Audit your own organization: Use dorks to audit your own organization’s online presence and identify any potential security risks. For example, you can use the following dork to search for sensitive information on your own organization’s website:

“site:example.com confidential“

Find exposed sensitive files:

“filetype:xls site:example.com confidential“

This dork searches for Excel files containing confidential information on the website “example.com”. Replace “xls” with other file types as needed.

Identify exposed web servers:

“intitle:index.of cgi-bin”

This dork searches for web servers with exposed CGI scripts. Attackers can use these scripts to execute commands on the server.

Find exposed database servers:

“intitle:index.of intext:”parent directory” MySQL”

This dork searches for web servers with MySQL database servers that have been misconfigured and
are accessible over the internet.

Identify vulnerable plugins:

“intext:”Powered by WPScan” “Generated by WPScan” ext:txt”

This dork searches for WordPress sites that have been scanned by WPScan, a popular vulnerability scanner for WordPress sites. The resulting text files may contain information about vulnerable plugins or other security issues.

Identify exposed login portals:

“intitle:Login site:example.com”

This dork searches for login pages on websites that are not part of the domain “example.com”. Attackers often use these pages to perform phishing attacks.

Find exposed network devices:

“intitle:”Network Camera” inurl:ViewerFrame”

This dork searches for unsecured network cameras that are accessible over the internet. Attackers can use these cameras to spy on organizations or gather information about their physical security.

Find exposed network devices:

“intitle:”live view” intitle:axis”

This dork searches for Axis network cameras that are accessible over the internet.

Identify exposed web servers:

“intitle:index.of /logs“

This dork searches for web servers with exposed log files that may contain sensitive information such as usernames and passwords.

Find exposed server directories:

“intitle:index.of /config“

This dork searches for directories containing server configuration files that may reveal sensitive information about the server.

Identify exposed backup files:

“intitle:index.of /backup”

This dork searches for directories containing backup files that may contain sensitive information or be used to restore a compromised server.

Find exposed web application source code:

“intitle:index.of /source”

This dork searches for directories containing source code for web applications that may contain sensitive information such as passwords or API keys.

Identify exposed SSH keys:

“intitle:index.of id_rsa -id_rsa.pub“

This dork searches for SSH private keys that have been accidentally exposed on web servers.

Find exposed subdomains:

“site:.example.com“

This dork searches for subdomains of “example.com” that may be exposed and accessible over the internet.

Identify exposed cloud storage:

“site:.googleusercontent.com”

This dork searches for files hosted on Google Cloud Storage that may contain sensitive information.

Find exposed git repositories:

“intitle:index.of .git”

This dork searches for directories containing Git repositories that may contain sensitive information such as credentials or source code.

Identify exposed FTP servers:

“intitle:”index of” inurl:FTP”

This dork searches for FTP servers that are accessible over the internet and may contain sensitive information.

Find exposed backup databases:

“intitle:index.of dump.sql“

This dork searches for backup database files that may contain sensitive information.

Identify exposed Jenkins servers:

“intitle:”Dashboard [Jenkins]”

This dork searches for Jenkins servers that have been exposed and are accessible over the internet.

Find exposed Kubernetes dashboards:

“intitle:”Kubernetes Dashboard””

This dork searches for Kubernetes dashboards that may have been accidentally exposed.

Identify exposed GitLab instances:

“intitle:”GitLab Community Edition””

This dork searches for GitLab instances that are exposed and accessible over the internet.

Find exposed SSH servers:

“intitle:”index of” “.ssh””

This dork searches for SSH servers that have been exposed and may contain sensitive information.

Identify exposed PHPMyAdmin installations:

“intitle:”phpMyAdmin” “Welcome to phpMyAdmin”“

This dork searches for PHPMyAdmin installations that may have been exposed and accessible over the internet.

Find exposed Redis servers:

“intitle:”Redis Console”

This dork searches for Redis servers that have been exposed and are accessible over the internet.

Identify exposed Grafana instances:

“intitle:”Grafana – Home”“

This dork searches for Grafana instances that may have been exposed and are accessible over the internet.

Find exposed Elasticsearch instances:

“intitle:”Elasticsearch Head””

This dork searches for Elasticsearch instances that have been exposed and are accessible over the internet.

Identify exposed API keys:

“intitle:”Index of” api_keys” “

This dork searches for directories containing API keys that may have been accidentally exposed on web servers.

Find exposed sensitive information:

“intitle:index.of passed”“

This dork searches for files containing passwords that may have been accidentally exposed on web servers.

Identify exposed configuration files:

“intitle:index.of config” “

This dork searches for directories containing configuration files that may reveal sensitive information about the server or application.

Find exposed source code:

“intitle:index.of code””

This dork searches for directories containing source code that may reveal sensitive information about the server or application.

Identify exposed sensitive documents:

“filetype:doc site:example.com confidential”

This dork searches for Microsoft Word documents containing confidential information on the website “example.com”. Replace “doc” with other file types as needed.

Find exposed network devices:

“intitle:”MikroTik RouterOS” intext:”Configuration File” ”

This dork searches for MikroTik routers that have been exposed and are accessible over the internet.

Identify exposed wireless access points:

“intitle:”Ubiquiti AirOS” intext:”wireless access point””

This dork searches for Ubiquiti wireless access points that have been exposed and are accessible over the internet.

Find exposed network printers:

“intitle:”Xerox Phaser” “Network Settings””

This dork searches for Xerox Phaser printers that have been exposed and are accessible over the internet.

Identify exposed VoIP phones:

“intitle:”Polycom Configuration Utility””

This dork searches for Polycom VoIP phones that have been exposed and are accessible over the internet.

Find exposed webcams:

“intitle:”webcamXP 5″”

This dork searches for webcams that have been exposed and are accessible over the internet.

Keep in mind that Google dorks are only one tool in your security arsenal and should be
used in conjunction with other security measures such as firewalls, antivirus software, and
regular security audits. Additionally, always make sure to use Google dorks ethically and
legally.