info :

This lab contains a path traversal vulnerability in the display of product images.

The application transmits the full file path via a request parameter, and validates that the supplied path starts with the expected folder.

Goal :

To solve the lab, retrieve the contents of the /etc/passwd file.

🧠 Lab Overview:

This lab contains a file path traversal vulnerability in how the application handles image filenames. The application expects the user-supplied file path to start with a specific directory:

/var/www/images

The goal is to read the contents of the /etc/passwd file.

🔍 Vulnerability Insight:

The application checks that the value of the filename parameter starts with /var/www/images. However, it does not properly sanitize the rest of the path, allowing an attacker to add traversal sequences after the expected base path.

✅ Exploit Strategy:

To bypass the check, we include the required base directory in the input, followed by ../ sequences that move us up the directory tree.

🔧 Exploit Payload:

/var/www/images/../../../etc/passwd

Explanation: