AI LOAD INSTRUCTION: This skill covers detection and recovery of exposed version-control metadata, common backup artifacts, and related misconfigurations. Use only in authorized assessments. Treat recovered credentials and URLs as sensitive; do not exfiltrate real data beyond scope. For broad discovery workflow, cross-load recon-for-sec and recon-and-methodology when those skills exist in the workspace.
High-value paths to probe first (GET or HEAD, respect rate limits):
/.git/HEAD
/.git/config
/.svn/entries
/.svn/wc.db
/.hg/requires
/.bzr/README
/.DS_Store
/.env
Routing note: quickly probe these paths first; for full recon workflow, load methodology from recon-for-sec and recon-and-methodology before deeper testing.
/.git/HEAD — valid repo often returns plain text like:ref: refs/heads/main
/.git/config — may expose remote.origin.url, user identity, or embedded credentials./.git/index, /.git/objects/ — partial object store access enables reconstruction with the right tools.404 — path likely absent or fully blocked at the edge.403 on /.git/ — directory may exist but listing is denied; still try direct file URLs:/.git/HEAD
/.git/config
/.git/logs/HEAD
/.git/refs/heads/main
A 403 on the directory plus 200 on HEAD strongly indicates exposure.
arthaud/git-dumper — dumps reachable .git tree when individual files are fetchable.internetwache/GitTools — Dumper, Extractor, Finder modules for partial/corrupt dumps.WangYihang/GitHacker — alternative recovery when standard dumpers miss edge cases.| Path | Why it matters |
|---|---|
.git/config |
Remotes, credentials, hooks paths |
.git/logs/HEAD |
Commit history, reflog-style leakage |
.git/refs/heads/* |
Branch tips, commit SHAs |
.git/packed-refs |
Packed branch/tag refs |
.git/objects/** |
Object blobs for reconstruction |
/.svn/entries — XML or text metadata listing paths and revisions./.svn/wc.db — SQLite working copy database (PRAGMA table_info after download).Example probe:
GET /.svn/entries HTTP/1.1
GET /.svn/wc.db HTTP/1.1
anantshri/svn-extractor — automated extraction from exposed .svn.wc.db, query with sqlite3 for file paths and checksums, then request /.svn/pristine/ blobs if exposed./.hg/requires — small text file listing repository features; confirms Mercurial metadata.GET /.hg/requires HTTP/1.1
GET /.hg/store/ HTTP/1.1
sahildhar/mercurial_source_code_dumper — dumps repository when store paths are reachable./.bzr/README and /.bzr/branch-format for Bazaar metadata..DS_Store/.DS_Store can encode directory and filename listings.gehaxelt/ds-store, lijiejie/ds_store_exp — parse .DS_Store offline.Probe (adjust for app root and naming conventions):
/.env
/backup.zip
/backup.tar.gz
/wwwroot.rar
/backup.sql
/config.php.bak
/.config.php.swp
location /.git { deny all; } — may return 403 for /.git/ while still allowing or denying specific subpaths depending on rules./.git/HEAD → ref: refs/heads/ pattern? → run git-dumper / GitTools / GitHacker; review config and logs/HEAD for secrets./.svn/wc.db or entries → success? → svn-extractor or manual wc.db + pristine recovery./.hg/requires → success? → mercurial dumper./.bzr/README → Bazaar tooling or manual path walk./.DS_Store, /.env, common backup extensions on app root and parent paths.Note: coordinate with recon skills—set scope and request rate first, then run targeted VCS/backup validation.