Top 10 Google Dorks for Bug Bounty Hunters
Google Dorking is a staple in the reconnaissance phase of any Bug Bounty program. Before you launch Burp Suite or Nmap, you should always check what the target has already leaked to the public index.
Here are the top 10 most effective dorks for identifying low-hanging fruit vulnerabilities.
1. Finding Exposed Environment Files
The .env file is the holy grail for hackers. It often contains API keys, database credentials, and debug settings.
filetype:env "DB_PASSWORD" site:example.com
2. Publicly Accessible Log Files
Log files can leak user data, internal IP addresses, and system pathways.
filetype:log OR filetype:txt intext:"password" site:example.com
3. Exposed SQL Database Dumps
Developers sometimes leave database backups in public directories. These files usually contain the entire database schema and data.
filetype:sql intext:"INSERT INTO" site:example.com
4. Directory Listing Enabled
When a server is misconfigured, it lists all files in a directory. This allows you to browse the file system like a local folder.
intitle:"index of /" "parent directory" site:example.com
5. Configuration Files (XML/CONF)
These files often reveal server versions and internal network architecture.
filetype:xml OR filetype:conf intext:password site:example.com
6. Exposed Git Repositories
Finding a .git folder exposes the entire version history of the project.
inurl:/.git site:example.com
7. WordPress User Enumeration
Find hidden WordPress login pages or author archives.
inurl:wp-content OR inurl:wp-includes site:example.com
8. PHP Errors and Warnings
Forcing Google to find pages that are crashing can reveal the absolute path of the script.
filetype:php intext:"fatal error" site:example.com
9. Public S3 Buckets
While not strictly a "dork", Google indexes open Amazon S3 buckets.
site:s3.amazonaws.com "company-name"
10. Login Portals
Finding the admin panel is step one to testing authentication.
inurl:login OR inurl:admin OR intitle:"login" site:example.com