You’ve poured your heart and soul into your latest online innovation. The code is clean, the design is sleek, and you’re finally ready to launch your website and connect with the world. You hit publish, take a deep breath, and bask in the glow of your accomplishment.
Then, you check your traffic logs.
Instead of a steady stream of eager users, you see a flurry of cryptic requests for files you’ve never heard of: shell20250630.php, phpinfo.php, .git/config, and dozens of others. It’s not just a few stray hits; it’s a relentless, daily barrage. You’re being targeted. But by whom, and for what?
This isn’t just random internet noise; it’s reconnaissance traffic, and it’s a fundamental part of how attackers operate. Think of it like a burglar casing a neighborhood. Before they attempt a break-in, they’ll check for unlocked windows, hidden spare keys, or open garages. On the internet, these “checks” come in the form of automated scans hitting your website.
Their ultimate goal is simple: to find a weakness, any weakness, that they can exploit to gain unauthorized access to your server, steal data, or even completely deface your site. Let’s break down the types of files they’re looking for and why these seemingly innocuous requests are a cause for concern.
The Four Faces of Reconnaissance: What Attackers Are Hunting For
Based on the traffic you’re seeing, attackers are typically looking for four main categories of vulnerabilities.
1. The Hidden Keys: Web Shells & Backdoors
Imagine someone trying every possible key in your front door. That’s essentially what attackers are doing when they hit routes like https://domain.com/shell20250630.php, https://domain.com/as4AaPasd.php, or https://domain.com/.lajuju.php. These seemingly random .php file names are often attempts to locate web shells or backdoors.
- What they are: Web shells are malicious scripts (often written in PHP, but can be in other languages) that, if successfully uploaded to your server, give an attacker remote control. They can execute commands, upload or download files, modify your database, and essentially do anything your web server user can do. Backdoors serve a similar purpose, providing persistent access.
- Why they’re targeted: Attackers might be probing for a web shell they’ve previously uploaded (perhaps through a separate vulnerability) or testing for common file names associated with known web shells. If they find one, it’s game over – they have a direct line into your server.
- What they can do with it: Anything from stealing your entire database, injecting malware into your website, or using your server to launch attacks on other systems.
2. The Open Books: Information Disclosure
Attackers love information. The more they know about your server’s setup, the easier it is for them to find a way in. This is where requests like https://domain.com/phpinfo.php, https://domain.com/.aws/credentials, https://domain.com/.git/config, and https://domain.com/config.php come into play.
- What they are: These files and directories are typically not intended for public access but can inadvertently expose critical configuration details or sensitive credentials.
phpinfo.php: A PHP script that displays a huge amount of information about your PHP environment, including versions, server variables, and configuration settings..aws/credentials: Contains AWS access keys and secrets – the “master keys” to your Amazon Web Services account..git/config: If you deploy a website directly from a Git repository without properly removing the.gitdirectory, this file can reveal repository URLs, usernames, and other internal development details.config.php: A ubiquitous file in many web applications that often holds database connection strings, API keys, and other crucial application secrets.robots.txt: While intended to guide search engine crawlers, attackers use it to identify areas you might be trying to keep private, assuming those areas might contain less hardened or more interesting content.
- Why they’re targeted: This is pure intelligence gathering. Knowing your PHP version can help an attacker look up known vulnerabilities for that specific version. Accessing AWS credentials or database details gives them direct access to your cloud infrastructure or data.
- What they can do with it: With
phpinfodata, they can tailor exploits. With credentials, they can take over your AWS account, access your database, or compromise your entire application.
3. The Forgotten Files: Generic Probes for Backups & Temp Files
Developers are human, and sometimes we leave digital breadcrumbs behind. Attackers actively seek these out by hitting routes like https://domain.com/backup, https://domain.com/test.php, https://domain.com/temp.php, or https://domain.com/old.
- What they are: These are common names for backup copies of important files (e.g.,
config.php.bak), temporary development scripts (test.php), or old versions of websites or directories that were never properly removed. - Why they’re targeted: A
config.php.bakfile might contain the same sensitive information asconfig.phpbut be less protected because the server doesn’t treat it as an executable script. An oldtest.phpscript might have loose security permissions or debug information enabled. - What they can do with it: Accessing a backup of a sensitive file could give them credentials or proprietary code. Discovering an old, unmaintained version of your site could reveal vulnerabilities that have long been patched in your current version.
4. The Well-Known Weaknesses: CMS & API Targeting
Many websites run on popular Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress. While incredibly powerful, their popularity also makes them a prime target for attackers who can automate scans for well-known vulnerabilities. Requests like https://domain.com/wp-atom.php, https://domain.com/wordpress/, or https://domain.com/class-t.api.php fall into this category.
- What they are: These are specific files, directories, or API endpoints associated with common software.
wp-atom.php: A core WordPress file. Attackers look for known vulnerabilities in specific WordPress core versions or plugins.wordpress/: Simply probing for the default installation path of WordPress.class-t.api.php: This could be a custom API endpoint for a specific plugin or a custom-developed feature. Attackers often target APIs because they are common points for data interaction and can sometimes be vulnerable to injection attacks or improper access controls.
- Why they’re targeted: Attackers know the structure of these popular systems and constantly scan for publicly disclosed vulnerabilities in older versions of the CMS, themes, or plugins. They might also be looking for misconfigurations specific to these platforms.
- What they can do with it: Exploit a vulnerability to gain administrative access, inject malicious content, redirect your users to scam sites, or even completely wipe your site.
What to Do About It: Protecting Your Digital Frontier
The good news is that much of this reconnaissance traffic can be mitigated with good security practices. While you can’t stop attackers from trying to find weaknesses, you can make sure they don’t succeed.
1. Keep Everything Updated, Always!
This is paramount. Whether it’s your CMS (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal), your server-side language (PHP, Node.js, Python), your web server (Apache, Nginx), or any libraries and plugins you use – keep them up-to-date. Updates often include critical security patches.
2. Remove Unnecessary Files and Directories
Do a spring cleaning of your web server:
- Delete installation files: After installing a CMS, remove any
install.phpor setup directories. - Remove test and temporary files: Ensure no
test.php,info.php,backup.zip, or similar files are publicly accessible. - Git directories: Never deploy your
.gitdirectory to a live web server. Use proper deployment workflows that exclude it. phpinfo(): Do not leavephpinfo()scripts on a production server. It’s a debugging tool, not a public information service.
3. Implement Strong Access Controls (WAF & .htaccess)
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): A WAF can detect and block many common attack patterns, including attempts to access web shells or known vulnerability exploitation. Cloud-based WAFs (like Cloudflare) can also help absorb and filter malicious traffic before it even reaches your server.
- .htaccess (Apache) / Nginx Configuration: Use server-level configurations to:
- Deny access to sensitive files: Explicitly deny access to
.git,.aws,config.php, and other critical files from the web. - Limit access to admin areas: Restrict access to your
/adminor/wp-admindirectories to specific IP addresses.
- Deny access to sensitive files: Explicitly deny access to
4. Monitor Your Logs Diligently
You’re already doing this, which is fantastic! Keep an eye on your server access logs. Look for:
- Repeated attempts to access non-existent files.
- Attempts to access known sensitive files.
- Unusual request patterns (e.g., a single IP making hundreds of requests in a short time).
- Error codes (404s, 403s) in conjunction with suspicious URLs.
5. Principle of Least Privilege
Ensure your web server processes (e.g., Apache, Nginx) run with the minimum necessary permissions. They should not have write access to critical system files or directories they don’t need to modify.
6. Regular Backups
Even with the best security, a breach can happen. Regular, off-site backups are your last line of defense, allowing you to restore your site to a clean state quickly.
Conclusion
The internet is a wild west, and continuous probing for vulnerabilities is an unfortunate reality of hosting a website. By understanding the motives behind these “silent scans” and implementing proactive security measures, you can significantly harden your website against attackers. Don’t just launch your innovation; launch it securely. Stay vigilant, stay updated, and keep those digital doors locked tight!
