Blog - Page 2 of 129 - Krishna Gupta

Stealing AWS Credentials with a Redirect: A Cautionary Tale for Cloud Security

7 August 2025 by Krishna

In the fast-moving world of cloud-native applications, Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) remains one of the most devastating vulnerabilities when left unaddressed. Particularly in environments like Amazon Web Services (AWS), an SSRF exploit can open the door to critical infrastructure compromise. Today, we examine a real-world attack scenario where an SSRF, combined with a clever redirection trick, led to the theft of AWS credentials — and how a single security best practice could have stopped it cold.
This blog is tailored for penetration testers seeking sharper skills and C-Suite executives responsible for strategic cyber risk management. We will delve into the attack chain, the business impact, preventative measures, and practical advice for leaders.

From Exposed .git Repo to Full Database Access: How a Tiny Misstep Triggered a Major Security Risk

6 August 2025 by Krishna

In the realm of cybersecurity, small misconfigurations often have disproportionately catastrophic consequences. One seemingly minor oversight – an unintentionally exposed .git repository – can serve as the ignition point for a full-blown data breach. In this post, we will walk through a real-world example where an exposed .git repo led to authentication bypass, blind SQL injection, and eventually full database access at a university.
This case study is designed for Penetration Testers and C-Suite Executives alike, offering critical lessons on risk mitigation, business impact, and the ROI of proactive security measures.

How a Tiny Detail Led to Remote Code Execution: A Wake-Up Call for Business and Security Leaders

5 August 2025 by Krishna

For C-Suite leaders and penetration testers alike, it is essential to understand that attackers do not need a thousand mistakes to breach your network; they need just one. Every application component, every dependency, and every piece of exposed metadata is a potential foothold.
What we uncovered during this assessment is a textbook example of how modern attack chains are built — not through brute force, but through precision and patience.

From Self-XSS to Site-Wide Account Takeover: How Minor Vulnerabilities Cascade into Major Breaches

4 August 2025 by Krishna

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) remains one of the most potent and persistent vulnerabilities in modern web applications. It is often underestimated, especially when classified under a low-risk “Self-XSS” category. However, as this real-world case study will reveal, even seemingly benign weaknesses can spiral into catastrophic site-wide account takeovers when chained with secondary vulnerabilities like cache poisoning.

The One Number That Could Destroy Your Business: How IDOR Exposes Sensitive Data”

3 August 20253 August 2025 by Krishna

In the modern digital ecosystem, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) form the backbone of communication between systems, applications, and users. They allow for seamless interactions, but they can also unwittingly open floodgates to catastrophic security breaches. Among the most insidious yet deceptively simple vulnerabilities are those tied to Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR).