Exploiting Server Side Request Forgery

---
name: exploiting-server-side-request-forgery
description: Use when identifying and exploiting SSRF vulnerabilities to access internal
  services, cloud metadata, and restricted network resources during authorized penetration
  tests. Use when working with exploiting server side request forgery.
domain: cybersecurity
tags:
- penetration-testing
- ssrf
- owasp
- cloud-security
- web-security
- burpsuite
subdomain: web-application-security
version: '1.0'
author: oyi77
license: Apache-2.0
nist_csf:
- PR.PS-01
- ID.RA-01
- PR.DS-10
- DE.CM-01
category: cybersecurity
---

# Exploiting Server Side Request Forgery

## Overview

Cybersecurity skill for exploiting server side request forgery. Follows industry best practices and security standards.

## When to Use
**Trigger phrases:**
- "exploiting server side request forgery"
- "Identifying and exploiting SSRF vulnerabilities to access internal services, clo"


- During authorized penetration tests when the application fetches URLs provided by users (webhooks, URL previews, file imports)
- When testing cloud-hosted applications for access to instance metadata services
- For assessing PDF generators, screenshot services, or any feature that renders external content
- When evaluating microservice architectures for internal service access via SSRF
- During security assessments of APIs that accept URL parameters for data fetching


## When NOT to Use

- When you lack proper authorization for testing
- For production systems without change management
- When the task requires legal or compliance expertise beyond technical scope


## Prerequisites

- **Authorization**: Written penetration testing agreement including SSRF testing scope
- **Burp Suite Professional**: With Collaborator for out-of-band detection
- **interactsh**: Open-source OOB interaction server (`go install github.com/projectdiscovery/interactsh/cmd/interactsh-client@latest`)
- **SSRFmap**: Automated SSRF exploitation framework (`git clone https://github.com/swisskyrepo/SSRFmap.git`)
- **curl**: For manual SSRF payload testing
- **Knowledge of target infrastructure**: Cloud provider (AWS, GCP, Azure), internal IP ranges

## Workflow

```python
# Example: IOC detection
import re

IOC_PATTERNS = {
    "ip": r"\b(?:\d{1,3}\.){3}\d{1,3}\b",
    "domain": r"\b[a-z0-9-]+\.[a-z]{2,}\b",
    "hash_md5": r"\b[a-f0-9]{32}\b",
    "hash_sha256": r"\b[a-f0-9]{64}\b",
}

def extract_iocs(text: str) -> dict:
    return {k: re.findall(v, text) for k, v in IOC_PATTERNS.items()}
```

1. **Reconnaissance** — Gather information about the target related to server side request forgery. Identify attack surface.
2. **Vulnerability Identification** — Enumerate potential server side request forgery weaknesses using automated and manual techniques.
3. **Exploit Development/Selection** — Choose or develop exploits targeting identified server side request forgery vulnerabilities.
4. **Execution** — Execute the server side request forgery test in a controlled manner with proper authorization.
5. **Post-Exploitation** — Document the impact and extent of successful exploitation.
6. **Reporting** — Write detailed findings with reproduction steps, impact assessment, and remediation guidance.

## Tools

- **Vulnerability Scanner** — Automated weakness identification
- **Exploitation Framework** — Controlled exploitation testing
- **Reporting Tool** — Findings documentation and tracking


## Process

1. **Reconnaissance** — Gather target information, identify attack surface, enumerate services
1. **Analysis/Exploitation** — Execute the technique, analyze results, document findings
1. **Reporting** — Document IOCs, write findings, provide remediation recommendations

## Verification

- [ ] All server side request forgery procedures executed completely and documented
- [ ] Findings validated against multiple data sources
- [ ] False positives identified and filtered
- [ ] Results documented with evidence and timestamps
- [ ] Recommendations provided with risk-based prioritization

## Anti-Rationalization Table

| Rationalization | Reality |
|---|---|
| "We are too small to be targeted" | Automated attacks target everyone. Size does not matter. |
| "Security slows us down" | A breach slows you down 100x more. Build security in from the start. |
| "We will fix it after launch" | Vulnerabilities in production are exploited within hours. Fix before deploy. |