Hey, if you’re into web security and love getting your hands dirty with some real hacking practice, the Path Based Open Redirection lab at IHA089 Labs is where it’s at. This lab lets you mess around with the /redirect/iha089-labs.in/<path> endpoint to send users to any website you want, just by tweaking the <path> part. It’s a sweet setup for sharpening your pentesting skills in a safe sandbox.
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How the Lab Actually Works
The Path Based Open Redirection lab is super straightforward but sneaky. You stick a URL or path after /redirect/iha089-labs.in/, and boom—the server redirects you to whatever you typed. For example, try /redirect/iha089-labs.in/https://example.com, and your browser will zip right over to https://example.com. The catch? The server doesn’t check what you put in the <path>, so you can point it anywhere—no limits.
To kick things off, fire up your browser and head to http://iha089-labs.in/redirect/https://google.com. If you land on Google’s homepage, you’ve just confirmed the lab’s wide-open redirect flaw. This setup is perfect for playing around with all kinds of payloads to see how the server handles them. The Path Based Open Redirection lab is like a blank canvas for testing your hacking chops, so let’s get creative!
Here’s the lab lowdown:
- Category: Open Redirection
- Challenge: Path Based Open Redirection
- Goal: You can redirection on any page via /redirection/iha089-labs.in/. exploit this to redirect user on any website.
- Setup: A browser-based login system with a redirection flaw
Pulling Off Exploits Like a Boss
To own the Path Based Open Redirection lab, you gotta craft payloads that trick the server into redirecting where you want. Here’s how to mess with it:
1. Straight-Up URL Redirects
Start simple. Toss in a full URL like /redirect/iha089-labs.in/https://test-site.com and see if the server takes the bait. It should send you straight to test-site.com. Now, mix it up with different protocols—try /redirect/iha089-labs.in/http://example.com or even /redirect/iha089-labs.in/ftp://ftp.example.com. This checks if the server’s picky about protocols or just lets anything slide.
2. Sneaky Encoded Payloads
Want to get tricky? Encode your URLs to make them less obvious. For example, take https://malicious.com and turn it into /redirect/iha089-labs.in/https%3A%2F%2Fmalicious.com. This tests if the server decodes your input before redirecting. Feeling extra sneaky? Try double encoding, like /redirect/iha089-labs.in/https%253A%252F%252Fmalicious.com, to see if the server gets confused. You can also encode just part of the URL, like /redirect/iha089-labs.in/https://%6D%61%6C%69%63%69%6F%75%73.com, to test how it handles mixed inputs.
3. Weird URL Schemes
Get wild with non-standard schemes like javascript: or data:. Try /redirect/iha089-labs.in/javascript:alert('yo') to see if the server lets you run a quick script (most labs block this, but it’s worth a shot). Or go for a data: URL, like /redirect/iha089-labs.in/data:text/html;base64,PGh0bWw+PHNjcmlwdD5hbGVydCgnSGV5Jyk8L3NjcmlwdD48L2h0bWw+, which encodes a tiny HTML page. These let you poke at how the Path Based Open Redirection lab deals with oddball inputs.
4. Playing with Query Strings and Fragments
See what happens when you add extras to your URLs. Test /redirect/iha089-labs.in/https://test.com?user=admin to check if the server keeps the query string. Or try /redirect/iha089-labs.in/https://test.com#login to see if fragments stick around. You can even combine them with /redirect/iha089-labs.in/https://test.com?user=admin#login to figure out how the server parses the whole package.
Tools to Make Testing a Breeze
To level up your game in the Path Based Open Redirection lab, grab these tools:
- Browser Developer Tools: Pop open your browser’s dev tools (hit F12 or right-click and pick “Inspect”) and click the Network tab. This is your window into what’s happening when you test a redirect. Toss in a payload like /redirect/iha089-labs.in/https://test.com, then check the Network tab for the server’s response. Look at the HTTP status code—probably a 301 or 302—and make sure the Location header matches your URL. It’s a quick way to confirm your payload’s doing what you want.
- cURL: Want to test payloads without clicking around? Run curl -L http://iha089-labs.in/redirect/https://test.com in your terminal. The -L flag follows the redirect so you can see where you land. If you just want headers, use curl -I to peek at the server’s response. It’s perfect for banging out a bunch of tests fast.
- Burp Suite: This tool’s a beast for tweaking payloads on the fly. Set up Burp’s proxy, send a request to /redirect/iha089-labs.in/https://example.com, and mess with the <path>—like swapping it to https%3A%2F%2Fmalicious.com. Burp Suite’s a game-changer for trying out tons of payloads and seeing the server’s reaction instantly.
These tools cut down the grunt work, so you can focus on crafting slick payloads and watching how the Path Based Open Redirection lab behaves.
Tips to Crush It
To make the most of the Path Based Open Redirection lab, here’s how to stay sharp:
- Keep a Notebook: Jot down every payload you try, like
/redirect/iha089-labs.in/https%3A%2F%2Fmalicious.com, and whether it worked. This helps you spot what the server’s cool with and what it chokes on. - Mix Up Your Inputs: Don’t stick to one trick—test different protocols, encodings, and query strings to get the full picture of how the lab ticks.
- Check the Details: Dig into the server’s responses. A 302 redirect with a Location header matching your payload means you’re golden. Compare responses to see what’s working.
This approach turns you into a redirect ninja in no time.
The Path Based Open Redirection lab at iha089-labs.in is a killer way to get good at open redirection exploits. By playing with the /redirect/iha089-labs.in/<path> endpoint, you can test everything from basic URLs to encoded tricks and weird schemes. Tools like Burp Suite, cURL, and your browser’s dev tools make it easy to craft payloads and see what’s up. Jump in, try out some crazy payloads, and level up your hacking skills with the Path Based Open Redirection lab. Have fun hacking!
Hacking the Path Based Open Redirection: Your Ultimate Guide