An online store using a popular CMS had directory listing enabled on its /logs/ folder. A debugging script created password_new.txt every night containing plaintext admin passwords. Attackers found the file, logged into the admin panel, and defaced the site.
Article last updated: 2025. Information intended for defensive security education only. index of passwordtxt new
Automated scripts sometimes dump plaintext credentials into temporary text files for debugging. If that script saves the file as password.txt inside a folder without an index page, the file becomes public. An online store using a popular CMS had
Routers, IP cameras, and NAS drives often run minimal web servers. If directory listing is enabled, the default configuration file (including admin passwords) can be exposed. Article last updated: 2025
Some cheap Content Management Systems (CMS), routers, or network cameras have default directory listing enabled. If an administrator uploads a configuration backup named password.txt to the /backup/ folder, the server happily lists it.