More Browser Hacking:
The Amazing World of Cgi-bin
Anyhow, here's something interesting I uncovered at that "unavailable"
website by using Google.
The directory /cgi-bin/ holds helper programs for web servers,
things like shopping carts, guest books, chat programs -- and
more. In this case I was interested in the /accounts directory.
Newbie note: cgi-bin stands for Common
Gateway Interface (CGI) binaries. Common Gateway Interface is
a standard for how web server helper programs are supposed to
work with the webserver to do their jobs. A binary takes its
name from the fact that it is a file composed of just zeroes
and ones -- binary arithmetic. Often when we talk about a binary
we mean compiled programs, installed and ready to run.
You can go to jail warning: Computer
criminals try to find out what is in the cgi-bin directory because
many CGI programs have vulnerabilities that make it possible
to deface a web site or take over the entire Internet host. These
criminals will use Google to search for a listing in cgi-bin
that includes the names of known vulnerable CGI programs. Anyone
who uses the knowledge of this Guide to commit crime is heading
for a long vacation with
cell mate Spike at "Club Fed."
More --->>
