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In a recent bug bounty discovery, a vulnerability was found in a self-hosted bug bounty program where deleting an organization (ORG) required email confirmation. The process involved receiving a “remove-org_token” via email before deletion. However, by manipulating the HTTP request method from POST to GET and removing the “delete_request” parameter from the URL, the attacker successfully retrieved the “remove_org_token” directly in the response—bypassing email confirmation and deleting the ORG without authorization.
You Should Know: HTTP Method Manipulation & Exploitation
1. Understanding HTTP Method Manipulation
HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) define the action performed on a resource. Some web applications fail to enforce strict method validation, allowing attackers to switch methods (e.g., POST → GET) to bypass security checks.
2. Exploitation Steps
- Original Request (Legitimate Deletion Flow):
POST /delete_org HTTP/1.1 Host: vulnerable.com Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded </li> </ul> delete_request=1&org_id=123
– Modified Attack (Bypassing Confirmation):
GET /delete_org?org_id=123 HTTP/1.1 Host: vulnerable.com
– Result: The server responds with
remove_org_token=ABCD1234, allowing direct ORG deletion.3. Automated Testing with cURL
curl -X GET "http://vulnerable.com/delete_org?org_id=123"
4. Mitigation Techniques
- Strict Method Enforcement:
Django example from django.views.decorators.http import require_http_methods </li> </ul> @require_http_methods(["POST"]) def delete_org(request): pass
– Token Validation: Ensure tokens are only valid for POST requests.
– Rate Limiting: Restrict repeated attempts.5. Reconnaissance with Burp Suite
- Intercept the request in Burp Proxy.
- Change `POST` to `GET` and drop unnecessary parameters.
- Forward the modified request to observe the response.
6. Linux Command for Log Analysis
Check for suspicious GET-based deletions in logs:
grep "GET /delete_org" /var/log/nginx/access.log
7. Windows Command for Network Monitoring
Detect abnormal requests via PowerShell:
Get-WinEvent -LogName "Microsoft-Windows-IIS-Logging/Operational" | Where-Object { $_.Message -like "GET /delete_org" }What Undercode Say
This exploit highlights critical flaws in HTTP method validation and token handling. Always:
– Validate HTTP methods server-side.
– Use CSRF tokens for state-changing actions.
– Log and monitor unexpected GET requests for sensitive operations.Prediction
As APIs grow, HTTP method-based vulnerabilities will rise—automated scanners will increasingly target misconfigured endpoints.
Expected Output:
- Exploit: Bypass email confirmation via GET request.
- Fix: Enforce POST-only endpoints with token validation.
- Detection: Monitor logs for `GET /delete_org` attempts.
(No relevant URLs provided in the original post.)
References:
Reported By: Being Nice – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅Join Our Cyber World:
- Strict Method Enforcement:
