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HExHTTP is a cutting-edge tool designed to analyze HTTP headers for security vulnerabilities. It helps bug bounty hunters and penetration testers identify critical issues such as:
- Host misconfigurations
- CPDoS (Cache Poisoned Denial of Service) vulnerabilities
- Cache poisoning attacks
- Header reflection flaws
Tool Link: HExHTTP
You Should Know: How to Use HExHTTP for Security Testing
1. Installation
HExHTTP can be installed via Python:
pip install hexhttp
2. Basic Scanning
Run a scan against a target website:
hexhttp scan --target https://example.com
3. Advanced Header Analysis
Check for Cache Poisoning and Header Injection:
hexhttp analyze --url https://example.com --check cache-poisoning
4. Detecting Host Header Attacks
Test for Host Header Misconfigurations:
hexhttp test --url https://example.com --check host-header
5. Exporting Results
Save findings in JSON format:
hexhttp scan --target https://example.com --output results.json
Manual HTTP Header Testing with cURL
If you prefer manual testing, use cURL to inspect headers:
curl -I https://example.com
Checking for Cache-Control Misconfigurations
curl -H "X-Forwarded-Host: attacker.com" -I https://example.com
Testing for CRLF Injection
curl -H "User-Agent: \r\nX-Malicious-Header: Test" -I https://example.com
Automating with Bash Scripts
Create a script to automate header checks:
!/bin/bash
TARGET="$1"
HEADERS=("Host" "X-Forwarded-Host" "User-Agent" "Referer")
for header in "${HEADERS[@]}"; do
echo "[+] Testing $header..."
curl -H "$header: malicious.payload" -I "$TARGET"
done
What Undercode Say
HTTP header manipulation remains a critical attack vector in web security. Tools like HExHTTP simplify vulnerability detection, but manual testing with cURL, Burp Suite, or Python scripts enhances precision. Key takeaways:
- Always test for `Host` header injections.
- Cache poisoning can lead to widespread attacks.
- Automate repetitive checks with scripts.
- Combine automated tools with manual verification.
Expected Output:
A detailed report of HTTP header vulnerabilities, including:
- Misconfigured headers
- Cache poisoning risks
- CRLF injection points
- Security header weaknesses
For further reading, check:
Prediction
As web applications evolve, HTTP header-based attacks will increase, making tools like HExHTTP essential for bug bounty hunters and security researchers. Expect more automation and AI-driven header analysis in the future.
References:
Reported By: Deepak Saini – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
