File path manipulation
Summary: PortSwigger describes file path manipulation vulnerabilities as arising when user-controllable data is placed into a file or URL path used on the server to access local resources, which may sit inside or outside the web root. It notes that even when an attack stays within the web root, attackers can often retrieve protected items such as application configuration files, server-executable script source code, or files the web server is not configured to serve directly.
Key Takeaway: Blocking dot-dot-slash input is not always enough, because some protected items are reachable at their original path without any traversal sequences - so a filter that only catches traversal patterns can still leave configuration files and script source exposed.
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