# insecure-source-code-management

Detects exposed .git, .svn, and .hg repositories along with leaked .env files. Guides extraction workflows during authorized security tests.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3600 installs · ★ 2547
- Author: yaklang
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/insecure-source-code-management/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-13
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/insecure-source-code-management

## What it does

The skill provides workflows to detect and extract exposed version-control metadata and configuration files. It covers high-value probe paths including `/.git/HEAD`, `/.svn/wc.db`, `/.hg/requires`, and `.DS_Store`. It also recommends specific open-source dumpers such as `arthaud/git-dumper`, `GitTools`, and `svn-extractor` for rebuilding project trees.

HTTP status interpretation matters here. A 403 status on `/.git/` confirms the route exists even if directory listing is blocked. If direct requests to `/.git/config` return 200, the repository remains extractable file by file. The instructions restrict actions strictly to authorized engagements, treating exposed credentials as sensitive.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill insecure-source-code-management -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/insecure-source-code-management/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/insecure-source-code-management/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill insecure-source-code-management -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/insecure-source-code-management/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill insecure-source-code-management -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/insecure-source-code-management/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install yaklang/hack-skills insecure-source-code-management
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/insecure-source-code-management/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill insecure-source-code-management -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills --path skills/insecure-source-code-management
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/insecure-source-code-management/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill insecure-source-code-management -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/insecure-source-code-management/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- detect exposed `.git`, `.svn`, `.hg`, and `.bzr` metadata on web roots
- distinguish 403 directory access blocks from true 404 missing routes
- recover source trees from open repos using `git-dumper` and `GitTools`
- locate dangling archive backups and exposed `.env` configuration files

## Example prompts
- Check this target domain for exposed .git directories and configuration files
- The /.git/ directory returned 403 but HEAD returned 200. How should I dump it?
- Generate a probe list for exposed SVN and Mercurial metadata files

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 153b5f453a093a88.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 153b5f453a093a88
````text
---
name: insecure-source-code-management
description: >-
  Source control and artifact exposure (.git, .svn, .hg, backups, .env). Use when recon finds VCS paths, 403 on hidden dirs, or backup/config leaks during authorized testing.
---

# SKILL: Insecure Source Code Management

> **AI LOAD INSTRUCTION**: This skill covers detection and recovery of exposed version-control metadata, common backup artifacts, and related misconfigurations. Use only in **authorized** assessments. Treat recovered credentials and URLs as sensitive; do not exfiltrate real data beyond scope. For broad discovery workflow, cross-load [recon-for-sec](../recon-for-sec/SKILL.md) and [recon-and-methodology](../recon-and-methodology/SKILL.md) when those skills exist in the workspace.

## 0. QUICK START

High-value paths to probe first (GET or HEAD, respect rate limits):

```http
/.git/HEAD
/.git/config
/.svn/entries
/.svn/wc.db
/.hg/requires
/.bzr/README
/.DS_Store
/.env
```

**Routing note**: quickly probe these paths first; for full recon workflow, load methodology from `recon-for-sec` and `recon-and-methodology` before deeper testing.

---

## 1. GIT EXPOSURE

### Detection

- **`/.git/HEAD`** — valid repo often returns plain text like:

```text
ref: refs/heads/main
```

- **`/.git/config`** — may expose `remote.origin.url`, user identity, or embedded credentials.
- **`/.git/index`**, **`/.git/objects/`** — partial object store access enables reconstruction with the right tools.

### 403 vs 404

- **`404`** — path likely absent or fully blocked at the edge.
- **`403` on `/.git/`** — directory may **exist** but listing is denied; still try direct file URLs:

```http
/.git/HEAD
/.git/config
/.git/logs/HEAD
/.git/refs/heads/main
```

A **403 on the directory** plus **200 on `HEAD`** strongly indicates exposure.

### Recovery tools (open source)

- **`arthaud/git-dumper`** — dumps reachable `.git` tree when individual files are fetchable.
- **`internetwache/GitTools`** — Dumper, Extractor, Finder modules for partial/corrupt dumps.
- **`WangYihang/GitHacker`** — alternative recovery when standard dumpers miss edge cases.

### Key files to prioritize

| Path | Why it matters |
|------|----------------|
| `.git/config` | Remotes, credentials, hooks paths |
| `.git/logs/HEAD` | Commit history, reflog-style leakage |
| `.git/refs/heads/*` | Branch tips, commit SHAs |
| `.git/packed-refs` | Packed branch/tag refs |
| `.git/objects/**` | Object blobs for reconstruction |

---

## 2. SVN EXPOSURE

### Detection

- **SVN before 1.7**: **`/.svn/entries`** — XML or text metadata listing paths and revisions.
- **SVN ≥ 1.7**: **`/.svn/wc.db`** — SQLite working copy database (`PRAGMA table_info` after download).
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 153b5f453a093a88

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 153b5f453a093a88 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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