-template-..-2f..-2f..-2f..-2froot-2f [2021] — Trusted Source

(where -template- remains as a literal prefix, and the rest becomes ../../../../root/ ). If the application uses this string to build a file path without proper sanitization, it might try to read something like:

The string -template-..-2F..-2F..-2F..-2Froot-2F is likely a or Directory Traversal payload used in cybersecurity testing.

The operating system resolves the ../ sequences by moving up the directory tree until it hits the system root ( / ), ultimately executing the command to read /root/secret.txt . Why Attackers Use Hex Encoding ( -2F ) -template-..-2F..-2F..-2F..-2Froot-2F

When decoded and normalized, this sequence translates to: ../../../../

This is dangerous because an attacker can supply a value containing directory traversal sequences. If they send: (where -template- remains as a literal prefix, and

: The inner ../ is removed, leaving the surrounding characters to form a valid ../ . 2. URL Encoding and Double Encoding

In some cases, if an attacker can upload a file and then "traverse" to it to execute it, they can take full control of the server. Why Attackers Use Hex Encoding ( -2F )

Understanding and Preventing Path Traversal Vulnerabilities The string "-template-..-2F..-2F..-2F..-2Froot-2F" represents a heavily encoded payload used by security researchers and malicious actors to test for or exploit a severe security flaw known as (or Directory Traversal). What the Payload Means