Never trust user input. Use "allow-lists" to ensure the application only opens a specific set of predefined files.
The /etc/passwd file is a vital component of Unix and Linux systems, providing essential user information. Its format and use are foundational to understanding system administration and security. Proper management and understanding of this file are critical for maintaining a secure and efficiently run system. -page-....-2F-2F....-2F-2F....-2F-2Fetc-2Fpasswd
or obfuscated as you've shown) to "break out" of the intended directory and access sensitive system files like /etc/passwd Never trust user input
It looks like you’ve provided a pattern resembling a URL-encoded directory traversal or file inclusion attempt (e.g., -page-....-2F-2F....-2F-2F....-2F-2Fetc-2Fpasswd ). This decodes to something like -page-../../../../etc/passwd . Its format and use are foundational to understanding
The string you provided is a directory traversal (or path traversal) payload
To understand why this string is dangerous, we have to break down its components: