How to access an image file returning 404 in a cybersecurity challenge website

Question

I am working on a cybersecurity challenge, and I need help to retrieve information from a website. The website appears to be a simple HTML file containing an tag with the text "It works!"

When I inspect the Network tab in the browser, I find two HTTP GET requests:

304 status for the main page. 404 status for an image file located at /favicon.ico with initiator FaviconLoader.jsm:180 (img). I suspect that the answer or a clue for the challenge is within the image file or its URL. However, I am unsure how to access the image file or retrieve the necessary information since it returns a 404 status.

I am seeking guidance on potential techniques or tools I can use to access the image file or find other clues on the website to solve this challenge.

I tried the following steps:

Inspected the website's HTML source code for any hidden elements, comments, or scripts that might contain clues. Used browser developer tools to examine HTTP requests, responses, and console output for any additional information. Performed a scan with Zenmap to discover open ports on the server. I found open ports 23 (Telnet), 80 (HTTP), 443 (HTTPS), and 8443 (HTTPS-ALT). I expected to find additional information or clues that could help me access the image file or solve the challenge. However, I couldn't find any clear indication of how to proceed.

I am seeking guidance on potential techniques or tools I can use to access the image file or find other clues on the website to solve this challenge.

Answer 1

It's difficult to provide specific guidance without knowing more about the challenge you're trying to solve and the website you're working with. However, here are some general techniques and tools you can consider for accessing image files or finding clues on a website:

1. View page source: Most websites have the option to view the page source, which shows the HTML code that makes up the page. You can search for image tags (e.g., <img src="image.jpg">) to find the image file you're looking for, or look for clues in the page's HTML comments.

2. Inspect element: In addition to viewing the page source, you can also use the inspect element feature in your web browser to view and modify the HTML and CSS code of a website. This can be helpful for finding hidden clues or elements on the page.

3. Reverse image search: If you have a picture or screenshot of the image you're looking for, you can use a reverse image search tool like Google Images or TinEye to find similar images on the web.

4. Image downloader extensions: There are browser extensions available that allow you to download images from a webpage with one click. Some popular options include Download All Images and Image Downloader.

5. Website analysis tools: There are various website analysis tools available that can help you analyze the structure and content of a website. Some popular options include Screaming Frog, SEMrush, and Ahrefs.

Remember to always respect the website's terms of use and copyright laws when accessing and using images or content.