What is the primary goal of a directory traversal attack?

The primary goal of a directory traversal attack is to extract information from a web application's directory. This type of attack seeks to exploit vulnerabilities in a web application by manipulating the file path that the application uses to access files. By using directory traversal techniques, an attacker can potentially gain access to sensitive files and directories stored on the server that are not intended to be accessible to users.

The methodology often involves using encoded characters or sequences, such as '../', to traverse up the directory tree and access files that should be outside the reach of standard web application navigation. As a result, this can lead to the exposure of sensitive configuration files, user data, or system settings that can be detrimental to the security posture of the web application and the server it runs on.

Understanding this attack is crucial for implementing proper security measures such as input validation, proper file permissions, and web application firewalls that can prevent unauthorized access to the file system.