The URL pattern you've mentioned is inurl:index.php?id= . Here's what each part typically signifies:
The developer expects $id to be 5 . But what if an attacker changes the URL to: inurl index.php%3Fid=
This part of the URL is a query string. The ? separates the main URL path from the query string, and id= is a parameter name. The value of id would typically be provided after the equals sign, which could be used for various purposes, such as fetching data from a database. The URL pattern you've mentioned is inurl:index
: An attacker changes the URL to ://example.com' OR '1'='1 . : An attacker changes the URL to ://example
This is a common PHP script used in web development, often serving as the main entry point for a website, especially in older systems or those using PHP.
By itself, a URL containing index.php?id= is completely benign. It is a standard method for dynamic web pages to serve content. However, this specific structure historically represents a massive attack surface for one primary reason:
Show me every page on the internet where the URL looks like http://example.com/index.php?id=some_number .