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Introduction
403 Forbidden errors are common in web applications, often protecting admin panels, internal APIs or sensitive endpoints. While they may seem like a dead end, misconfigurations in servers, proxies or access control systems can create cracks in the defense. In this article we’ll break down how 403 errors work, why they occur and share real-world techniques to bypass them, helping you access restricted resources during your bug hunting process..
What is a 403 Forbidden Error?
The 403 Forbidden error is an HTTP status code that means your request is understood by the server but you’re not allowed to access the resource.
Think of it as a bouncer at a club saying, “Yeah, I know who you are, but you’re not on the list.”
Common Causes of 403 Errors
There are several possible reasons you might encounter a 403 Forbidden error. Here are some of the most common causes:
- IP Address Blocks or Whitelists:
Access is denied for specific IP address ranges or locations, often as part of a security policy to restrict…