How '111111' Unlocked the Admin Panel — A Real Bug Hunting Story
Have you ever tried something so simple during testing that it felt almost too silly to work?
Well, I did. And it unlocked the admin panel.
Let me explain.
The Setup
I was testing the login flow of a web application. It used an OTP-based authentication system—nothing unusual. You enter your email or phone number, get a 6-digit OTP, enter it, and you’re in.
While going through the flow, I thought:
“What if the developer left a hardcoded OTP for testing?”
So I tried the classic: 111111.
No joke—I got in.
Straight to the admin dashboard. No rate-limiting, no alerts, no second factor. Just full access like I owned the place.
Why This Happened
Digging deeper, I realized this was a leftover from development. Some developer had probably set 111111 as a universal test OTP. Maybe it made local testing easier. But somehow, that logic made it to production.
This isn’t uncommon. During development, shortcuts like:
- Hardcoded credentials
- Master OTPs or bypass codes
- Disabled security checks
…help speed things up. But the real risk kicks in when those shortcuts aren’t removed before go-live.
The Impact
In this case, the OTP wasn’t scoped to a test user. It worked for anyone, including privileged accounts.
This meant:
- Account takeover with zero friction
- Full admin access to the application
- Potential to modify, delete, or extract sensitive data
Had a malicious actor discovered this, it could’ve led to serious business and user impact.
The Takeaway
What did I learn (and what should you take away)?
- Always test the obvious. Never assume something is “too dumb to work.” Try the simple things.
- Developers need secure coding checklists. Test credentials or backdoors should never reach production.
- Code reviews and staging-to-production pipelines must include security checks.
- Security is everyone’s responsibility—not just the pentester’s.
Final Thoughts
This bug reminded me that some of the most powerful vulnerabilities hide behind the simplest inputs. And honestly? That’s what makes bug hunting fun. 🙂
Let me know—have you ever found something critical by trying something basic?
If you’re into web app security and real bug stories, stick around. More stories coming soon.
Stay curious.
— Bhavesh (aka shellbreaker)