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📂 Common System Paths Cheat Sheet

This document serves as a reference for common system paths across different operating systems: Linux, Windows, and macOS. Each section uses tables to organize paths for user directories, system files, logs, and more. Additionally, it highlights specific paths relevant to Web Applications, CI/CD Pipelines, Plugin & Theme Installers, and Backup Systems, where improper handling of path validation may lead to vulnerabilities like Zip Slip.

🌐 Linux Directory Structure

Path Description
/bin Essential binary executables (e.g., ls, cp, mv).
/sbin System binaries (e.g., ifconfig, fdisk).
/boot Boot loader files, such as the kernel and initrd.
/dev Device files (e.g., /dev/sda1, /dev/null).
/etc Configuration files (e.g., /etc/hosts, /etc/passwd).
/lib Shared libraries used by system binaries.
/opt Optional add-on software and third-party applications.
/usr User binaries, libraries, documentation, and source code.
/var Variable files (e.g., logs, spool files, databases).
/tmp Temporary files (often cleared on reboot).
/home Home directories for regular users.
/root Home directory for the root user.

User-Specific Paths

Path Description
/home/[username] Home directory for a specific user.
/home/[username]/Documents Default document storage.
/home/[username]/Downloads Downloaded files.
/home/[username]/.ssh SSH keys and configurations.
/home/[username]/.bashrc User-specific shell initialization script.

System Configuration Files

Path Description
/etc/passwd User account information.
/etc/shadow Secure account information (hashed passwords).
/etc/hostname System's hostname.
/etc/fstab Filesystem mount points.
/etc/hosts Static table lookup for hostnames.
/etc/resolv.conf DNS resolver configuration.

Network Configuration Files

Path Description
/etc/network/interfaces Network interface configuration (Debian-based).
/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ Network scripts (RedHat-based systems).

Log Files

Path Description
/var/log/syslog General system log.
/var/log/auth.log Authentication and authorization logs.
/var/log/kern.log Kernel log messages.
/var/log/secure Security logs (RedHat-based systems).

🪟 Windows Directory Structure

Path Description
C:\Program Files Installed 64-bit applications.
C:\Program Files (x86) Installed 32-bit applications.
C:\Users User directories.
C:\Windows Windows operating system files.
C:\Windows\System32 System binaries and executables.
C:\Windows\SysWOW64 32-bit binaries on 64-bit Windows.
C:\Windows\Temp Temporary files.
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc Configuration files (hosts, lmhosts).
C:\Windows\System32\config Registry hives.
C:\Windows\Logs System log files.

User-Specific Paths

Path Description
C:\Users\[username]\AppData Application data.
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local Local user data.
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming Roaming user data.
C:\Users\[username]\Documents User documents.
C:\Users\[username]\Downloads User downloads.
C:\Users\[username]\Desktop User desktop files.
C:\Users\[username]\.ssh SSH keys and configurations.

System Configuration Files

Path Description
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts Static hostname resolution.
C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM Security Account Manager (user account database).
C:\Windows\System32\config\SOFTWARE Registry hive for installed software.
C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM System configuration.

Registry Paths

Registry Key Description
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM) Machine-specific settings.
HKLM\SOFTWARE Installed software settings.
HKLM\SYSTEM System configuration settings.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU) Current user settings.
HKCU\Software Per-user software settings.

Temporary Files and Startup Directories

Path Description
%TEMP% Environment variable for temporary files.
C:\Windows\Temp System temporary files.
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup Global startup folder.
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup User-specific startup folder.

🍏 macOS Directory Structure

Path Description
/ Root directory.
/Applications Installed applications.
/System macOS system files.
/Library System-wide libraries and application support files.
/Library/Preferences Global application preferences.
/Library/Logs System and application log files.
/Library/StartupItems Legacy startup items.

User-Specific Paths

Path Description
/Users/[username] Home directory for a specific user.
/Users/[username]/Desktop User desktop files.
/Users/[username]/Documents User documents.