Even if you secure the directory, images themselves often contain hidden metadata (EXIF, XMP, IPTC) that can leak:
Directory leaks rarely happen because of advanced hacking techniques. Instead, they are almost always the result of simple oversight and poor configuration. 1. Web Server Misconfiguration parent directory index of private images updated
Many low-cost shared hosting providers enable directory listing by default. Administrators who are unaware of this setting may upload private image galleries without adding an index.html placeholder, inadvertently exposing their files to anyone who navigates to that folder. Even if you secure the directory, images themselves