Bug Bounties Unlocked: From “Small” Wins to a Full-Blown Vulnerability Research Career + Video

By /

Listen to this Post

Featured Image

Introduction:

In the world of cybersecurity, the pursuit of bug bounties is often romanticized as a quick path to riches, but the reality is that every successful hunter starts with incremental victories. A recent social media post by a security researcher celebrating “some small bounties” highlights a crucial learning phase where foundational skills in reconnaissance, enumeration, and exploitation are honed against live targets. These seemingly minor rewards are the building blocks of a robust vulnerability research career, serving as a practical proving ground for theoretical knowledge.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the core methodologies for identifying and validating common web vulnerabilities such as IDOR, XSS, and subdomain takeover.
  • Learn how to utilize command-line tools (Linux/Windows) for efficient reconnaissance and asset enumeration.
  • Develop a structured approach to writing professional vulnerability reports and managing bug bounty workflows.

You Should Know:

  1. The Art of Reconnaissance: Finding Your Attack Surface
    The difference between a beginner and a seasoned bug hunter often lies in the depth of their reconnaissance. Before you can exploit a vulnerability, you must discover all potential entry points. This starts with passive and active reconnaissance to map out the target organization’s digital footprint.

What this does: This phase helps you discover subdomains, exposed services, and forgotten web applications that may contain security flaws.

Step-by-step guide:

  • Passive Subdomain Enumeration: Use tools that rely on certificate transparency logs and search engines without touching the target.
  • Linux Command (using `curl` and jq): 
    curl -s "https://crt.sh/?q=%.target.com&output=json" | jq -r '.[].name_value' | sort -u > subdomains.txt
  • Alternative using Amass: `amass enum -passive -d target.com -o subdomains.txt`
    – Active Probing: Once you have a list of subdomains, verify which are alive.
  • Linux Command: `cat subdomains.txt | httpx -silent -status-code -title -o alive.txt`
    – Windows Approach: For Windows users, tools like `PowerShell` can be used for similar tasks.
  • PowerShell Command: `Resolve-DnsName -Name target.com -Type A | Select-Object -ExpandProperty IPAddress`

2. Vulnerability Validation: From Theory to PoC

Identifying a potential vulnerability in a report or scanner output is only half the battle. The skill lies in validating it with a Proof of Concept (PoC) to rule out false positives and demonstrate impact.

What this does: This section covers how to test for and confirm common vulnerabilities like Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR).

Step-by-step guide:

  • Testing for IDOR: An IDOR occurs when an application uses user-supplied input to access objects directly.
  1. Identify a resource: Log into the application and find a request that accesses a resource like /user/profile?id=123.
  2. Modify the parameter: Change the `id` value to another user’s ID (e.g., 124).
  3. Analyze the response: If the server returns another user’s data without authentication, you have an IDOR.
  4. Tool Usage: Use Burp Suite’s Repeater tab to modify and resend requests quickly. You can also use curl: 
    curl -X GET "https://target.com/api/user/124" -H "Cookie: session=your_session_cookie"

– Testing for Reflected XSS:
1. Identify input vectors: Look for parameters in the URL or POST data that reflect input back to the page.
2. Inject a payload: Try a simple payload like <script>alert('XSS')</script>.
3. Context matters: If the `