Listen to this Post
Introduction
Bug bounty hunting is a high-reward field where ethical hackers uncover security flaws in exchange for monetary rewards. Shridhar Rajaput’s recent $1,200 payout for a high-severity vulnerability highlights the lucrative potential of persistence and technical skill. This article dives into key bug hunting techniques, verified commands, and exploit mitigation strategies to help you succeed in cybersecurity research.
Learning Objectives
- Learn how to identify high-severity vulnerabilities like Shridhar’s P2 bug.
- Master essential Linux and Windows commands for bug hunting.
- Understand how to leverage automated tools and manual testing for maximum impact.
1. Reconnaissance: Finding Hidden Entry Points
Command (Linux):
subfinder -d example.com -o subdomains.txt && httpx -l subdomains.txt -status-code -title -tech-detect -o live_urls.txt
What It Does:
– `subfinder` discovers subdomains of example.com.
– `httpx` checks which subdomains are live and extracts HTTP status codes, page titles, and technologies used.
Step-by-Step:
1. Install tools:
go install github.com/projectdiscovery/subfinder/v2/cmd/subfinder@latest go install github.com/projectdiscovery/httpx/cmd/httpx@latest
2. Run the command to map attack surfaces.
2. Exploiting Injection Vulnerabilities
Command (Windows PowerShell):
Invoke-SQLMap -Target "http://example.com/login" -Technique "time-based" --risk 3 --level 5
What It Does:
- Automates SQL injection testing using time-based delays.
Step-by-Step:
1. Clone SQLMap:
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sqlmapproject/sqlmap.git
2. Run the command to test for SQLi flaws.
3. API Security Testing
Command (Linux):
nmap -p 443 --script http-vuln-cve2021-44228 example.com
What It Does:
- Checks for Log4j vulnerability (CVE-2021-44228) in APIs.
Step-by-Step:
1. Update Nmap:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install nmap
2. Scan target APIs for known exploits.
4. Cloud Hardening (AWS S3 Misconfigurations)
Command (AWS CLI):
aws s3api get-bucket-acl --bucket my-bucket --query "Grants[?Grantee.URI=='http://acs.amazonaws.com/groups/global/AllUsers']"
What It Does:
- Detects if an S3 bucket is publicly accessible.
Step-by-Step:
1. Install AWS CLI:
curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"
2. Run the command to audit S3 permissions.
5. Privilege Escalation (Windows)
Command (PowerShell):
whoami /priv | findstr /i "SeImpersonatePrivilege SeAssignPrimaryPrivilege"
What It Does:
- Checks for dangerous privileges that could allow privilege escalation.
Step-by-Step:
1. Open PowerShell as admin.
2. Run the command to identify weak permissions.
What Undercode Say:
- Key Takeaway 1: Automation (like SQLMap and Nmap) speeds up vulnerability discovery, but manual testing often uncovers logic flaws.
- Key Takeaway 2: Cloud misconfigurations are low-hanging fruit—always check S3, IAM, and API gateways.
Analysis:
Shridhar’s success stems from a mix of automated scanning and deep manual analysis. The future of bug hunting will rely on AI-assisted tools, but human intuition remains irreplaceable for advanced exploits.
Prediction:
By 2026, AI-driven bug bounty platforms will automate 40% of vulnerability detection, but elite researchers will still dominate high-value exploits requiring creative thinking.
Ready to start hunting? Apply these techniques, and you could be the next researcher cashing in a four-figure bounty! 🚀
IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Shridhar Rajaput – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
